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The President of the Republic had a meeting with the Board of the Riigikogu
15.10.2001


The President of the Republic received Toomas Savi, the Chairman of the Riigikogu, and the Deputy Chairmen of the Riigikogu Tunne Kelam and Peeter Kreitzberg, in Kadriorg today.

The President of the Republic welcomed his former colleagues to Kadriorg and hoped that meetings with the Riigikogu leaders would become regular. He emphasised the need for close co-operation between the Board of the Riigikogu and the Head of State, but also between the offices, so that their positions could be harmonised already in the course of handling draft acts. The President informed the leaders of the Riigikogu of his wish to employ recognised experts of different fields as his counsellors, who would analyse different problems of the Estonian society in co-operation with scientists and other experts, and propose concrete measures for solutions. The Head of State expressed his readiness to address such proposals to the Riigikogu on a more frequent basis. He stressed especially the need to approach the demographic situation in Estonia, and above all, to find solutions for increasing the birth rate.

Toomas Savi, the Chairman of the Riigikogu, expressed his satisfaction that Estonia has a Head of State with considerable experience of parliamentary work. He supported the initiative of the President of the Republic to address political statements directly to the Riigikogu more frequently, which he saw as a development of good state tradition. The Chairman of the Riigikogu pointed out the need for further harmonisation in matters related to legislative procedures and matters of protocol in future co-operation.

Tunne Kelam, one of the Deputy Chairmen of the Riigikogu, expressed his hope that the President of the Republic would create a basis for the dialogue between the opposition and the coalition. He also considered it very important to conclude detailed political agreements, similar to those in Latvia and Lithuania, between all the political parties in such matters as accession to the European Union and NATO that are of high importance for Estonia. The Head of State confirmed the need for consensus, especially in questions of the survival of the Estonian nation and national security, and promised his all-round support.

The President of the Republic and the Board of the Riigikogu also exchanged thoughts on the Draft Act for amending the Constitution submitted to the Riigikogu by President Lennart Meri. It was stated that before the establishment of a separate Constitutional Court, the activities and workload of the Constitutional Review Chamber of the Supreme Court must be thoroughly analysed.


Press Service of the Office of the President

Kadriorg, October 15, 2001



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