The President of the Republic expressed hope that the Forum of the National Agreement would establish good working relations with the Riigikogu and the Government of the Republic, and observed that the political parties having signed the agreement formed a good bridgehead for creating such relations.
"Our demographic crisis and the situation of families with children have been important topics before and after nearly all of the elections, which have taken place since the reestablishment of Estonian independence. Yet Estonia has had no long-term development strategy founded on broad-based national agreement. That's the very reason why many development plans of political parties and ruling coalitions have not been implemented. Each new government has got down to devising their own population strategy and family concept, although it would take combined efforts of several subsequent governments, stable political environment and public support to achieve results in these areas," President Rüütel said.
The President of the Republic extended gratitude to all parties to the agreement process for their contribution and wished them strength for their future activities.
Public Relations Unit of the Office of the President
Kadriorg, November 20, 2003
