President of the Republic had a meeting with the opposition politicians Andres Tarand, Mart Laar and Toomas Hendrik Ilves today.

The President handed over a document which seeks the gradual increase of the defence expenditure and urges the politicians not to involve security policy issues in the election contest. So far, all members of the National Defence Council have supported this position. The President also handed over to the opposition representatives the Address to the Estonian Public of the President's Academic Council. The Address concerns the integration of aliens to the Estonian society and the current alarming demographic situation in Estonia, which calls for decisive changes by introduction of child-friendly family policy. The President expressed his hope that the election campaigns of the Estonian political parties would approach the demographic problems rationally and unemotionally.

In the near future, the President will also meet the representatives of other political forces of the Riigikogu in order to discuss the above issues.

The opposition representatives briefed the President on the political developments that have followed the Amendment Act banning election alliances, which was passed by the Riigikogu.


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

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