The President, Toomas Hendrik Ilves, who arrived in New York to participate in the opening week of the 68th General Assembly of the United Nations (UN), and Evelin Ilves held a reception on Friday night with the Estonian Consulate in the Estonian House, New York, to acknowledge the local Estonian community.
President Ilves spoke in the crowded hall of the Estonian House about Estonia's progress over the past year and reminded those present that this spring the consecutive independence of Estonia became older and longer than the first period of independence. We no longer have to feel subconscious anxiety about the persistence of our state, said President Ilves.
The Head of State also recalled that Estonia is today safer and more successful at international level than ever before in its history, and this year we overcame the economic recession. He also recalled that unlike many other countries emerging from socialism, Estonia has been capable of developing a strong international image as a country that considers IT and cyber security as important. "For example, we have the best e-prescription system in the world and, in co-operation with the Finns, we plan to turn this success story into a cross-border success," told the Head of State.
Next week, the Estonian Head of State will also take the floor at the general forum of the General Assembly of the UN. His speech in the global organisation will address the issues of Syria, human rights, Internet freedom and sustainable development. The latter is the central topic of the beginning of this General Assembly. President Ilves will also give an opening address at an Estonian-organised high-level forum organised at the UN that will focus on "Safe and Free Internet"; a number of representatives of think tanks and the academic world will also take part in the forum. During the General Assembly of the UN, the Estonian Head of State will meet with the President of Georgia, Mikheil Saakašvili, and will take part in a meeting focusing on the issues of Ukraine that is being led by the Polish Head of State, Bronisław Komorowski. The Ukrainian leader, Viktor Janukovitš, will also be present at the event. President Ilves will give a presentation at this year's annual conference of The Concordia Summit 2013, an organisation that is committed to co-operation between the private and public sector. This year, the conference is being dedicated to young people and the future. The Head of State will speak about co-operation between the public and private sector in promoting business and entrepreneurship.
While visiting the United States of America, the President will visit a number of universities that are part of the international elite. In Columbia University, New York, he will give a presentation about cyber security and Internet freedom. In Boston, at the economic school of one of the most reputable technological universities – Massachusetts Institute of Technology, President Ilves will share Estonia's experiences in overcoming the last financial crisis and IT development and in the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, at Tufts University, he will speak to students and professors about modern trans-Atlantic co-operation and the situation in Europe.
President Ilves will take part in an official reception held by the President of the United States of America, Barack Obama, to celebrate the opening session of the General Assembly of the United Nations. Evelin Ilves and other spouses of heads of states who have arrived in New York will take part in a number of representative events that are being organised by the UN and the USA in relation to the opening session of the General Assembly of the UN.