Estonian, Hungarian presidents speak about eurozone, Finno-Ugric problems

Photo: Heiki Rebane/BNS

Estonian President Toomas Hendrik Ilves and his Hungarian colleague Janos Ader spoke about problems of the European Union and the eurozone, cooperation, support for fellow Finno-Ugric peoples, economy and Eastern Partnership during their meeting in Tallinn on Thursday.

«Estonia and Hungary – two good allies – are bonded together by their Finno-Ugric roots and similar recent past. But first and foremost, we are united by Europe,» Ilves said according to spokespeople.

«Neither the European Union nor the eurozone are to blame for the problems of the European Union and eurozone, but the few countries which, instead of observing common rules, have violated them,» the Estonian head of state said.

In the words of Ilves, Europe needs responsibility and commitment to common goals. Namely these traits are demonstrated by the wish of Hungary to start contributing to the Baltic air policing mission from 2015 and Hungary's participation as a full member in the work of the NATO cyber defense center of excellence in Tallinn, he said.

The two heads of state also discussed the Hungarian proposal made at the Central European summit in Bratislava a week ago to set up an European disaster relief fund. It's not carbon emission quotas alone that need to be debated over, as Europe really needs to think how to help countries that fall victim to large-scale flooding, for instance, said Ilves.

Ader, who is in Estonia on a state visit, hailed the economic policy that has brought success to Estonia, describing it with the three words «simplicity, clarity and business-friendliness», as well as Estonia's endeavors in the domain of information technology, saying that he sees significant opportunities for cooperation between the two countries in that field in particular.

Ilves expressed hope that an association agreement and a free trade agreement will be signed with Ukraine and the same initialed with Moldova, Georgia and Armenia at the Eastern Partnership summit in Vilnius in November.

The presidents reaffirmed their readiness to go on supporting the cultural aspirations of Finno-Ugric peoples, describing it as their duty to support also the Finno-Ugric peoples living in Russia, who make the world richer with their languages, cultures and tradition.

The Hungarian president is scheduled to meet during his two-day visit here also with speaker of the Estonian Parliament Ene Ergma and Prime Minister Andrus Ansip, visit the University of Tartu and the Hungarian Institute in Estonia. Besides he will lay a wreath at the Monument to the Victory in the War of Independence in Tallinn.

The Estonian president and his wife, Evelin Ilves, will give a dinner in honor of the Hungarian presidential couple Thursday evening.