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President of Estonia met with his Serbian counterpart and will drive to the grave in Krakow of the former President of Poland

19.04.2010

The Serbian Head of State assured his country’s continued commitment to accession with the European Union. According to President Ilves, Serbia plays an important role in promoting regional co-operation and in maintaining stability in the Balkans. President Toomas Hendrik Ilves, who, due to disturbances in flight traffic, began his way back to Estonia by car from Turkey after the end of the official visit, met last night in Belgrade with the Serbian President, Mr. Boris Tadić.

The Serbian Head of State assured his country’s continued commitment to accession with the European Union. According to President Ilves, Serbia plays an important role in promoting regional co-operation and in maintaining stability in the Balkans.

“I’m still convinced that Serbia’s way is the way towards joining the European Union. Serbia has been rather successful in this regard and its courageous steps towards accession must be appreciated for what they’re worth,” said the Estonian Head of State. “It’s both the moral and practical obligation of the European Union to notice and acknowledge Serbia’s success and commitment. If Serbia has made a commitment to the European Union, it’s quite natural for the EU to make commitments – which will be not abandoned later – to Serbia.”

Today, late at night, President Ilves will arrive in Krakow, where tomorrow morning he will place a wreath at the grave of the Polish President, Mr. Lech Kaczyński and his wife Mrs. Maria Kaczyńska, who died in the recent plane crash and are buried in the crypt of Wawel Castle Cathedral.

Because of the air traffic crisis, which has hit Europe, President Ilves could not participate in the funeral ceremony of the Polish presidential couple on 18th April. Therefore, the Estonian President decided to drive to Estonia through Krakow, so he could pay his last respects to President Lech Kaczyński and Mrs. Maria Kaczyńskale.

The Estonian Head of State will drive back home from Istanbul through Bulgaria, Serbia, Hungary, Slovakia, Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia. He is expected to arrive to Tallinn early on the morning of 21st April.


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