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President of the Republic, Address to the Participants of the International Symposium "Avoiding Aging Catastrophe", Tallinn, January 28, 2002
28.01.2002


Honourable Participants,


The first major international discussion on problems connected with aging of society is taking place in Estonia. And I believe, that this is not just a coincidence. Our country with a population of less than 1,5 million is characterized by the fact that this population has decreased by a tenth during the last ten years, our birth-rate has drop significantly, our population is aging and diseases having social background are spread more than earlier. Many of those problems are characteristic of the West as a whole but some of them only of transition countries to which Estonia belongs as well.

Yet there are far fewer countries where in 15 years, should the present trends continue, the number of persons depending on public maintenance would equal to the number of taxpayers. This is the very reason why in Estonia improving the quality of life of the middle-aged and elderly persons, and increasing the part of the population fit for and willing to work in the category concerned is of current interest. We should not forget that also the elderly are a value and a resource for society and this, in the first place, thanks to their experience of life, knowledge, and stability. Neither should we keep to the stereotypes according to which only the young people are active and the elderly are tired. Tired young people and active older people do exist. Every person is unique and special.

The greatest advantage for the development of society would be if the new knowledge, ideas, and energy of young people were connected with the experiences and wisdom of the elderly. Both kinds of those qualities must be acknowledged, both of them are values. Society must take the elderly into account, but its attitude must not be as if to someone in custody, to someone being maintained beyond the powers of society. Taking them into account means, above all, identifying chances to make use of capabilities of all the people and to help those being in need.

Paying tribute to the Tallinn Technical University for organizing this symposium I view this event as an essential sign and a meaning: scientists and students being always young, either regarding their age or their spirit, have tackled, jointly with their colleagues from other countries, the problems linked with aging of society.

I wish to the participants of the symposium energy and success in finding balanced solutions for the problems facing us.


Arnold Rüütel


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