Overview of bilateral relations North America, Western and Southern Europe The summer of 2007 marked 85 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between Estonia and the United States of America. The U.S. policy of non-recognition of the forcible incorporation of Estonia into the Soviet Union is very valuable for Estonia. Giving a speech in June at the Heritage Foundation on the occasion of the 85th anni- versary of diplomatic relations between the Baltic states and the United States, Daniel Fried, the Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs, joked that in all likelihood, he and Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Paet could exchange speeches – the message would be the same. The common values of Estonia and the U.S. are not just empty words. A similar vision of the world truly exists. The meeting between Foreign Minister Urmas Paet, the Latvian and Lithuanian foreign ministers, and U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice within the framework of the anniversary of diplomatic relations was also very open and friendly. Testimony to the common view of history is provided by the establishment of a memorial to the victims of communism in Washington DC, which Estonia supported with a contri- bution. In 2008, there are plans to start up a virtual museum to introduce the crimes of communism, to which Estonia was the fi rst country to make a fi nancial contribution. If the highlight of 2006 was the visit of President George W. Bush to Estonia, then 2007 was graced by the visits of the Estonian heads of state and government to the United States. The visit of President Toomas Hendrik Ilves to the U.S. at the invitation of Presi- dent George W. Bush took place in June 2007, and included meetings with Defence Secretary Robert Gates and Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House of Representatives. In November 2007, Prime Minister Andrus Ansip made a working visit to the United States. The Prime Minister met with U.S. Vice President Richard B. Cheney, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Secretary of Energy Samuel Bodman, and Carlos Gutierrez, the Secretary of Commerce. At the end of November, Minister of Defence Jaak Aaviksoo also made a working trip to the U.S., where he met with Defence Secretary Robert Gates and Gordon England, the Deputy Secretary of Defence. 83 2007 ESTONIAN MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS YEARBOOK 2007 confi rmed the continuation of mutual relations between Estonia and Ireland as reliable co-operation partners. This is proved by joint participation in the EU Nordic Battle Group. Within the framework of the European Union, there are also other topics that unite the two countries – energy issues, competitiveness, and innovation. In the case of the latter, Estonia has quite a bit to learn from Ireland. A sign of the traditionally close relations between the two countries is the invitation issued in spring 2007 by Irish President Mary McAleese to her Estonian colleague to visit Ireland. The state visit will probably be one of next year’s most important events, and will vividly characterise the friendly and direct relations between the two countries. In relations between Estonia and the United Kingdom, 2007 can be characterised by a partnership in both the EU and NATO contexts. During the last year, an important expression of bilateral activity was defence-related co-operation. In September the minesweeper Admiral Cowan was inaugurated at the Tallinn Mine Port. This is the fi rst of the naval vessels to be procured from Great Britain. An Estonian contingent participates along with British soldiers in the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in the Helmand province of southern Afghanistan. Prime Minister Andrus Ansip and President Toomas Hendrik Ilves, who visited Great Britain at the beginning of the year, focused on EU topics in their public appearances at the London School of Economics and Oxford Students’ Union respectively, in order to introduce the viewpoint of a new member state. Work-intensive contacts continued between the Estonian and British parliaments. In June, Sven Mikser, the chairman of the Riigikogu’s Great Britain Parliamentary Group, and Marko Mihkelson, member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, visited their colleagues in London. During the fall of last year, a delegation of Liberal Democrats from the House of Commons and Gordon Marsden, the chairman of the Estonian Friendship Group in the House of Commons, visited Estonia. Cultural relations between Estonia and Great Britain intensifi ed further in 2007. Of the numerous musical events, the following deserve special mention: the premiere of Arvo Pärt’s work dedicated to Lennart Meri by the London Isis Chamber Orchestra; concerts by the London Philharmonic Orchestra and Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra con- ducted by the Estonian conductors Neeme Järvi and Paavo Järvi; and performances by the Scottish Chamber Orchestra under the direction of Olari Elts. The works of Es- tonian artists reached the British public in the galleries and exhibition halls of Cardiff and Glasgow. The year’s literary event was the publication of Viivi Luik’s The Beauty of History in English. 