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The state visit of the President of the Republic to Hungary ended14.09.2002
President Arnold Rüütel's and Mrs Ingrid Rüütel's state visit to Hungary ended this afternoon at Veszprém. Mayor László Dióssy having come to welcome the Estonian Head of State voiced his contentment with a twinning agreement concluded between Tartu and Veszprém as early as 1970, which he had had the opportunity to renew last June in Tartu. "This is a great chance to develop the co-operation between our two countries and peoples," László Dióssy appreciated what had been done so far.
The Estonian Head of State recollected that his first visit to Veszprém had taken place nearly 30 years ago when he had been Rector of the Estonian Academy of Agriculture and at the same time had headed the Tartu-Veszprém Friendship Society.
"Juxtaposing my impressions from those times with what I have seen today, I can say that a tremendous development has taken place testifying to your great work and love for your home," President Rüütel observed. In his opinion, the very principles highlighted by the President and the Prime Minister of Hungary while meeting the President of Estonia were reflected in the co-operation between the two twinned cities. President Rüütel stressed that, hitherto, in the foreground of this co-operation had been cultural relations but in both countries more and more interest in establishing closer economic contacts could be noticed.
Handing to Veszprém's Mayor a statuette of Tallinn's historical watchman Vana Toomas as a gift the Estonian Head of State wished that before too long there were no need of taking on guards to watch our cities and towns for their job would be done by the sense of participation and responsibility of society's members themselves.
The Mayor of Veszprém, who also is leading Hungary's association of local governments, proposed deepening co-operation between the local governments of the two countries. The County Governor of Rapla, Kalle Talviste, accompanying President Rüütel in Hungary as a member of the official delegation shared this view suggesting that a conference on regional co-operation, officials of Estonian and Hungarian local governments participating, should be organized in Estonia soon.
Among the city's residents who had come to welcome the Estonian Head of State was also linguist Gyula Paczolai having for his services to Estonia on the occasion of the Independence Day been awarded by the President of the Republic the V Class Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana this year.
The state visit ended, the President of the Republic headed for Austria where the European Summit of the World Economic Forum will take place on September 16-17. The official, business and press delegations having accompanied Mrs Ingrid Rüütel and the President of the Republic on the state visit have returned to Tallinn.
Press Service of the Office of the President
Kadriorg, September 14, 2002
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