Estonian Review E E S T I R I N G V A A D E VOLUME 16 NO 39 OCT 4 - 10, 2006 ESTONIA’S NEW PRESIDENT SWORN IN Ilves: Estonia's Future Is in Its Citizens' Hands Oct 9 – In his inaugural address, President Toomas Hendrik Ilves said that by the end of his term, Estonia must become a state determined by all Estonians, with no vestiges remaining of the Soviet occupation. "In five years we should hand over to the first generation brought up in newly independent Estonia a state, which will look and perform as if there had never been any occupation, the president said before parliament. “Naturally, we cannot abolish fifty years of occupation. However, a generation – twenty years – is a period for us to judge whether we coped or not? Have we made Estonia greater, better, safer and more homelike?” Ilves said the Estonian state is the proactive creation of its citizens, not of foreign powers and international bodies. "At any given moment our country is a work of art created by us, citizens, not by Moscow, Brussels or the International Monetary Fund. No private individual, government, party or company has founded our country. It is we ourselves, each and every one of us, every day that boldly and surely have to shape Estonia." Ilves said that those to whom the people have entrusted leadership and responsibility must act for the sake of the citizens. He also spoke about coming to terms with the past. “If we would like to leave to the generation born in independent Estonia a mentally healthy state, we should not apply the past as a cudgel. The past itself cannot punish or impeach anybody if the past is transparent, known and disclosed." Ilves said it was time to think about the future, but noted that requires much more than reciprocal apologies. "If we would like Estonia to be great and generous, we should offer everybody living here something unique, exclusively Estonian and attractive. (to be continued on page 2) ESTONIA’S NEW PRESIDENT strength of its basic values survived the years of no statehood, bore the hardships of the period of SWORN IN transition, and wishes to be successful also in the (continued from page 1) present-day world. My respect and love belong to this nation," he said. We should provide a reason that would keep the young in Estonia and would return the tens of Estonia's New President's First Foreign thousands who have left Estonia during the last Visit Set for Oct. 16 fifteen years.” The President said Estonians need to feel Oct 10 – President Toomas Hendrik Ilves will they live in a country where they are cared about. make his first foreign visit as head of state on "If we would like Estonia to rank high by economic Oct. 16, when he travels to both Latvia and growth and welfare, not by suicides and depressed Finland. people, we have to care," Ilves said. The President will be in Latvia in the first half Estonia has proved it can cope, the President of the day and fly directly to Finland in the affirmed, saying that both the road toward the afternoon. European Union and NATO as well as the Tiger Leap Baltic heads of state are scheduled to meet toward the information society would have remained in the Lithuanian capital Vilnius at the beginning of nothing but pretty plans if people had not mustered November. up energy and pitched in. "We can reach new goals as well," Ilves said. Senior Diplomat to Become Foreign "Let us make Estonia greater," the President Affairs Adviser to Estonian President urged the people, parliament and government, Oct 5 - Long-serving diplomat Sven Jürgenson adding that this was a challenge to himself as well. is about to assume the post of foreign affairs adviser to Estonia's new President Toomas Outgoing President Focuses on Estonia's Hendrik Ilves. Primary Challenges Jürgenson is currently the Foreign Ministry’s Oct 9 – In an address to parliament, outgoing undersecretary for political affairs. President Arnold Rüütel said that protecting Jürgenson, an information processing the Estonian nation, language and culture, graduate of the Tallinn University of Technology, ensuring social security and increasing joined the Foreign Service in 1991. cohesion in the society were the main From 2000-2003 Jürgenson served as challenges facing the country. Estonia's ambassador to the United States. Rüütel wished his successor, Toomas Jürgenson was appointed ambassador to the United Hendrik Ilves, strength and will to serve the nation Nations in 1998 and before that, in 1996-1998, he and increase Estonia's achievements in a rapidly worked as head of the Foreign Ministry's political changing world that presents complex choices and department, serving at the same time as the challenges. "I wish and hope that your activity will country's ambassador to Turkey. be accompanied by people's trust and support, which I have had the good