President warns Estonians of threats of being indifferent

Photo: Postimees

In his speech at the Victory Day parade in the western town of Haapsalu on Sunday, Estonian President Toomas Hendrik Ilves questioned whether Estonians value their freedom enough and also warned the people about trading in democracy for «loose change.»

The biggest threat to Estonia's identity is indifference of its people to the country's basic values, said the president.

It is known from history that the ridiculing of a democratic system will lead to its disappearance, Ilves said. «Estonia consists of all our people. Not just the parliament, the government and the president. Estonia is our joint creation and the responsibility of us all.»

The president highlighted the importance of standing for a critical, free, concentrating spirit, and against stupidity and evil. He also emphasized the need to be able to protect the country and its international interests.

«Estonia does not contrast itself to any other country or nation but rather stands for the values that are dear to us. A constitutional democratic system, basic rights, freedom of speech, a nation state that is open and respects all its inhabitants. The freedom of independent nations to make their own foreign and security policy decisions,» the president said.

Estonia has to stand for Europe's security and defense policy being credible, Ilves said. «In our tenth year of being members of the European Union and NATO it is time for the so-called new member states to protect our interests in these organizations and to take part more vigorously still in developing their joint defense policy,» he said. The EU is still searching for its joint and distinct voice in foreign and defense policy, which unfortunately is difficult to materialize, said Ilves. Besides, there's a need for better cooperation between the EU and NATO.

Estonia is following with great interest the enlivened defense debate and changing geopolitical situation in the Baltic Sea region, said the president. «We have seen military exercises take place in the region during which attacking others is practised. It seems that, among other things, the attack practice that was conducted on Good Friday against Sweden has raised defense policy into the focus of debate in Sweden and Finland. Our neighbors are worried for their safety and we are intensely observing the situation in the Baltic Sea region. A secure and peaceful Baltic Sea is in the interests of all of us,» said Ilves.