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The President’s Academic Advisory Board held its opening meeting

19.12.2006

At yesterday’s opening meeting of his Academic Advisory Board, the President of the Republic Toomas Hendrik Ilves encouraged Estonia’s leading scientists and opinion leaders to find solutions to those questions in Estonian society for which the Government and Parliament do not have sufficient time or political will.

“We should initiate public and substantive debate on topics, which will inevitably start to affect the fate of Estonian society, and to offer solutions to politicians,” said the President about the goals of the Academic Advisory Board’s activities for the next five years.

Among the possible topics for discussion, the President mentioned Estonia’s place in the European Union, energy security, the interpretation of the influences of Estonia’s past, the strengthening of civil society, and the relationship of local non-Estonians with the Estonian state and society.

“In the long term, obscurity and manipulation with myths in these questions threaten Estonian security and poison the society from within,” added President Ilves.

In addition to regular meetings, the President’s Academic Advisory Board (previously called the President’s Academic Council) wishes to start organizing public conferences. The work of the Academic Advisory Board will be explained on the President website and in publications.

“I am very glad that, despite busy schedules, we were able to commence with the work of the Academic Advisory Board in 2006,” said Ilves, according to whom initiating public discussion and providing possible solutions is one of the primary roles of Estonia’s president. “I believe that the synergy resulting from the authority, creative mental power and experiences of the Academic Advisory Board members is the key to original solutions,” added the President.

The members of the Academic Advisory Board created by President Toomas Hendrik Ilves include:

Jüri Allik, Jüri Engelbrecht, Mati Karelson, Alar Karis, Kalle Kasemaa, Rainer Kattel, Raul Kiivet, Toomas Kukk, Marju Lauristin, Kadri Liik, Lauri Mälksoo, Ilmar Raag, Martti Raidal, Rein Raud, Jaan Ross, Märten Ross, Mart Saarma, Margit Sutrop, Jaan Tallinn, Marek Tamm, Erkki-Sven Tüür, Richard Villems, Tõnu Õnnepalu.

The work of the Academic Advisory Board is organized by Toomas Kiho, Editor-in-Chief of Akadeemia magazine.

 

Public Relations Department of the Office of the President
Kadriorg, 19 December 2006