In his speech at Kiev Security Forum, President of the Riigikogu (Parliament of Estonia) Eiki Nestor said that the greatest conflict is between open and closed views of the world, and open society is the main security threat for the regime that causes extensive security threat.

“Already for some time the greatest conflict is between open and closed views of the world. The open world is democratic, respects people and freedoms, tolerant, acknowledges both victories and losses,” Nestor said. “In the closed world there are only victories, and these victories are used to convince people into believing that those who are different must be enemies. And to keep oneself in power with the help of this lie.”

In Nestor’s opinion, it is therefore no wonder that the authoritarian regimes, eurosceptics, nationalists, homophobes and xenophobes find and support each other. “They have one enemy, and this is open and tolerant world,” he added.

Nestor noted that the model of free society does not rule out making of mistakes. “But the more open a society is, the faster the mistakes are found out, and they can be corrected early,” said the President of the Riigikogu. “As we know, no mistakes are made in government systems that are against democracy.”

Nestor is in Ukraine on a four-day visit. On Wednesday he met with the Chairman of the Parliament of Ukraine Volodymyr Groisman, and on Thursday with the Minister of Foreign Affairs Pavlo Klimkin and the Prime Minister of Ukraine Arseniy Yatsenyuk.

Riigikogu Press Service
Urmas Seaver
Phone: +372 631 6352; +372 50 39 907
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