Foreign Minister Urmas Paet emphasised today that the Baltic Sea Region Strategy is a great opportunity for developments in the entire region and added that it is essential to include all the countries in the region, and not only on the governmental level. “Contributions on the regional and local levels are of the utmost important because the implementation of the strategy largely depends on them,” said Paet.

Foreign Minister Urmas Paet stated that the Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region is based on the common understanding and values of the countries in the region. “This is also why our region possesses all the qualifications to be able to maximise our potential, become more competitive, more mobile, safer and more sustainable, thereby increasing well-being in the entire region,” the foreign minister said in his speech at Tallinn University.

Paet added that the Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region is a comprehensive initiative. The Baltic Sea Strategy is the European Union’s first regional initiative and serves as an example for the formation of other strategies, including one in the Danube region. They supplement one another to become a unified whole. “With this, we are contributing to new thinking in European Union policies in general. All of us can only benefit from this,” said Paet.

Within the Baltic Sea Region Strategy, Estonia must fulfil the tremendous responsibility of co-ordinating internal market projects. “Competitiveness in both internal and external markets is essential for survival in today’s economic situation. The strategy, which began under more favourable circumstances, has therefore taken on even more significance,” Paet noted.

Foreign Minister Paet said that Estonia needs a very strong and competitive European Union and an internal market that functions well, with no obstacles. “This is both in our interests and in the interests of the entire European Union, but it cannot be achieved without well-functioning regional co-operation,” he added. The foreign minister also noted that the Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region is not a miracle cure. “The strategy will be exactly as effective as all of the activities that go into it. It was compiled with a long-term perspective, based upon the desire of all the parties involved to do something good for it,” he added.

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During his meeting with his Serbian colleague Vuk Jeremić in Tallinn, Foreign Minister Urmas Paet confirmed that Serbia has had good results in its European Union accession negotiations, carrying out essential reforms and continuing its co-operation with the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY).

Paet stated that Serbia continues to prove its dedication and desire to accede to the European Union. “Estonia is a supporter of the European Union’s open-door policy so that nations that share common values and principles with our member states can be included in the union,” Paet asserted. “We recognise Serbia’s steps towards the European Union and completely support Serbia’s reform efforts,” he added. Paet believes that the European Union’s decision to allow visa-free travel to citizens of Serbia, Montenegro and Macedonia is very important. Foreign Minister Paet stated that the decision made by the European Union in December of last year to begin implementing an interim stabilisation and association agreement with Serbia was a significant step in the European Union integration process.

In talking about advancing bilateral economic relations and business contacts, Foreign Minister Paet noted that although Estonia has closer economic ties with Serbia compared with the other Western Balkan nations, there is still definitely room for development. “Estonian entrepreneurs are interested in, for example, co-operation with Serbia in the energy sector,” said Foreign Minister Paet. “We hope that business contacts will be further inspired when the agreement for the avoidance of double taxation between Estonia and Serbia comes into effect,” he added.

While discussing energy security, Foreign Minister Paet said that in order to ensure it we must create new connections and establish a functioning energy market in Europe, as well as diversify our current suppliers. “Estonia and Serbia could develop energy-related co-operation in the oil shale industry,” Paet added.

They also discussed the situation in the Western Balkans in general, as well as Eastern Partnership.

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Latvian Foreign Minister Māris Riekstiņš will be in Estonia for an official visit on Wednesday, 10 March. Foreign Ministers Urmas Paet and Māris Riekstiņš will announce the winner of the Estonian-Latvian and Latvian-Estonian translation award and present the prize to the winner following their meeting. After the presentation of the award, the foreign ministers will hold a joint press conference. You can read more about the translation award here: http://www.vm.ee/?q=en/node/8960.

Within the framework of his visit, the Latvian foreign minister also has meetings scheduled with President Toomas Hendrik Ilves, Riigikogu Speaker Ene Ergma, and Prime Minister Andrus Ansip. Topics to be discussed at the meeting are Estonia-Latvia bilateral relations and regional co-operation. They will also address topics related to the European Union, including the European External Action Service and the EU’s updated competitiveness strategy “Europe 2020”.

The programme for the Latvian foreign minister’s visit also includes a wreath-placing ceremony at the Monument to the War of Independence on Vabaduse Square.

NB! Journalists interested in covering the visit!

Accreditation will take place through the address centre@mfa.ee or by phone at 637 7630. Please let the Foreign Ministry press centre know if you are interested in covering the visit by Wednesday, 10 March at 9.00. Please include the following information: Name, publication/channel, ID code or birth date, and ID card number. If possible, please specify which events you would like to cover.

