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Estonian Review E E S T I R I N G V a a D E VOLUME 19 NO 18 APR 29 - MAY 5, 2009

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Estonian Review E E S T I R I N G V a a D E VOLUME 19 NO 18 APR 29 - MAY 5, 2009 Estonian Review E E S T I R I N G V A A D E VOLUME 19 NO 18 APR 29 - MAY 5, 2009 SPANISH ROYAL COUPLE VISITS ESTONIA King Juan Carlos Introduced to Estonia’s e-Government System 5 May - The King of Spain, Juan Carlos, in Estonia for a state visit, visited Stenbock House, where Prime Minister Andrus Ansip introduced the e-government system to His Majesty. “Our bilateral relations are great on the political level; we have great co- operation both in the European Union and NATO,” said Prime Minister Ansip when greeting King Juan Carlos. At the meeting, education-related co- operation between the two countries was discussed. It was admitted that the exchange of students between the two countries could be more active. The Lisbon Treaty was also President Toomas Hendrik Ilves and Evelin Ilves present gifts to discussed at the meeting. “Estonia King of Spain Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia in Kadriorg, 4 May. supports a strong European Union and the Lisbon Treaty would make the President of the Republic Met With King of Spain Union even stronger,” said the head of 4 May - Today in Kadriorg President Toomas Hendrik Ilves and the government. The prime minister Evelin Ilves received King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia of Spain, thanked Spain for supporting Estonia who arrived in Estonia on a state visit. in its regaining of independence, but “This is a significant visit, because this is the first time Spanish also in its joining of the European royals are visiting Estonia,” President Ilves stressed. The President made a Union and NATO. “Your support has state visit to Spain in July 2007. “Relations between our two countries are been very important for us,” said very good. Estonia and Spain are strong partners in the European Union as Ansip. well as NATO, where our co-operation is helped by a similarity of views In 2005, Prime Minister Andrus regarding most issues.” Ansip participated in the summit “I am especially proud to host King Juan Carlos, who has provided dedicated to the 10th anniversary of immeasurable support for the development of democracy in his home the Barcelona Process. Spain will hold country,” the Estonian head of state said. “We are both countries that have the Presidency of the European Union successfully emerged from authoritarian and totalitarian regimes and have in the first half of 2010. arrived in the European Union, an alliance that is based on common values.” President Ilves thanked King Juan Carlos for Spain’s participation in the Baltic Air Policing Mission and support for the activities of the NATO Cyber Defence Centre that has been established in Tallinn. “I am gratified that Spain understands the importance of cyber security as a 21st-century and cross-border issue and that it has joined Estonia and our other allies in the organisation of cyber defence,” President Ilves said. The Estonian head of state and the Spanish king also spoke about the global economic crisis. “One of the most pressing and painful problems, which requires our serious attention and fast solutions, is how to contain increasing unemployment,” President Ilves said. “It is also important that possible cuts and tax increases, which governments make to stabilise the economic situation and initiate a new recovery, are understandable to the people and thoroughly explained.” The other topics under discussion at the meeting were economic Prime Minister Andrus Ansip and transport cooperation and close cultural ties between Estonia and introduces Estonia’s e-government Spain, as well as the development of tourism and student exchanges. system to King Juan Carlos and Continued on page 2 Foreign Minister Miguel Ángel Moratinos King of Spain represent Estonia for issuing visas in 14 nations: Algeria, Argentina, Brazil, Costa Rica, El Salvador, (continued from page 1) Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, The Spanish head of state also met with Ene Paraguay, Puerto Rico, Uruguay, and Venezuela. Ergma, Speaker of the Riigikogu, as well as the During the meeting, Spanish Foreign Minister parliamentary leadership and chairmen of the Moratinos gave an overview of Spain’s plans as the political factions. He also met with representatives of EU presidency in the first half of 2010. Foreign the Spanish community in Estonia. Minister Urmas Paet and Spanish Foreign Minister Yesterday evening, President Ilves and Evelin Miguel Ángel Moratinos also discussed Estonia-Spain Ilves hosted an official dinner in honour of King Juan cultural and economic co-operation as well as Carlos and Queen Sofia of Spain. common goals in the European Union and NATO. They also exchanged ideas on overcoming the global Foreign Minister Paet: Estonia Would Like economic crisis, ensuring energy security, and Top-Level Dialogue With Spain battling climate change. Foreign Minister Urmas Paet and Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Ángel Moratinos met within the framework of the