“Hard times create preconditions for further growth, and this we can see from the Estonian example, stating that this was the right way to go. Germany is a good example of a competitive economy in Europe demonstrating the necessity of structural reforms,” - said Toomas Hendrik Ilves at the meeting with the President of the FRG Joachim Hauk during his working visit to Germany.

“Germany is demonstrating the example of responsible, rational and logical behaviour for the entire Europe. Moreover, Germany, having joined internally the East and the West of the state together, is the leading country in overcoming difficulties between the Western and Eastern Europe”, - said Ilves.

“Europe is a single formation - there is no room for division into old and new states, for the arrogant attitude and biased approach, which is pointless and harmful to all of us. In this regard, Europe is in need of moral leadership on the part of Germany ", - stressed the President of Estonia.

According to him, economic integration, at least among the Euro-zone countries, should go deeper, whereas in the financial sector this applies to all member states of the European Union.

"It is in the interests of Estonia to avoid a split in the European Union between the Euro-zone countries and the rest, or if the split does occur, make it as small as possible. Otherwise it may interfere with the functioning of the EU internal market. Estonia also supports the further expansion of the Euro-zone, and it seems that Latvia is a strong candidate there"- added Mr. Toomas Hendrik Ilves.

Material has been prepared by the Centre of Geopolitical Studies with reference to the article from « Postimees.ee” of 04 07 2012.

According to the representative of the Russian opposition Leonid Gozman, Russia may not like the Baltic States and be an uncomfortable neighbour for Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, however is inoffensive for them, because it has finally accepted the fact of their independence.

It is easier to start business in Estonia than in Latvia and Lithuania, therefore more new firms are established in our country than in other Baltic States – refer to a new study SEB analysts and entrepreneurs.

President of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso received in Brussels representatives of the Lithuanian Government and promised to help the country to pass on to Euro in 2015.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Linas Linkevičius and the U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, signed in Brussels a joint plan on combating the illicit trafficking in nuclear and radioactive materials, reported in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania.

This was stated by the Prime Minister of Lithuania Algirdas Butkevicius, speaking about the powers of negotiators with the Russian company "Gazprom".