Key to further social integration is dialogue, OSCE High Commissioner says after Estonia visit
The OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities, Rolf Ekeus, paid a visit to Estonia from 17 to 19 March 2004. (OSCE/Ayhan Evrensel) Photo details
TALLINN, 19 March 2004 - The key to further social integration in Estonia is dialogue, the OSCE's High Commissioner on National Minorities, Ambassador Rolf Ekeus, said after meetings with the country's Education Minister, Toivo Maimets, and Interior Minister, Margus Leivo, in Tallinn today.
The High Commissioner expressed his appreciation of Estonia's progress in the integration process and encouraged the authorities to take it forward. He suggested that his office could provide expert assistance for the integration programme. In particular, he welcomed recent steps taken to speed up the naturalization procedures and emphasized the importance of reducing the number of stateless persons.
Ambassador Ekeus, who visited Estonia from 17 to 19 March to discuss issues of social integration with representatives of the Government, the Parliament and various non-governmental organizations, also stressed that careful preparation was the key to successful implementation of the minority education reform.
He underlined that the training of teachers in particular was an essential element in maintaining the quality of education. "There is no time to be wasted", he said.
The High Commissioner expressed his appreciation of Estonia's progress in the integration process and encouraged the authorities to take it forward. He suggested that his office could provide expert assistance for the integration programme. In particular, he welcomed recent steps taken to speed up the naturalization procedures and emphasized the importance of reducing the number of stateless persons.
Ambassador Ekeus, who visited Estonia from 17 to 19 March to discuss issues of social integration with representatives of the Government, the Parliament and various non-governmental organizations, also stressed that careful preparation was the key to successful implementation of the minority education reform.
He underlined that the training of teachers in particular was an essential element in maintaining the quality of education. "There is no time to be wasted", he said.