President of the Republic's Roundtable of National Minorities convened in extended numbers to discuss the draft of the integration plan ''Integration of Non-Estonians to the Estonian Society in 2000-2007'', which is currently being drawn up by the commission dealing with the integration of ethnic minorities to the Estonian society, convened by the Minister of Population. The plan was outlined by Tanel Mätlik, Counsellor of the Minister of Population.

Members of the roundtable commented on the project and made proposals pertaining to its content. It was admitted that the objectives of the integration programme need further specification. On the one hand, it is clear that the integration's objective is to shape a common state identity on the basis of the Estonian language, culture and citizenship. On the other hand, the protection of the language, culture and identity of the minorities must be secured.

''Integration or adaptation is a two-way process, where the common effort of both Estonians and non-Estonians living in Estonia are necessary, the President's representative at the Roundtable Hagi Šein said. The Roundtable admitted that the importance of national policy and national minorities' policy is so great as to call for extensive public dialogue. Both the state and the people should acknowledge that through integration processes, a model of the society is created, with which we wish to accede to the European Union as a full member.'' The roundtable formed a working-group, which is going to present detailed proposals to the bureau of the Minister of Population for the amendment and development of the programme.

The projects supporting the cultural activities of ethnic minorities were discussed in the framework of the joint project of the Nordic Countries, the UN Development Programme and the Estonian Government ''Support to the state programme for the integration of non-Estonians to the Estonian Society''. According to the representatives of the cultural societies of the national minorities present at the Roundtable, this is a new positive initiative for essential and financial support of the cultural activities of the national minorities.

The Roundtable decided to authorise Hagi Šein to apply to the Minister of Culture and Minister of Population and the factions and commissions of the Riigikogu with a letter requesting to alter the plan to reduce the support to cultural societies in the state budget from 2 million kroons to 0.5 million kroons in the year 2000. If the state speaks of principal support to national minorities, it should not reduce the support to cultural and educational activities of the national minorities at the same time.

The Roundtable also formed a commission to analyse, in co-operation with the bureau of the Minister of Population, the ''Cultural Autonomy of National Minorities Act'', as the act passed in 1993 is not functioning. The working group wishes to substantiate the need to amend the act and to make a proposal to extend the regulatory area of the act. As Hagi Šein said, this would essentially mean the creation of a new legal act stipulating the protection of national minorities and different forms of local government.


Press Service of the Office of the President
Kadriorg, November 12, 1999

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