President Lennart Meri received the participants of the Congress of the EYC or European Young Conservatives from 13 European countries, in Kadriorg today.

President of the Republic answered the questions of the European Young Conservatives about the history, current political situation, and foreign and domestic policy priorities of Estonia. Andrew Griffith, representative of the EYC, strongly supported Estonia's wish to accede to the EU. ''As a representative of an EU member country, I would like to apologise that the EU is too deeply involved in solving domestic problems to look further and see those who are standing outside.''

In his answer to the question about the situation of the non-Estonians in Estonia, the President emphasised that the integration of the aliens to the Estonian society is first and foremost necessary for Estonia herself. ''If all the non-Estonians would decide one day to leave Estonia, it would mean the collapse of the Estonian economy,'' the President said.

For information, the President also handed over to the participants of the EYC Congress the Address to the Estonian Public of the President's Academic Council from November 25. The Address concerns the integration of aliens to the Estonian Society and improvement of the demographic situation by means of children-friendly family policy.


Press Service of the Office of the President
Kadriorg, November 27, 1998

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