Estonian Review E E S T I R I N G V a a D E VOLUME 16 NO 49 DEC 13 - 20, 2006 M E R R Y C H R I S T M a S !
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Estonian Review E E S T I R I N G V A A D E VOLUME 16 NO 49 DEC 13 - 20, 2006 M E R R Y C H R I S T M A S ! FOREIGN NEWS Foreign Minister Opens Estonian Embassy in Georgia, PM at European Council Supports Meets With Georgian Leaders EU Enlargement Dec 19 – On a two-day visit to a key Western-friendly country Dec 14 – Speaking at the European in the Caucasus, Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Paet Council, Estonian Prime Minister opened the Estonian embassy in Tbilisi and met with Andrus Ansip expressed firm support Georgian leaders. for further enlargement of the Paet met with President Mikhail Saakashvili, Prime Minister European Union (EU). Zurab Noghaideli and State Minister Giorgi Baramidze. The embassy "It is the main duty for Estonia in Georgia is the only Estonian mission in the southern Caucasus. and other member countries to better Bilateral relations, Georgia's Euro-Atlantic aspirations and explain the positive aspects of Georgian-Russian relations were discussed during Paet's meeting enlargement," Ansip said. with the Georgian president. The Prime Minister underlined that The parties found that the opening of the Estonian embassy the European Union must keep the would raise Estonian-Georgian relations to a qualitatively new level. promises given to countries taking part in President Saakashvili expressed the hope that Estonian businessmen the enlargement process in accordance and tourists would now become more interested in Georgia. Georgia with their achievements in the is planning to start building its embassy in Tallinn next year. implementation of reforms. Saakashvili gave an overview of the current state of affairs in Ansip underlined that the Georgian-Russian relations and the situation in Abkhazia and South accession criteria are clearly defined and Ossetia. Paet said that both the European Union and Estonia had obligatory for all countries aspiring for EU expressed support for Georgia in its tensions with Russia, and said membership. Russia would still remain an important neighbour for Georgia. "Estonia is pleased to welcome "It is necessary to focus on activities related to NATO and Bulgaria and Romania as countries soon to the European Union and to speak about achievements in that become members of the European Union," context. Behaviour that could be interpreted as being provocative or Ansip said. "We appeal to the acceding a reaction to provocations will not benefit either of the sides," Paet countries to continue carrying out reforms, said. which would set a good example also for Mainly economic issues were addressed during Paet's other membership applicants." meeting with Prime Minister Noghaideli. The Georgian premier said Ansip said accession was a long that Georgia had chosen a course of implementation of liberal process and so the European Union had economic policies and the first steps in that direction had already time also for the necessary internal proven themselves with the expected economic growth nearing 10 reforms parallel with the ongoing percent this year. Russian economic sanctions had forced Georgia to negotiations. start looking for new markets. In its conclusions the European Council stated that enlargement had been very successful for the EU and had led to the growth of prosperity and stability throughout Europe. The European Council welcomed accession of Bulgaria and Romania to the European Union. "The European Council sent a clear message that the door was open to all European countries meeting the criteria," Ansip said. The European Council also confirmed the Commission's proposal to continue accession talks with Turkey. In response to Turkey's unwillingness to open its airports and ports to Cypriot vehicles, it was decided not to open accession talks in issues pertaining to functioning of the Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Paet and Georgian Foreign domestic market. Minister Gela Bezhuashvili at the opening of Estonian effective. Embassy in Tbilisi, December 18, 2006 (Continued on page 2) (Continued from page 1) year the Foreign Ministry gave 800,000 kroons to In addition to enlargement the central issues support a humanitarian assistance project in Sudan. of the EU summit were increasing the efficiency of The country has been in a civil war for 21 years, and the decision-making process in justice and internal as a consequence of its devastating results the matters as well as immigration policy. United Nations has classified Sudan as one of the In his speech, the prime minister drew biggest humanitarian disaster areas in the world. attention to the need to strengthen border controls The European Council also adopted a and the capability of institutions ensuring it. declaration on the Middle East, pointing out that the He also said that Estonia supported area was facing one of the most serious crises over cooperation with third countries both in terms of years. legal migration as well as in the fight against illegal Paet said the European Union was prepared immigration. to