Wednesday, 10 March

11.00 Meeting with Riigikogu Speaker Ene Ergma
(Lossi plats 1a)
TV, photo – We ask that you arrive no later than 10.50

11.40 Meeting with Foreign Minister Urmas Paet
(Islandi väljak 1)
TV, photo – We ask that you arrive no later than 11.35

12.15 Award Ceremony for the Estonian-Latvian and Latvian-Estonian Translation Award. Joint press conference of Foreign Minister Urmas Paet and Latvian Foreign Minister Māris Riekstiņš
(Foreign Ministry, guest entrance Lauteri 2)
We ask that journalists arrive no later than 12.05

14.45 Meeting with Prime Minister Andrus Ansip
(Stenbock House, Rahukohtu 3)
TV, photo – We ask that you arrive no later than 14.30

15.30 Wreath-placing ceremony at Monument to the War of Independence (Vabaduse Square)
TV, photo – We ask that you arrive no later than 15.20

16.00 Meeting with President Toomas Hendrik Ilves
(A. Weizenbergi 39)
TV, photo – We ask that you arrive no later than 15.50

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Foreign Minister Urmas Paet and Dutch Foreign Minister Maxime Verhagen, in Estonia for a visit, discussed the situation in Afghanistan. Paet stated that during the next few months a situation must be created in which responsibility can gradually be handed over to the Afghan authorities. “Handing responsibility for state security over to the local authorities is an essential step in building up the state of Afghanistan. Including the Afghans more in stabilising their security situation, for example in the security forces of NATO and other international organisations or in the Moshtarek operation that took place in co-operation with Afghan security forces, has already brought good results,” stated Foreign Minister Paet.

Paet stated that Estonia is increasing its civil contribution in Afghanistan. “This year we plan to send five more civilian police officers to the Afghan police training centre in Kandahar. We will also double our contribution to the European Union Police Mission,” said Paet. In addition, Estonia has plans to support the Afghan reintegration fund.

The two also discussed Estonia’s candidacy to be the location for the EU IT agency for justice and home affairs. “Taking into consideration Estonia’s highly developed IT sector, we believe that Estonia possesses all the qualifications to be a good location for the agency,” stated Foreign Minister Paet. Paet added that it is important to adhere to the 2003 decision of the European Council, according to which new European Union agencies should be located in new member states.

In talking about the economic situation more generally, the Estonian and Dutch foreign ministers agreed that all the euro zone member states must follow a responsible economic policy, as it is essential for the strength and unity of the euro zone. “Upon fulfilling all the requirements, Estonia would like to join the euro zone at the beginning of next year. Going over to the euro will significantly increase confidence in the economic environment for Estonian residents and those investing in Estonia,” said Paet. The foreign minister stated that Estonia will continue supporting investment awareness, innovation and education in order to ensure the recovery and competitiveness of the economy in the long run.

Foreign Minister Paet noted that co-operation between Estonia and Holland has worked well in representing each other for the issuing of visas. The Netherlands represent Estonia in Kenya and Jordan. Estonia represents the Netherlands for the issuing of visas in Pskov. The two ministers also discussed cultural co-operation between the countries. “Groningen University in the Netherlands is one of the ten places in the world where it is possible to study Estonian,” said Paet.

The Estonian and Dutch foreign ministers also discussed the creation of the European Union’s foreign service, Eastern Partnership, issues related to climate change, and the EU’s relations with Russia.

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At the informal Gymnich meeting of European Union foreign ministers in Córdoba, Spain, Foreign Minister Urmas Paet emphasised that in the interest of making the European Union more globally influential and making the union’s foreign service active and strong, the European External Action Service should be created as quickly as possible. “We need a comprehensive and strong European External Action Service that provides substantial support to the high representative for foreign affairs and security policy,” Paet asserted. He added that when choosing the personnel for the new foreign service, geographical balance must be ensured.

European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton gave the foreign ministers an overview of the current status of starting up the European External Action Service. Foreign Minister Paet stated that Estonia feels that co-operation and information exchange between the foreign service and the member states is important and necessary. “The European External Action Service should also have a leading role in planning out financial resources, for the sake of the coherency of the Common Foreign and Security Policy and development aid,” stated Paet. “We would like for the External Action Service to also include aspects of consular work, for example providing aid to European Union citizens during crisis situations,” he added.

Paet stated that the European External Action Service will increase the unity of the European Union foreign and security policy and also ensure that other external activities of the EU will be better co-ordinated.

The foreign ministers also discussed the EU’s foreign political challenges in relations with globally influential nations like China, India and Brazil.

In terms of political relations and economic co-operation, Brazil is one of the European Union’s most important partners in Latin America. Foreign Minister Paet noted that the quick signing and implementation an EU-Brazil visa freedom agreement would help to further intensify co-operation with Brazil. “Dragging out the implementation of the agreement is unacceptable. We hope that very soon it will be possible for citizens of Estonia, Latvia, Malta and Cyprus to travel to Brazil without a visa, just like other citizens of the European Union,” stated Paet.

