ESTONIA: TALLINN: HILLARY CLINTON ENDS HER TWO DAY VISIT

(9 Jul 1996) English/Nat U-S First lady Hillary Clinton wrapped up a two-day visit to Estonia Tuesday urging the new democracies of the former Eastern Bloc to join with the west in "an alliance of democratic values". Mrs Clinton warned her host -- a former Communist state anxiously awaiting military and economic pacts with the West -- that it must focus foremost on providing better lives for all its citizens or democracy won't take root. The U-S First Lady wrapped up her two-day tour to Estonia on a cultural note. Mrs Clinton, a keen supporter of feminist issues, was given a tour of an all-female art co-operative in the capital, Tallinn. On a day designed for television footage, Mrs. Clinton also visited a women's clinic noted for its pioneering work in childbirth. The First Lady and her husband made frontpage news last month when they said they were thinking of adopting a child. However, today Mrs Clinton made do with cradling this hours-old infant. She refused on the issue, and laughingly dismissed a question about the idea. Mrs. Clinton said the former Communist states must focus on providing better lives for all their citizens or democracy won't take root. SOUNDBITE: It is in America's interests to assist the new democracies in Central and Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union to become full-fledged partners in the building of stronger societies, and to be really part of what we, in America can see as our alliance of values between those of us in the West who believe in freedom and free market economies and democracies. That means you've got to have well educated healthy people who are able to take responsibility for their own lives. SUPER CAPTION: Hillary Clinton, U-S First Lady Estonian President Lennart Meri escorted his famous visitor through the streets of his country's Medieval capital. Mrs Clinton's biggest fan seemed to be her host's mother, seen here waving out of the window. The city tour was followed by a walk through the Presidential Palace Gardens in the midday sunshine. Winding down after a heavy day, Mrs. Clinton spun around a floor with Estonian folk dancers. Conscious of the country's proud musical heritage, the First Lady did her best to impress her hosts. On Friday Mrs Clinton concludes her seven-nation tour in Finland, a country that she will hold out as an example of a flourishing democracy in this fragile region. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...