Estonian Review E E S T I R I N G V A A D E VOLUME 18 NO 19 APR 30- MAY 6, 2008 LITHUANIAN PRESIDENT’S STATE VISIT FOREIGN NEWS 76% of Population Supports Giving Aid to Poorer Nations May 6 - The results of a public opinion survey study showed that Estonians’ interest towards developing co- operation has increased significantly. The population’s interest in global issues has grown from 57% to 67% since 2005. Out of regular residents, 81% had heard about Estonia’s development co-operation, while 99% of opinion leaders knew about this topic. It was also clear from the survey that the population’s support for providing aid to poorer President Toomas Hendrik Ilves with his Lithuanian colleague Valdas countries had grown from Adamkus in Tallinn 65% to 76% since the last study. The reason for President Ilves met with the Lithuanian Head of State providing aid that was Apr 30 - President Toomas Hendrik Ilves received Lithuanian President most often mentioned was Valdas Adamkus, who arrived on a state visit to Estonia. The discussions at to help those in need while the meeting focused primarily on cooperation between the Baltic countries opinion leaders also on issues related to energy security, the European Union Neighbourhood brought up moral Policy, and Baltic Sea strategy. obligation as a reason. Speaking of energy security, the Estonian Head of State stressed that electricity Foreign Minister Urmas import from third countries is one of the primary dangers for the European Union’s Paet believes that every domestic market and its energy security. “A solution to the problem of reliable person can make a supply can only be found with honest cooperation between the member states in contribution to help order to create new energy connections and guarantee independence from unstable developing countries and energy suppliers,” the Head of State noted. their citizens. “I’m pleased “Energy is a key point in Baltic Sea strategy,” President Ilves stated at the to see that more than meeting. According to the President, the Baltic Sea Region is among the areas of three quarters of Estonian the European Union with the greatest economic potential, and in addition to the people believe that we current forms and activities of cooperation, the Heads of State saw promise in the should help those who free movement of services and labour. have less than we do,” The European Union Neighbourhood Policy was also discussed at the meeting, said Paet. and Presidents Ilves and Adamkus stated that Europe’s current neighbourhood “However, we must policy has justified itself and it must be developed further. continue to explain to the “I think it is important that each partner state be approached individually,” the population why Estonia, Estonian Head of State noted. “The countries that are more successful and are able the European Union, and to reform faster should be allowed to move forward faster,” president Ilves said. international organisations The Lithuanian Head of State expressed his support for the joint declaration co-operate to alleviate the adopted by President Ilves and Polish President Lech Kaczyński in March, which situation for many nations calls for the governments of the European states to discuss the possibility of struggling in the grip of creating an international commission to investigate Communism’s crimes against development problems,” humanity and violations of human rights. Paet said. “Being acquainted with and understanding each other’s history is an important precondition for the European Union’s domestic solidarity,” said President Ilves. FOREIGN NEWS Prime Minister Andrus Ansip also met with his Czech colleague to discuss the implementation of the President Ilves met with the Albanian Lisbon Treaty that will coincide with the European Prime Minister Union Presidency of the Czech Republic as well as May 1 - President Toomas Hendrik Ilves met the near future of the enlargement of NATO and the with Sali Berisha, the Prime Minister of possibilities for strengthening the cooperation Albania. between the two countries. According to the Estonian Head of State, while Speaking about the missile defence system the relations between the two countries are good, planned to be erected in the Czech Republic Ansip they should definitely be actively developed further, said that it was not just in the interests of the Czech “Albania has great potential as both a tourist Republic or the United States but of the whole destination and an investment environment, and world. therefore, your country definitely needs broader "We want the air space above us to be policed, I introduction to demonstrate how far you have am very much satisfied with the decision of NATO's come.” Bucharest summit on the building of a missile Under discussion at the meeting were the defence system above all NATO member countries," developments in Albania during the last few years Ansip said. and President Ilves recognized the country’s The Estonian prime minister expressed pleasure achievements in the field of information technology, at the fact that his Czech colleague was in Tallinn by