84 OVERVIEW OF WORLDWIDE BILATERAL RELATIONS 2007 2007 again demonstrated that relations between Estonia and Germany are very good. Early in the year, from 10-12 February, President Toomas Hendrik Ilves visited Germany. Meetings took place with Chancellor Angela Merkel and Federal President Horst Köhler. The main topics were the Reform Treaty, the Western Balkans, and EU-Russia relations. In addition, the importance of a common EU energy policy was acknowledged, as was the need for intensifying partnership relations between the EU and the U.S. On 15 March, a meeting took place in Tallinn between Foreign Minister Urmas Paet and Peter Harry Carstensen, the Premier of the State of Schleswig-Holstein. In addition to bilateral relations, the main topics of the meeting were the Reform Treaty and EU maritime policy. In May, Interior Minister of the State of Schleswig-Holstein Ralf Stegner also paid a visit to Estonia, and renewed a co-operation agreement. Germany’s Minister of Economics and Technology, Michael Glos, visited Tallinn from 3-4 May. At a meeting with Prime Minister Andrus Ansip and Juhan Parts, the Minister of Economic Affairs, Estonian-German economic relations were discussed and special attention was paid to the EU’s common energy policies. From 18-20 April, a visit by Susanne Kastner, Vice-President of the Bundestag, took place. The topics under discussion included the German EU Presidency, the Reform Treaty, energy policies, and bilateral relations. One of last year’s high points was the offi cial visit of German Foreign Minister Frank Walter Steinmeier to Estonia from 10-11 July. At meetings with President Toomas Hendrik Ilves, Prime Minister Andrus Ansip and Foreign Minister Urmas Paet, EU topics, as well as Afghanistan, the Middle East, Central Asia and Africa were under discussion. As in previous years, numerous cultural events also took place in 2007. Estonian cinema received great recognition last year, when the beloved animated fi lm Lotte from Gadgetville became the fi rst Estonian fi lm to be distributed in Germany. From 19-20 April, an exhibition and fi lm program entitled Having Soul – 50 Jahre Nukufi lm Tallinn took place at the Dresden Film Festival. Also worth mentioning is the success of Estonian design in Germany. From 30-31 March, Estonia was a partner country at the Stuttgart design conference, Face to Face 7. Great recognition was also given to two Estonian companies – Aquator and Thulema – in the form of a design management certifi cate of honour, presented in Essen in November 2007. Various exhibitions, poetry evenings, and concerts continually take place at the Estonian Embassy. From January to September, an exhibition of Meiu Münt’s paintings entitled 85 2007 ESTONIAN MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS YEARBOOK “The Day is Dark” was on display; and in November, a photo exhibition on Arvo Pärt opened, for the occasion of the composer’s 70th birthday. The composer and his wife also attended the opening of the exhibition. Last year, our musicians continued to enjoy success in Germany as well. Thus, on 1 May in Karlsruhe, Kristjan Randalu was presented with the Jazz Prize of the State of Baden-Württemberg for 2007. On 9 November, one of Estonia’s most renowned composers, Arvo Pärt, was presented with the International Bridge Award in Görlitz. Riigikogu Speaker Ene Ergma also attended the ceremony, and the Laudatio was given by President of the German Bundestag, Norbert Lammert. In 2007, preparations were initiated for a dignifi ed celebration to mark the 90th anniver- sary of the Republic of Estonia. From January to June of this year, an extensive cultural programme entitled ESSENTIA BALTICA 2008, dedicated to the 90th anniversaries of the Republics of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, will take place in Germany. In addition to Berlin, Estonia will concentrate its events in the State of Baden-Württemberg, and the focus will be on culture, tourism, economics and education. In addition to Stuttgart and other cities in the state, events will also take place in Baden-Württemberg’s missions in Berlin and Brussels. In respect to France, the highlight of 2007 was the opening of the new Estonian Embassy in Paris on 13 February. This meant a return to one’s own building after the occupation and annexation of Estonia by the Soviet Union in 1940. Numerous high-level meetings and visits took place in 2007. Within the framework of the opening of the new Estonian Embassy, a bilateral meeting took place between Foreign Minister Urmas Paet and Catherine Colonna, France’s Minister for European Affairs, where current EU topics and EU-Russia relations were discussed.