TALLINN - Estonian President Toomas Hendrik Ilves has suggested that Saaremaa islanders should hold a referendum to find out their opinions concerning the construction of a bridge from the mainland to Muhu Island.
In an interview to the local newspaper, Meie Maa, the president said that Saaremaa islanders should first find out what their preferences are.
Ilves told the paper that in bridge-building issues the Estonians sould be guided by the Danish experience, which has obvious parallels with Estonia. Bridges have been built between several islands and the mainland in Denmark and at first bridge-building plans generated a great deal of controversy among local people, Ilves said in the interview.
But after the construction of the bridges the Danish islands benefitted from the growth of tourism and no one now doubts in the expediency of the bridges, Ilves said.
