Laar: CEE is thinking with its head
14.08.2009 | Mart Laar | English news
Mart Laar, chairman of Pro Patria and Res Publica Union (IRL) wrote in his blog that the open letter leaders of Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) sent to the US President Barack Obama shows that CEE is still able to think with its own head, delfi.ee writes.
"When I was contacted some time ago to tell that Philip H. Gordon, who is visiting CEE wishes to meet me separately during his short visit to Tallinn, then I was glad. As seen, the letter CEE sent to President Obama has had some influence," Laar wrote.
It's no wonder since when such people like Vaclav Havel and Lech Valesa humiliate their people, it's not easy to pay no attention to it. This letter shows, among other things, that CEE is still able to think with its own head, in other words approve those steps which seem rational and right, and tell their opinion. Adding public diplomacy to official diplomacy is practical step at this point, Laar note.
The main subject of the meeting between Laar and Gordon was the very same letter.
"It was good to see that first it is taken seriously - the meeting was a good sign in itself. And although the conversation was, as diplomatic language says, "open," it was useful and interesting to hear US explanations of their plans. In the end we admitted that it was beneficial to both parties, just like the letter to Obama, Laar wrote.
Yesterday Eesti Ekspress published a blog entry by Jaan Kaplinski, a writer and member of Social Democratic Party, where he doesn't agree with the letter. Kaplinski said it's humiliating him as a citizen of open democratic country.
Source: www.balticbusinessnews.com
