President Karis: We need science to guide us through difficult times

"As a small country, Estonia is a firm believer in alliances and partnerships. In the interests of security, economic development, cultural wealth and scientific excellence, we see no alternative to international cooperation. We need science to guide us through difficult times." So spoke President Alar Karis at a flag-raising ceremony in Geneva today marking Estonia's attainment of full membership of the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN).

The head of state says that exchanging ideas and undertaking joint research are very much needed to realise humanity's greatest aspirations, such as unlocking the deepest secrets of the universe. "The spirit of cooperation brings out the best in people, and has significant benefits for all," he remarked. "CERN is an excellent example of prolific international collaboration. I am proud that Estonia is now a full member of the organisation. Working together can lead not only to advances in science, but also to technological innovation and better education."

President Karis says that more than anything, CERN excites him. "It is exhilarating to discover how we have expanded our understanding of the universe and to open doors to new worlds," he said. "Estonia being accepted as a full member of CERN is recognition of the value we have to offer. We want to work with everyone else in the organisation to contribute to exciting science and innovation."

The head of state describes CERN as a perfect example of economic development being fostered through cutting-edge technological innovation and applied research. "Our membership of the organisation will enhance the innovation capacity of Estonian companies and boost investments in R&D," he said. "We hope to see a rise in the number of scientists working in the private sector as well. CERN's programmes represent a great opportunity for our students, teachers, engineers and scientists to obtain world-class training and bring new skills and ideas home with them."

The flag-raising ceremony was preceded by a meeting with CERN's director general Fabiola Gianotti, who provided President Karis with an overview of the organisation's activities. They spoke about deepening research cooperation, companies' capacity for innovation and boosting R&D investments. The head of state underscored that cooperation with Russia, as an aggressor state, is impossible at any level. "The involvement of Russian scientists in CERN's experiments could limit opportunities for scientific cooperation between us," he said.

While at CERN, President Karis also met with the Estonian scientists working there and was introduced to the world's most powerful particle accelerator, the Large Hadron Collider. He learned about one of its experiments, the 21-metre-long, 15-metre-wide and 15-metre-high CMS detector, which helped find the Higgs boson in 2012.

Gallery: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjBNnAS