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Estonian Review E E S T I R I N G V a a D E VOLUME 19 NO 9 FEB 25 - MAR 3, 2009

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Estonian Review E E S T I R I N G V a a D E VOLUME 19 NO 9 FEB 25 - MAR 3, 2009 Estonian Review E E S T I R I N G V A A D E VOLUME 19 NO 9 FEB 25 - MAR 3, 2009 FOREIGN NEWS FOREIGN NEWS Foreign Minister Paet Gives Annual Foreign Policy Address to Riigikogu 26 February - During the annual foreign policy speech in the Riigikogu, Foreign Minister Urmas Paet focused on security-related challenges in international co-operation and Estonia’s contributions in such endeavours. Paet emphasised that Estonia’s foreign policy activities are based upon the principle of spreading democratic values. Foreign Minister Paet stated that the UN, OSCE, NATO, and the Council of Europe are organisations founded on democratic principles that have withstood the test of time. “The most suitable place for discussing the possible improving of the security architecture is the OSCE,” said Prime Minister Andrus Ansip with Czech Prime Paet. “Solutions for the problems must be found within Minister and President of the European Council the framework of the existing security architecture by Mirek Topolanek in Brussels, 1 March. maximising its various elements. However, it is essential that participants in the existing security structure adhere Prime Minister Ansip: European Union to the agreed upon principles,” Paet added. Must Be Unified In talking about Estonia’s participation in foreign missions, the foreign minister thanked those who 1 March - Prime Minister Andrus Ansip participated on Estonia’s behalf in the Iraq mission which attended the unofficial meeting of the drew to a close this year. “Iraq was the first international European Union heads of state and heads of operation in which Estonian Defence Forces personnel government in Brussels. The main topics under participated in active peace enforcement. It can only be discussion were the financial crisis and its effect on assumed how many attacks and terrorist actions the real economy, the implementation of the European activities of the Estonian units in Iraq prevented, as well Economic Recovery Plan in the member states, as how many lives were saved,” said Paet. The foreign opportunities for increasing the employment rate, minister emphasised Estonia’s desire to develop co- and the preparations for the G20 Summit of the operation with the United States in Afghanistan as well. world’s leading industrial and developing countries. “In the transfer of Estonian military capabilities from Iraq Ansip said that in order to quickly overcome the to Afghanistan, one likely form of co-operation with the economic crisis, Europe must be unified and strong. Americans would be the formation of a joint Embedded “There are no different blocs in Europe,” said Ansip. Training Team,” noted the Estonian foreign minister. “The drawing of lines splits the European Union In his presentation, Paet stated that during this global and, in summary, injures everyone’s interests. The economic crisis nations must continue co-operating in the European Union must act in unison.” name of liberalising trade, avoiding protectionism, and the The prime minister stressed the need to adhere openness of the economy. “Compromises cannot be made to the fundamental principles of the domestic at the expense of security. Physical and economic security market and called on people to avoid protectionism. are two sides of the same coin,” Paet emphasised. He “The adherence to common rules is the prerequisite noted that Estonia is focusing more attention on economic for the functioning of the domestic market,” Ansip diplomacy. “The role of Estonian embassies in promoting stressed. “Estonia supports the steps of the Estonian economic relations abroad has increased in the European Commission for strengthening the financial crisis situation. We have made the solving of the domestic market. Protectionist measures only concerns of Estonian entrepreneurs - both exporters and deepen the crisis and will not help solve it.” investors - our priority, and we believe that we can be of Considering the unofficial nature of the summit, assistance with our knowledge and our advice,” he stated. conventional conclusions were not made. The foreign minister also gave the members of the Riigikogu an overview of Estonia’s contributions to international organisations and development co-operation, QUOTATION OF THE WEEK the European Union’s energy security issues, bilateral co- operation, and protecting the interests of Estonian citizens “Compromises cannot be made at the abroad. expense of security. Physical and economic The full text of the foreign minister’s speech can be security are two sides of the same coin.” found on the Foreign Ministry’s website: Urmas Paet in the annual foreign policy http://www.vm.ee/eng/kat_140/10688.html. address