state visit of His Majesty the King of Spain Juan Carlos I and Queen Sofia to Estonia. FOREIGN NEWS Paet: European Union and Persian Gulf Nations Could Be Part of Common Free Trade Area 30 April - In his speech at the meeting of the foreign ministers of the European Union and the Persian Gulf Co-operation Council (PGCC) in Masqat, Foreign Minister Urmas Paet emphasised that the key to emerging from the Foreign Minister Urmas Paet with Spanish global financial crisis stands in improving the Foreign Minister Miguel Ángel Moratinos in the effectiveness of international economic co- Foreign Ministry, 4 May. operation, restoring the trustworthiness of the financial sector, and reducing trade barriers in 4 May - When signing the joint declaration for the world. “Setting up barriers in the global strengthening co-operation between the economy, especially in free trade, makes emerging foreign ministries with his Spanish colleague from this crisis very complicated in the long run,” Miguel Ángel Moratinos, Foreign Minister asserted the foreign minister. Urmas Paet emphasised that Estonia’s goal is While talking about developments in the to have regular top-level dialogue between the economic crisis, Paet emphasised that it is essential Spanish and Estonian foreign ministries. to prevent the spread of protectionist economic During their meeting, the foreign ministers policies. “Instead, we must find new opportunities to confirmed that relations between the two nations resolve the crisis. For example, to expand the free are good. Foreign Minister Urmas Paet thanked trade area, including between the European Union Spain for its contribution in creating the Co- and Persian Gulf countries, and to integrate operative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence. developing nations into the world trade system,” “International co-operation for ensuring cyber said Paet. He added that measures taken for security is extremely essential,” Paet stressed. “I am overcoming the economic crisis on the level of the pleased that Spain supported the creation of the European Union and of individual member states cyber defence centre and continues to contribute to must be in harmony with the principles of a the work of the centre as one of the founding functioning internal market and take into account nations,” he added. Two experts from Spain cross-border influences. currently work in the NATO Cyber Defence Centre in Foreign Minister Paet noted that international Estonia. financial institutions, including the International Paet thanked Spain for its readiness to help with Monetary Fund (IMF), must possess a bigger role in the monitoring of Baltic airspace in the name of crisis prevention and create an early warming NATO co-operation. Spain last participated in the system based on the monitoring of financial Baltic air policing mission in the second half of 2006 markets. “A nation-based approach should replace and has confirmed that it will do so again in the regional and financial group-based approaches,” he second half of 2011. According to Foreign Minister added. Urmas Paet, defence-related co-operation could also The members of the Persian Gulf Co-operation extend to training activities at the Baltic Defence Council are the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, College. Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, and Saudi Arabia. The Estonia and Spain also co-operate in the area of European Union concluded a co-operation visa representation. At the beginning of May, the agreement with the foreign ministers of the GCC in agreement signed by Estonian Foreign Minister 1989, on the basis of which a meeting is held on the Urmas Paet and Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel ministerial level once a year with the goal of Ángel Moratinos in February of this year came into developing trade relations and helping to ensure effect, according to which Spain will begin to stability in a strategically important area. with whom they discussed co-operation Iraqi Diplomats to Begin Studies in opportunities for promoting business relations. Estonia Estonia Improves Its Ranking in World 3 May - A 10-member group of Iraqi diplomats is arriving in Estonia today so that they may Press Freedom Index begin their 3-week course at the Estonian 2 May (BNS) - Estonia has further improved its School of Diplomacy on Monday, 4 May. ranking in the world press freedom index This is a part of Estonia’s contribution to the published by the New York based think tank reconstruction of Iraq, emphasises Foreign Minister Freedom House, rising to shared places 14-17 Urmas Paet. “Estonia completed its military from positions 16-20 last year. contribution in Iraq at the beginning of this year, but The freedom of the press index is an annual we continue to help with the building up of Iraq,” survey of media independence in 195 countries and said Paet. “Three Estonian staff officers continue to territories. serve in Iraq and Estonia is making contributions in In the report for 2008, released by Freedom the civilian sector, which includes this training in House on Saturday, Estonia is tied with Ireland, Estonia,” he added.
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