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President Ilves met with the Serbian Head of State

09.05.2009

President Toomas Hendrik Ilves, who is participating at the annual St. Gallen Symposium on economic and politics in Switzerland, met today with the Serbian Head of State Boris Tadić. President Toomas Hendrik Ilves, who is participating at the annual St. Gallen Symposium on economic and politics in Switzerland, met today with the Serbian Head of State Boris Tadić.

The economic crisis that is acutely affecting both countries, and in reaction to which, both Estonia and Serbia have made extensive cuts in their national budgets, was discussed at the meeting.

President Ilves and Tadić stressed that this is also a time for new opportunities. However, it is important to restore confidence in individual countries as well as entire regions, which is also important for the Baltic countries and the Balkans.

The Estonian Head of State emphasized that while focusing on overcoming the economic crisis, the European Union member states must not lose sight of foreign policy goals.

“Our Community must have the power and will to continue dealing dedicatedly with those countries that wish to accede to the European Union and are increasingly ready to do so,” said President Ilves. “Estonia hopes to provide continued support for the eurointegration of Serbia.”

According to President Ilves, the European Union’s enlargement policy has been so successful, as well as economically and politically useful for the Community, that the only possibility is to continue the open door policy for countries that are ready for accession. This is also in the common interest of the European Union.

Presidents Ilves and Tadić also spoke about the Estonian Head of State’s visit to Serbia, which is planned for this fall.

The Estonian and Serbian Heads of State appeared at the St. Gallen Symposium and spoke about the challenges facing Europe 20 years after the fall of the Berlin Wall.


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