affirming that Estonia is ready to provide together with a business delegation. Ansip comprehensive advice and help to Albania in the expressed the hope that this would enliven economic development of an e-state. contacts between the two countries. Ansip said that President Ilves also congratulated Prime Minister the trade balance between Estonia and the Czech Berisha on the occasion of the invitation for NATO Republic was in deficit on the Estonian side and it membership issued to Albania. “However, it is would apparently remain so for a long time. "There important not to rest on one’s laurels and to are no plans to start making cars in Estonia in the continue carrying out reforms and making them near future and we will continue to buy Skoda cars permanent, because, in addition to being from the Czech Republic," Ansip noted. domestically beneficial, this is necessary for the fulfilment of obligations resulting from NATO European Parliament Discussed membership,” the Head of State noted. Environmental Impact of Baltic Sea Gas President Ilves and Prime Minister Berisha also Pipeline discussed the Kosovo question and stated that the primary goal now is the development of a May 6 - The external affairs and energy substantively functioning state in Kosovo. Prime committees of the European Parliament Minister Berisha thanked Estonia for its contribution discussed the environmental impact of the to the military operations in Kosovo. Baltic Sea gas pipeline; the full house will Prime Minister Ansip also met recently with endorse the respective report in July. Berisha to discuss cooperation projects between the The energy committee endorsed without single two countries as well as issues of the Balkan region, against vote an opinion drawn up by the Estonian especially the situation in Kosovo. Social-Democrat Andres Tarand. The legally non-binding opinion emphasizes the Ilves: “Czech Presidency Will Coincide special risk of pollution to the Baltic Sea, a shallow and relatively closed sea, and recommends with a Time of Significant Changes” unambiguous designation of responsibility for the May 6 - President Toomas Hendrik Ilves met contingency of possible accidents. with Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolánek, By the opinion drawn up by Tarand the energy with whom issues related to the European committee recommends that in addition to chemical Union and energy security were primarily weapons sunk into the Baltic Sea also the effect to discussed. the building of the pipeline of fully loaded warships According to the Estonian Head of State, the sunk into the Gulf of Finland should be thoroughly bilateral relations between Estonia and the Czech studied. Simultaneously, the opinion includes a Republic have historically been very good. “There proposal to consider the option of an overland are no problems, only common interests. This is alternative to the track. due, in great part, to the similarities of our foreign The opinion of the external affairs committee policy priorities regarding the enlargement takes into consideration an amendment by Estonian processes of the European Union and NATO,” Social Democrat Kartin Saks who underlined in her President Ilves noted. speech the need to seriously consider also an In January 2009, the Czech Republic will take overland pipeline, which would be cheaper and have over the European Union Presidency from France. a smaller environmental impact. “Your Presidency will coincide with a time of The German proposal contains a recommendation significant changes – the implementation of the for the appointment of an advisory body of Lisbon Treaty, European Parliament elections, the representatives of all Baltic Sea countries to steer development of a uniform foreign service for the the gas pipeline project. European Union,” President Ilves said to the Czech Prime Minister. “I am sure that the Czech Republic will manage these processes successfully and hope that we will succeed in effectively cooperating in many fields of activity,” Ilves added. Foreign Minister Paet Condemns Foreign Minister Urmas Paet stated that Latin Expulsion of USA Diplomats from Belarus America and the Caribbean Sea region are some of the most problematic areas in the world in terms of May 5 - Foreign Minister Urmas Paet expressed illegal small arms trade. “We want to help the UN extreme indignation over the decision of the and other international organisations in their efforts authorities in Belarus to expel ten USA to achieve internal stability and a positive economic diplomats working in the USA’s Minsk embassy situation, build up a democratic society, and from the country. advance regional integration in these countries,” “The Belarusian authorities justify this move by said the foreign minister. saying they want to equalise the size of the staff The contribution of the Estonian Foreign Ministry between the embassies in Minsk and Washington, will go towards helping organise a UN-arranged but let’s be honest—this is not a very convincing seminar on increasing capabilities for the prevention argument,” said the foreign minister.