President Lennart Meri received the members of the Constitutional Committee of the Riigikogu in Kadriorg today. On the meeting, ideas were exchanged on several important Draft Acts that are currently discussed in Riigikogu, including the Amendment Acts of the Riigikogu Election Act and the Citizenship Act, which deals with granting Estonian citizenship to children without citizenship.

The President worried that the elections to take place in spring might be jeopardized by the delay in passing the Riigikogu Election Act. He supported the proposal to enable the Estonian citizens abroad to vote by means of preliminary vote by letter. The Committee members assured the President that the Commission would do everything in its power to ensure the quickest and most efficient solution of the technical aspects of organizing the elections in Riigikogu. The Draft Act of amending Chapter 6 and adding Chapter 6A to the Riigikogu election act, which was presented for discussion today, would certainly enhance the process.

The Head of State emphasised that the Draft Act based on the UN Convention of the Rights of the Child that would enable the children who have no citizenship so far to accept Estonian citizenship, would be useful both from the viewpoint of domestic and foreign policy. It would considerably facilitate the integration into the Estonian society of the young generation that knows no other environment than Estonia.

President of the Republic and members of the Riigikogu Constitutional Committee also exchanged ideas on the role and status of the County Governors.


Press Service of the Office of the President
Kadriorg, October 13, 1998

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