At the Riga Conference, President Ilves participated in a discussion on Europe’s future
Monday, 03 November 2008 10:30
President Toomas Hendrik Ilves participated in the third international foreign and security policy conference in Riga this weekend, where, together with Latvian Head of State Valdis Zatlers and Georgian Head of State Mikheil Saakashvili, he discussed the future of Europe and NATO after the military conflict that took place between Russia and Georgia.
The Estonian Head of State spoke about the changed security paradigm after the Russian-Georgian war, which overturned the idea that national borders are not changed in 21st-century Europe by military aggression.
“The next few years in Europe will demonstrate whether realpolitik or common values will triumph,” President Ilves said.
Speaking about the new partnership agreement between the European Union and Russia, the Estonian Head of State said that this will be jointly decided by the European states.
According to President Ilves, the European Union needs a clear and strong neighborhood policy, especially in order to support its neighboring countries that have decided in favor of democracy and have remained true to this choice.
“Currently, I do not see such a clear and strong neighborhood policy,” President Ilves stated.
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