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Estonian Review E E S T I R I N G V a a D E VOLUME 18 NO 14 MAR 26- APR 1, 2008

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Estonian Review E E S T I R I N G V a a D E VOLUME 18 NO 14 MAR 26- APR 1, 2008 Estonian Review E E S T I R I N G V A A D E VOLUME 18 NO 14 MAR 26- APR 1, 2008 FOREIGN NEWS FOREIGN NEWS Estonia Approves of Creating New Partnership and Co-operation Agreement between the European Union and Russia Mar 29 - Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Paet participated in the informal meeting of European Union foreign ministers held in Slovenia from 28- 29 March. On Friday, the topic of discussion was further development of relations between the European Union and Russia. In his turn on the floor, the foreign minister emphasised the necessity of creating a new Partnership and Co-operation Agreement between the European Union and Russia, and expressed hope that the EU will soon approve a mandate for negotiations on a new Foreign Minister Urmas Paet and Georgian agreement with Russia. “A new Partnership and Co- Prime Minister Vladimer Gurgenidze in operation Agreement would create better conditions for Estonian Foreign Ministry, 30 March. the European Union and Russia to co-operate in their shared neighbourhood,” said Paet. “We would like to see Foreign Minister Paet Met with Russia as a constructive partner in resolving the security Georgian Prime Minister issues in the region,” the foreign minister stated, noting that Estonia would be glad to consider a new president Mar 30 - Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas assuming office in Russia as an opportunity to repair and Paet met with Georgian Prime Minister improve relations between the European Union and Vladimer Gurgenidze, in Tallinn on a visit. Russia. The ministers spoke about development co- Paet reminded that even though both the European operation, Georgia’s opportunities regarding Union and Russia have vital interests when it comes to NATO and the European Union, and the frozen co-operation, the EU should not forget its principal conflicts in Abkhazia and South Ossetia. values. “The new agreement should be comprehensive Gurgenidze and Paet felt that in future and legally binding. We would definitely need to agree on development co-operation, more attention energy-related co-operation that would be based on the should be given to small businesses and ideas of a market economy, transparency, non- increasing business-related knowledge. discrimination and being mutually beneficial,” said the “Improving the quality of leadership and Estonian foreign minister. financial skills in small businesses would help to The current European Union-Russia Partnership and strengthen Georgia’s economy as a whole,” Co-operation Agreement came into force in 1997 for 10 Paet noted. Georgia is one of Estonia’s primary years. The parties agreed that until a new agreement development co-operation partners. Priority comes into force, the existing agreement will be areas of co-operation are supporting the automatically extended each year on 1 December by one educational sector, developing democracy as year. Therefore the agreement is still valid until 1 well as good administrative practices and, and December this year. supporting economic development. During their meeting, the foreign ministers also Gurgenidze and Paet also talked about discussed the situation in Tibet and called for a dialogue Georgia’s NATO perspective. The Estonian to be initiated between the Dalai Lama and the Chinese foreign minister confirmed that Estonia authorities. According to Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas supports the idea of giving a NATO Membership Paet, who participated in the meeting, a lasting solution Action Plan to Georgia during the Buchrest to the situation in Tibet can only be achieved by peaceful summit. “In any case, Georgia must be given a measures that are in accordance with international clear signal during the Bucharest summit, which democratic principles. “A dialogue between Chinese will encourage the nation to continue its NATO- authorities and the Dalai Lama must guarantee the related endeavours,” the foreign minister cultural and religious rights of the Tibetan people. It added. must also address vital issues like the protection of the language, culture, religion and traditions of Tibet,” he added. LENNART MERI CONFERENCE – PHOTO GALLERY Olli Rehn, Member of the European Commission, Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Paet and the Chairman of Baltic Development Forum Ufe Ellemann-Jensen. György Schöpflin, Member of the European Parliament and President Toomas Hendrik Ilves. Minister of Defence Jaak Aaviksoo and Estonian Ambassador to NATO Jüri Luik. Georgian Prime Minister Vladimer Gurgenidze and Estonian Charge d'affair in Tbilisi Harry Lahthein. Director of Estonian Foreign policy Institute Prof. Andres Kasekamp and Marko Mihkelson, Member of Estonian