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The President of the Republic today met city and county leaders in Tartu26.03.2002
Today in Tartu President Arnold Rüütel met the leaders of the City and County of Tartu.
At the meeting with Jaan Õunapuu, the County Governor of Tartu, and Aivar Soobi, the Chairman of the Local Government Association of Tartu, the main talking points were the relationship between local and national authorities and the distribution of budgetary funds between the central and local governments. As the county leaders noted, the fund for the support of counties had guaranteed local governments a right to determine development trends of their regions. Yet, three years ago, the activities of the fund were actually terminated and, at present, local government associations are falling apart, as they cannot make vital decisions any more. The President agreed with the opinion of the County Governor and the Chairman of the Local Government Association of Tartu, that the fund for the support of counties should be restored in its former proportion, and that the budget going to be drawn up later this year would offer an excellent chance of doing this.
Both the Head of State and the leaders of Tartu County were in accord over Estonia having the need for a law of regional development, ruling out bias in planning the development of regions. At the meeting, to the President was submitted an invitation to make a visit to the County of Tartu.
In the afternoon, President Rüütel met the leaders of the City of Tartu. At this meeting the principal subject of discussion was financing of the Estonian Agricultural University and of the education of veterinarians. Mayor Andrus Ansip confirmed the interest of Tartu's city leaders in continuing the education of engineers in Tartu, and in the government providing the Agricultural University funds needed to meet the requirements for accreditation of veterinary education. The President was in favour of this position.
At the meeting they also spoke about building a new gym for the Agricultural University and returning the present one to St.Mary's congregation, but for this too, financial support from the state is needed.
At this meeting too, the relationship between local and national authorities was under discussion. The parties in the discussion found that the local governments should get much larger proportion of their revenue, than so far, directly from the tax yield, which would guarantee their independence from the central government.
Tomorrow, the President will continue his tour in the County of Võru.
Press Service of the Office of the President
Kadriorg, March 26, 2002
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