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The President of the Republic of Estonia addressed an international forum in Prague02.05.2002
At noon today, Estonian President Arnold Rüütel, Latvian President Vaira Vike-Freiberga and Lithuanian President Valdas Adamkus met with the President of the Czech Republic, Václav Havel, in Prague. In the afternoon, the Presidents of the Baltic States addressed the forum "Our common future in the Atlantic Alliance" organized by the Czech Institute for International Relations and Radio Free Europe. In their speeches, all the three Baltic Presidents voiced the hope that Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia will get invitations to join NATO at the Prague Summit this autumn.
President Rüütel noted in his speech that the year 2002 was a year of great challenges and crucial decisions. "It will put to the test politicians' abilities to take long-term interests as the starting point, to make difficult but necessary decisions now and not to postpone them any longer." President Rüütel recalled the speech by Czech President Václav Havel hosting the three Baltic Presidents today in Prague, which he had delivered a year ago in Bratislava and which had contained many strong arguments for NATO enlargement. "Now, roughly a year later, we can see that many leaders of the world have got the message sent by the Czech President," President Rüütel observed. Our Head of State also underscored that the Prague Summit and our accession to NATO were not our ultimate goals but a significant landmark on our long way. "Its positive outcome would definitely supply us with new energy for subsequent efforts," President Rüütel said.
The President of the Republic will be back in Tallinn late this evening.
Press Service of the Office of the President
Kadriorg, May 2, 2002
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