Parliament. Estonian Foreign Ministry’s Undersecretary in European Affairs Kaja Tael and German Ambassador Julius Bobinger. Ministry for practical experience during France’s EU FOREIGN NEWS presidency. Matti Maasikas and Kaja Tael also met with EU Estonia is First to Sign Wreck Removal adviser to the French Prime Minister Gilles Briatta Convention and the director of the politics and security policy Mar 28 - Estonian Ambassador to the United department of the French Foreign Ministry Gérard Kingdom Dr Margus Laidre signed the Nairobi Araud. International Convention on the Removal of Gilles Briatta gave an overview of France’s Wrecks on behalf of Estonia at the priorities during their upcoming EU presidency. They International Maritime Organisation primarily plan to focus on climate change and Headquarters in London. Estonia is the first energy policy, but also security and immigration country to sign the Convention. policy, as well as implementing the Lisbon Treaty. The Nairobi Wreck Removal Convention was adopted in May 2007 and will provide the legal basis Foreign Minister Highlights Macedonia’s for States to remove, or have removed, shipwrecks Favourable Tax Policy that may have the potential to affect adversely the Apr 1 - Foreign Minister Urmas Paet met with safety of lives, goods and property at sea, as well as the Macedonian Minister without Portfolio in the marine environment. charge of foreign investments Gligor According to Ambassador Laidre the Convention, Tashkovich, in Estonia on a visit. once in force, can fill a gap in the existing The ministers discussed economic co-operation international legal framework by providing set of between the two nations, as well as Macedonia’s international rules aimed at ensuring the effective economic reforms and aspirations to join NATO and removal of wrecks. “Estonia’s will to join the the European Union. The situation in the Western Convention proves that Estonia is a credible partner Balkans was also discussed. contributing to the IMO goals of safe navigation and According to Foreign Minister Paet, relations with marine environmental protection,” he said. Macedonia are very active, which is demonstrated The Convention is open for signature until 18 by the large number of reciprocal visits that take November 2008 and, thereafter, will be open for place. Last year alone, 20 visits on various levels ratification, accession or acceptance. In Estonia it were made between Estonia and Macedonia. In has to be ratified by the parliament. The Convention order to increase interest from Nordic and Baltic will enter into force twelve months following the businessmen towards the Western Balkan region, a date on which ten States have either signed it Baltic, Balkan and Nordic business forum will be held without reservation as to ratification, acceptance or in Tallinn at the end of May. “Hopefully an honorary approval or have deposited instruments of consulate will be opened in Macedonia soon, which ratification, acceptance, approval or accession with would give additional momentum to the the Secretary General of IMO. development of relations between the two nations,” Paet stated. Maasikas and Tael Discussed Priorities of In talking about the economic environment, the France’s EU Presidency in Paris Estonian foreign minister highlighted Macedonia’s Mar 27 - Secretary General of the Estonian low flat tax. “Macedonia held Estonia as an example Foreign Ministry Matti Maasikas and when it carried out its economic reforms. Now Undersecretary for European Union Affairs Macedonia, with its 10% taxation rate, has become Kaja Tael met with Secretary General of the an example for Estonia,” Paet noted. Minister French Foreign Ministry Gérard Errera in Paris. Tashkovich confirmed that thanks to the results of Topics of discussion in the meeting were the economic reforms, the investment environment bilateral relations, next week’s NATO summit has improved and foreign investors’ interest towards in Bucharest, and matters related to energy Macedonia has increased. policy. The ministers also spoke about NATO In discussing NATO expansion, Secretary General enlargement. Foreign Minister Paet emphasised that Maasikas confirmed that Estonia supports giving Estonia supports the idea of offering an invitation to invitations for accession to Croatia, Macedonia and join to new candidate countries. Albania during the Bucharest summit, assuming that those candidate nations continue making the Prime Minister Ansip Met with his Czech necessary reforms and preparations for NATO Counterpart accession. The secretary general added that the Mar 26 - Prime Minister Andrus Ansip met with further Euro-Atlantic integration of Georgia and Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek in Ukraine should be supported by giving Membership Prague, and bilateral relations, energy and the Action Plans (MAP) to both nations. Secretary impending NATO summit were discussed.
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