The international jury of the distinguished French weekly ''La Vie'', chaired by Jacques Delors, nominated president Meri of Estonia ''The European of the Year 1998''.

In earlier years, Mary Robinson, the UN Commissioner of Human Rights, Helmut Kohl, the Federal Chancellor of Germany, independent Polish journalist Adam Michnik, et al, have been nominated. This year, the nomination was given for the twelfth time.

Of the grounds for this year's choice, Jacques Delors wrote: ''The jury wished to honour your indefatigable struggle for the rebirth of your nation, for its freedom and for the freedom of the inhabitants of Estonia. It was the wish of the jury to decorate the statesman nourished by the European culture, who is convinced of the need to unite this continent, and who has, with excellent results, done everything in his power for Estonia to become one of the most serious candidates for a rapid integration into the European Union.''

In his reply to Jacques Delors' congratulations, President Meri emphasised that in his nomination he saw first and foremost ''the appreciation of the Estonian people, who after the restoration of their independence chose the quickest, and therefore the hardest way for restoring their country on the foundation of the common values of Europe. This distinguished name now belongs to the Estonian people''. Considering Estonia's position in Europe, the President said: ''Unlike the big nations, the Estonians have been forced to ask themselves whether our country, our nation and our mother tongue will last. Under the pressure of the Soviet occupation forces and their assimilation policy this question was justified, and the answer was no. The European phenomenon, on the other hand, assures the Estonians that Europe also needs small nations...''

President Jacques Chirac will receive the President of the Republic, the European of the Year 1998, in February next year, the Estonian Embassy in Paris has informed.


Press Service of the Office of the President
Kadriorg, December 22, 1998

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