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President Ilves: We need to defend democracy today

05.06.2007

“It’s a sad commentary, that no longer are we talking spreading democracy but defending it, but that unfortunately is what we have to do.” said President Toomas Hendrik Ilves in his speech at the Democracy and Security: Core Values and Sound Policies Conference in Prague.

According to the Estonian Head of State, the time has arrived when democracies must defend themselves and the European Union and NATO countries need to think about what those who belong to democratic unions can do to make the democratic countries outside these associations feel just a secure in their choices.

“As far the European Union is concerned it has become increasingly clear that two European goals are incompatible: European integration and appeasement of a roguelike and threatening Russia,” said President Ilves.

The President of the Republic was the main speaker at the Democracy and Security Conference yesterday; today’s main speaker is United States President George W. Bush.

The English-language version of the speech by President Ilves can be found here.

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