Ilves Hosts Halonen at Kadriorg

**~~Äike~~** · 01-30-2012, 01:54 PM

Ilves Hosts Halonen at Kadriorg

Presidents Tarja Halonen and Toomas Hendrik Ilves at Kadriorg
( Photo: Courtesy Välisministeerium )

President Toomas Hendrik Ilves hosted a lunch at the presidential residence in honor of the departing Finnish head of state Tarja Halonen.

“Estonia and Finland are like two boat crews of fellow travelers on the Baltic Sea who support each other but are sometimes separated by storms; however, they have never lost each other from sight and soon again sail on, side by side,” Ilves said to Halonen who today arrived on a farewell visit to Tallinn.

According to Ilves, he is only able to speak in Estonian with another head of state on one occasion - when speaking to Tarja Halonen.

“This expresses the special warmth and closeness of the relations between Estonia and Finland - and trochaic tetrameter folklore, which is called runic verse in Estonia and Kalevala verse in Finland, is not the reason for that. Over the past two decades, we have found support, understanding, assistance and allies in each other, even in situations where we have been competitors,” Ilves said.

Touching upon the current sovereign debt crisis in Europe, Ilves said: “Finland, like Estonia, has one of the most responsible budget and financial policies among the European Union countries. We have both observed the rules, which we adopted ourselves, and respected the commitments to the European Union and the Eurozone. This will give both of us the right to demand the same attitude from others.”