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President Ilves met yesterday with the Chairman of the Czech Senate

14.09.2007

At a yesterday’s meeting in Kadriorg between President Toomas Hendrik Ilves and Premysl Sobotka, Chairman of the Czech Senate, many questions regarding the cooperation between the two countries in the European Union and NATO were discussed, including the participation of the Czech Republic in the anti-rocket shield being created by the United States.

“Mutual relations between Estonia and the Czech Republic have historically been very good,” noted President Ilves, “our countries are also united by similar foreign policy priorities for the enlargement processes of the European Union and NATO.”

The Estonian Head of State also highlighted the need for a uniform European Union energy policy, as a security guarantee. “Only after the energy market is liberalized and open to competition can the European Union negotiate with one voice with the countries whose energy is being purchased,” stressed President Ilves.

At the meeting, the histories of the two countries were discussed, and President Ilves and Senate Chairman Sobotka unanimously acknowledged that history needs to be more explicitly unraveled, and the suffering caused by Communism brought to light. “On behalf of all the people that have suffered due to the crimes of Communism, the only correct step is to condemn Communism at the international level,” said President Ilves.

President Ilves visited the Czech Republic last June in connection with the conference entitled Democracy and Security: Core Values and Sound Policies, where he was the main speaker.

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