to the Riigikogu Paet Discusses Israel-Palestine Conflict As of February 2007, the parents of children with with Egyptian Colleague unspecified citizenship are informed when registering the birth of their child that they can 1 March - Foreign Minister Urmas Paet and his apply for Estonian citizenship for their child through Egyptian colleague Ahmed Aboul Gheit, during a simplified process. At the present moment, the their meeting in Cairo, emphasised how Citizenship and Migration Board has contacted all important achieving a strong, lasting and long- 275 parents who have had a child with unspecified term truce agreement is for the resolution of citizenship and the feedback has been very positive. the Israel-Palestine conflict. According to the prime minister, applying for Foreign Minister Urmas Paet recognised Egypt’s citizenship is a very important decision for which a intermediation in finding a resolution to the Israel- person must show some initiative. Palestine conflict. Egyptian Foreign Minister Gheit Knut Vollebaek, the OSCE High Commissioner on stated that the most important thing is to prevent National Minorities, met with Minister of Justice Rein the eruption of more military activity in Gaza. Lang before visiting Stenbock House. Meetings will The Estonian and Egyptian foreign ministers said also be held with the Minister of Population Affairs that the creation of a Palestinian state next to Israel Urve Palo and Members of the Riigikogu Paul-Eerik is the primary goal of the peace process. “The Rummo and Mart Nutt. The High Commissioner will international community must continue to support also visit East-Viru County, where he will meet with the efforts of the Palestinian Authority to create a the county governor Riho Breivel and mayor of unified government. This will create better Narva, Tarmo Tammiste. The Commissioner will also circumstances for continuing the peace process,” visit the Narva College of the University of Tartu. On said Foreign Minister Paet. “Tomorrow’s conference Wednesday, the High Commissioner will meet with for Gaza donors will also help to vitalise the Middle the Minister of Education and Research Tõnis Lukas East peace process,” he added. and the Minister of Foreign Affairs Urmas Paet, with Paet stated that Egypt is an attractive and whom a joint press conference will also be given. interesting travel destination for Estonians, and that nearly 60 000 Estonians visited the country last year. “Considering the number of travellers, we would like to find an honorary consul for the area of Sharm el Shiekh,” Paet noted. Foreign Minister Paet extended an invitation to his Egyptian colleague to visit Estonia. The ministers agreed that signing an agreement for the protection of investments this year would help to enliven economic relations between the two countries. “Reciprocal visits by business delegations would help to advance business relations. We should also look for co-operation opportunities in the information technology and energy sectors,” said Paet. The foreign minister added that an agreement has essentially been reached with Egypt for a Prime Minister Andrus Ansip with OSCE High professor of the Arabic language to begin working at Commissioner on National Minorities Knut Tallinn University. Vollebaek in Stenbock House, 2 March. Protection of National Minorities a Paet: Economic Crisis Must Not Develop Priority of Government in Estonia Into Political Crisis 2 March - At his meeting with Knut Vollebaek, 27 February - At a meeting with his Lithuanian the OSCE (Organisation for Security and Co- and Latvian colleagues Vygaudas Ušackas and operation in Europe) High Commissioner on Maris Riekstins in Utena, Lithuania, Foreign National Minorities, Prime Minister Andrus Minister Urmas Paet emphasised that security- Ansip said that ensuring the protection of related and economic issues are very closely ethnic minorities and promoting their cultures tied. “During this global economic situation, are priorities for the government. intensifying co-operation between Europe and the According to the prime minister, the government United States is very important in order to prevent has adopted two comprehensive integration the protectionist economic policies arising all over programmes for the years 2000-2007 and 2008- the world,” stated the Estonian foreign minister. 2013 to act on this priority. According to him, the While talking about the NATO foreign ministers number of persons of unspecified citizenship has meeting occurring in Brussels next week, the foreign also been decreasing on a constant basis. “Although ministers agreed that future co-operation of the the tempo has slowed down, the state has Baltic states with the USA will be a main factor in continuously been looking for new ways to speed it the stabilisation of the situation in Afghanistan. up,” said Ansip, stating that the
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