do its utmost to overcome the impasse in the In the sphere of justice and interior affairs peace process and alleviate tensions in the whole the heads of state and government pointed up the region. need for more cooperation. The scrapping of borders "The Gaza ceasefire is the first significant between the member countries has led to the need step towards detente. But there is sense in the to better coordinate the work of police institutions ceasefire only if the violation stops and the political and improve activity related to the guarding of process supports it," he added. external borders of the bloc. The European Council underlined the need The discussion focused above all on the for urgent and full implementation of the Middle East issue how to make decision-making in justice and roadmap, starting with freedom of movement and interior issues faster and more effective. Several full guarantees of accession, release of prisoners member countries underlined the need to move on and restoration of security cooperation. with the EU Constitutional Treaty. The Estonian foreign minister said that these Estonia, too, found the Constitutional Treaty would preliminary but important steps must lead to be the best solution to make the decision-making meaningful talks over the final status of Palestine. process more effective. "The aim, after all, is putting an end to the occupation that started in 1967 and creation of an Estonian PM at EU Summit Underlines independent, democratic and viable state of Need for Supporting Afghanistan Palestine.” In case of Iran, foreign ministers of the Dec 15 - Speaking at the European Union (EU) European Union expressed the concern that Iran's summit in Brussels, Estonian Prime Minister politics would have a negative effect on the security Andrus Ansip underlined the need to pay more and stability of the Middle East. Paet said that Iran attention to Afghanistan. had become the most powerful country in the Middle Ansip underlined that the EU must pay more East. attention to Afghanistan. He said that he had been "Iran must take a considerably more to Afghanistan a few days ago and could see that responsible stance to its role in that region," Paet situation there was complicated. underlined, adding that Estonia expected a "President Karzai and the government have diplomatic settlement of nuclear issues. Paet clear aims but the country cannot be turned in the regretted that Iran had not seriously taken direction of democracy without international proposals by EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana. assistance. It is very important that by this declaration we express clear readiness for long-term Foreign Minister Opens Estonian Embassy support of Afghanistan," Ansip said. in Georgia, Meets With Georgian Leaders Foreign Minister: Violence in Sudan Must (Continued from page 1) End The Estonian foreign minister encouraged Georgia to look for new markets in order to reduce Dec 15 - Speaking at the EU foreign ministers' their producers' heavy dependence on the Russian meeting at the European Council in Brussels, market. Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Paet said that "Estonia's present economic success is the violence in the Darfur region of Sudan had largely based on the double customs duties Russia to end and all warring parties would have to established in the middle of the previous decade. We respect human rights. were then in a situation where new markets had to "The Sudanese government must commence be found for our goods," Paet said. cooperation with the international community, since Paet said that growth of interest in the level of violence in the country requires rapid investment opportunities in Georgia could be intervention," Paet said. observed among Estonian businessmen. The European Council adopted a declaration "Georgian experts distributing information expressing concern over the worsening security and about investment are always welcome in Estonia. At humanitarian situation and the violation of human the same time Georgia must continue building up a rights in Darfur. stable and transparent business environment in Paet said the extension of violence in Darfur order to attract investments," Paet said. had led to sharp deterioration of the human rights The Estonian foreign minister's meeting with situation in Darfur and human rights operations Baramidze, the Georgian state minister for Euro- there have had to be interrupted. Atlantic integration, focused on Georgia’s aspiration Estonia has supported improvement of the toward Euro-Atlantic structures and ongoing humanitarian situation in Sudan since 2004. This reforms. Foreign Minister Confirms Wish to NATO, but relations with Russia and frozen conflicts Continue Development Cooperation with were also dwelt upon. Kezerashvili thanked Estonia for supporting Georgia Georgia's aspirations toward NATO. Paet underlined Dec 18 - Estonia wants to continue close that the two countries' defence cooperation was development with Georgia with mainly good and would continue in the future. Georgian needs in mind, Estonian Foreign Paet said relations with Georgia on the level Minister Urmas Paet said.