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Estonian, Finnish presidents focus on European crises

BC, Tallinn, 17.05.2016.Print version
In their meeting in Tallinn on May 17th, Estonian President Toomas Hendrik Ilves and his Finnish counterpart Sauli Niinisto focused on the crises that the European Union is faced with, informs LETA/BNS.

Sauli Niinisto and Toomas Hendrik Ilves. Tallinn, 17.05.2016. Photo: president.ee

Ilves said it is difficult to find closer and tighter relations between two countries in Europe than exist between Estonia and Finland, spokespeople for the Estonian president said. He described the relations between the two countries in many fields as unique and Finland as a close friend and ally to Estonia regionally and in the European Union (EU).

 

Finland is the number one partner to Estonia in economy and our economies are becoming more and more interwoven, Ilves said, expressing the wish that partnership would become a part of the economic growth of both countries in the future. By way of example, Ilves named IT cooperation, where rapid advances can be made to achieve economic recovery in general.

 

Ilves pointed out that Finland has joined the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defense Center of Excellence in Tallinn and Estonian defense personnel are serving on the UN peacekeeping mission in Lebanon.

 

The meeting of the two presidents focused largely on the crises that the European Union is standing face to face with at present – the migration crisis, the economic crunch that continues in several countries, growing populism and extremism, complex and sometimes aggressive security situation in the EU's neighborhood. The heads of state shared their concerns about future and said more attention has to be paid to easing the suspicions and fears of citizens.

 

Speaking of the importance of the EU, Ilves said we need to remember where we would be without the EU, what the alternative would be for us, considering also our geographic location.

 

The presidents of Estonia and Finland said we must all make intense efforts for the sake of preserving the common Schengen visa system and that the possibility to travel without border control is important both for entrepreneurs and other citizens.

 

"Our unity, solidarity, and leaders who have the courage to decide have been among of the strengths of the European Union – all this we need especially now," Ilves said.

 

The president of Finland, who is in Estonia on a two-day state visit, is also scheduled to meet with the speaker of the Riigikogu Eiki Nestor and Prime Minister Taavi Roivas.

 

The two heads of state will attend a forum on the future of the economy, "FinEst Future Forum," at the Mektory center for innovation and business of the Tallinn University of Technology.

 

Niinisto was also scheduled to lay a wreath at the monument to the victory in the War of Independence on Vabaduse (Freedom) Square and at the monument to Estonians who fought alongside Finland in World War II at the Forest Cemetery.

 

On Tuesday evening, President Toomas Hendrik Ilves and his wife, Ieva Ilves, will give a dinner in honor Sauli Niinisto and Mrs. Jenni Haukio in the White Hall of the Estonian National Opera.

 

On Wednesday the presidents will appear before students of Viljandi Gymnasium for a question and answer session. The Finnish president will then visit Arma Farm, home of his Estonian counterpart, and meet with Estonians who fought alongside the Finns in World War II at the Finnish embassy in Tallinn.

 

The program of Jenni Haukio and Ieva Ilves includes visits to the KUMU art museum, the Finnish School of Tallinn, the Coastal People's Museum in Viimsi just outside Tallinn and the Open Air Museum. They will also visit the Institute of the Estonian Language, the Estonian Design Center and the Estonian Traditional Music Center in Viljandi.






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