President of the Republic yesterday signed the Resolution refusing to promulgate the Land Reform Act Amendment Act passed in the Riigikogu on December 15, 1998, as the named Act contains provisions that are in conflict with the Constitution of the Republic of Estonia.

The Land Reform Act is one of the laws passed before the entry into force of the Constitution, which is also the reason for its special status from the viewpoint of the integrity of the legal system, and it has to be considered that acceding the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms on March 13, 1996, the Republic of Estonia made a reservation concerning ownership reform issues.

Therefore, the Land Reform Act Amendment Act is a legal act of specific nature in the context of international law. From the viewpoint of the Estonian commerce, acceleration of the land reform and development of the legal system, it is important that the legislative solutions helping to advance the development of the Estonian agriculture should avoid amendments to the Reform Acts as much as possible.

And yet the President expressed his high appreciation of the legislator’s attempt, express in the given Act, to protect the farmers from covert transactions.


Press Service of the Office of the President
Kadriorg, January 6, 1999

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