luck to enjoy," he said. Estonians Expect New President to Focus Rüütel said that when taking office five years on Social Issues - Survey ago, he pledged to do his best within the Oct 9 - Estonians expect the newly-elected constitutional boundaries to bridge the gap between President Toomas Hendrik Ilves to devote different social classes, political forces and levels of himself above all to social issues, a survey power, and that he has adhered to these principles shows. when performing his duties. The study revealed that 22 per cent of He also said he has defended national and Estonian residents, particularly those aged 35-54, universal human values as well as the values would like Ilves to focus on social policy instead of mentioned in the preamble to the Estonian foreign policy. Constitution, which outlast the presidential term of At the same time, the least well-to-do attach office and from which the long-term objectives of less importance to the social sphere than average as the Estonian society arise. "they have probably realized that the president has Rüütel named the preservation of the only marginal resources for addressing this issue," Estonian nation, language and culture as a key sociologist Kalev Petti from the Faktum & Ariko priority. In his words, constant and unceasing work Research Company said. is required for more Estonians to be born and for Fourteen per cent of those polled would like Estonians to wish and be able to live as a happy the President to focus on educational issues while nation in a successful state, communicate with each only 10 per cent have expectations related to other in their native language and carry on the foreign policy or children's and youth issues. national traditions and values. Russian-speakers' expectations of the As an objective of equal importance, the President devoting himself to domestic affairs are outgoing president named social security, for which considerably higher than ethnic Estonians'. balanced and mutually supportive cooperation of the Only 2.6 per cent of respondents see Ilves state and local self-government is necessary. as a balancing force consolidating the nation. Rüütel said increasing cohesion in society As many as 30 per cent of the polled have was a third major goal. no expectations regarding the new head of state, Rüütel also thanked the Estonian people for the survey showed. all their achievements. "This is a nation which on the Paradoxically, it is mostly younger The Cypriot minister thanked Estonia for its respondents who are unable to put their hopes and support as regards the topic of reunification of expectations into words even though Ilves is their Cyprus. favourite. Following their meeting, both foreign Asked to identify Ilves' shortcomings, 72 per ministers said that the positions of Estonia and cent of respondents could not name any. Cyprus as regards further enlargement of the EU were similar, including on matters related to the FOREIGN NEWS accession of Turkey to the EU. "We believe that the future of the European Formin: Estonia Supports Democratic Union can be ensured only through enlargement and Forces of Belarus remaining open," Lillikas said, also underscoring that Oct 5 - Estonia supports the democratic forces all accession countries must adopt EU law. of Belarus and condemns undemocratic steps As Paet said, both Estonia and Cyprus find by the Belarusian authorities, Estonian Foreign that starting accession negotiations with Turkey was Minister Urmas Paet said. right and both countries wish to see a Turkey that "We are offering all-round support to the adheres to EU values. democratic forces of Belarus, the opposition and the At the same time it is important that Turkey people of Belarus, by giving them an opportunity to would abide by EU law and meet the commitments see how democracy works," Paet said. He said a of the Ankara protocol, which requires it to open its good example of this was the admission of ten ports and airports to vessels and aircraft from all EU Belarus students into universities in Estonia. member states including Cyprus, Paet added. Paet made Estonia's position known during a Lillikas said that Cyprus had twice backed meeting with Ivonka Survilla, president of the Rada the opening of EU accession talks with Turkey in a of the Democratic Republic of Belarus in exile. popular vote, yet Cyprus' support couldn't be Discussed during the meeting was the situation in unconditional. Belarus and Estonia's possibilities to support Belarus' "We cannot support (Turkey) before Turkey democratic opposition. starts to fulfil its commitments," he said. Survilla offered an in-depth account of both the situation in Belarus following the presidential elections as well as her own activity as president of the Rada of the Democratic Republic of Belarus in exile.