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The President of the Republic met with the Chairman of the Pro Patria Union
27.03.2003


President Arnold Rüütel today is going to conclude his consultations with political parties elected to the Riigikogu. This morning, the Head of State at Kadriorg met with the Chairman of the Pro Patria Union, Tunne Kelam.

The President was interested in Pro Patria's standpoint on the pending distribution of power in the Riigikogu. He concurred in Tunne Kelam's view that the state needed a stable ruling coalition and a government whose action were based on long-term targets and development plans, and who pursued an extension of the range of our national cooperation.

In the estimation of the participants of the meeting, one of those long-term programmes reaching beyond day-to-day politics could be a national agreement concluded between different political organisations and citizen's associations. Tunne Kelam assured that the Pro Patria Union considering Estonia's national interests supported in every respect the President's initiative and would give its active contribution to putting the agreement into practice.

Measures to boost our birth rate, supporting young families – particularly in setting up their own homes, making general and extramural education accessible, revival of rural life and enhancement of the quality of life in the countryside – these topics in the course of today’s conversation were treated apart from the rest as vital issues that need to be agreed upon. They also shared the view that the budget must be kept in balance and in compliance with the principles of the national agreement to be concluded.

At the meeting, today’s international situation was under discussion too. Tunne Kelam as the Riigikogu's representative to the Convention on the future of Europe briefed the Head of State on the work of the convention. The President expressed his support to the principles, which form the starting point for the Estonian delegation: the future European Union shall be a union of nation states, all members of which irrespective of their size shall have an equal right to vote, and which shall be led democratically. The interlocutors were in accord that the European Union should also be based on the European common cultural heritage and the spiritual values arisen from that. The work of the convent can be concluded only after all substantial issues are solved.

This evening, President Rüütel will meet the Chairman of the Mõõdukad, Ivari Padar.


Office of the President
Kadriorg, March 27, 2003


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