Foreign Minister Paet said that the European Union should include its strategic partner China more in resolving global problems such as climate and nuclear issues and conflict regions that are in the global spotlight. “Dialogue is constantly taking place between the European Union and China regarding various areas, including human rights. It is also important to move forward with negotiations for the partnership and co-operation agreement between the European Union and China,” said the foreign minister, naming opportunities to advance EU-China co-operation.

While talking about relations between India and the European Union, the foreign ministers agreed that there is still plenty of room for development in political and economic co-operation and named the security, trade, climate and energy sectors as priorities. “In EU-India relations, Estonia feels it is important to focus on co-operation that would increase India’s role in stabilising the region, especially in making contributions to ensure the development of Afghanistan and Sri Lanka. We would also like to advance co-operation with India in the fight against terrorism and piracy and increase security co-operation in the cyber security field,” said Foreign Minister Paet. According to the foreign minister, the development of EU-India economic relations would also be helped by a broad agreement on trade and the protection of investments.

Gymnich is an informal meeting of the foreign ministers of the European Union which gets its name from the Gymnich castle near Bonn, where the first meeting of its kind took place.

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Within the framework of the Gymnich meeting in Córdoba, Spain, the European Union foreign ministers met with their Turkish, Croatian, and Macedonian* colleagues to discuss accession to the European Union and the situation in the Western Balkans. Foreign Minister Urmas Paet stated that Estonia supports the European Union accession of the Western Balkan nations. However, Paet is also concerned that reforms have slowed down in Bosnia and Herzegovina. “It is necessary for Bosnia and Herzegovina to gain visa freedom with the European Union and get a NATO Membership Action Plan,” said Paet. “Giving visa freedom to Bosnia and Herzegovina and Albania as soon as the appropriate requirements are fulfilled would encourage these nations to continue making reforms,” he added.

The EU foreign ministers also discussed reviving peace negotiations in the Middle East. Foreign Minister Urmas Paet stated that opportunities for resuming peace negotiations between Israel and Palestine must be found with the support of the international community. Estonia feels that the active participation of the European Union, United States and the Arab nations, as well as the peaceful participation of the Middle East, is important for renewing the peace process.

Paet stated that the European Union will continue to support the Palestinian Authority in building up state structures based on the reform plan of Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad. “The aid of the European Union must help to increase the capability of the Palestinian administration to the point where it would be capable of fulfilling the tasks that stand before an independent nation,” stated the Estonian foreign minister.

*Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia

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Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremić will be in Estonia for a working visit on Tuesday, 9 March.

During his visit, the Serbian foreign minister will meet with President Toomas Hendrik Ilves, Prime Minister Andrus Ansip, and Foreign Minister Urmas Paet. Topics to be discussed at the meetings are Estonia-Serbia bilateral relations and Serbia’s relations with the European Union. Other topics will include developments in the Western Balkans, the economic situation, and energy security.

NB! Journalists interested in covering the visit!

Accreditations will take place through the address centre@mfa.ee or by phone at 637 7630. Please let the Foreign Ministry press centre know if you are interested in covering the visit by Tuesday, 9 March at 10.00. Please include the following information: Name, publication/channel, ID code or birth date, and ID card number. If possible, please specify which events you would like to cover.

Attention!

Tuesday, 9 March

11.30 Meeting with Prime Minister Andrus Ansip
(Stenbock House, Rahukohtu 3)
TV, photo – We ask that you arrive no later than 11.15

12.15 Meeting with President Toomas Hendrik Ilves
(A. Weizenbergi 39)
TV, photo – We ask that you arrive no later than 12.00

13.00 Meeting with Foreign Minister Urmas Paet
(Islandi väljak 1)
TV, photo – We ask that you arrive no later than 12.50

13.30 Joint press conference of Foreign Minister Urmas Paet and Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremić
(Foreign Ministry, guest entrance Lauteri 2)
We ask that journalists arrive no later than 13.20

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Dutch Foreign Minister Maxime Verhagen will be in Estonia for a working visit on Monday, 8 March. The Dutch foreign minister has a meeting planned with Foreign Minister Urmas Paet. At their meeting, they will be discussing current topics related to the European Union: Estonia’s euro aspirations, the location of the EU IT agency, the European External Action Service, and the economic situation. The international topics they will focus on are the situation in Afghanistan, NATO’s Strategic Concept, EU-Russia relations, and Eastern Partnership.

After their meeting the foreign ministers will give a joint press conference at the Foreign Ministry. Before his departure the Dutch foreign minister will also visit the ICT Demo Centre and Tallinn’s Old Town.

Attention!

Foreign Minister Urmas Paet and Dutch Foreign Minister Maxime Verhagen will give a joint press conference in the Foreign Ministry press centre on Monday, 8 March at 13.40.

Attention journalists!

If you would like to attend the press conference, please let the Foreign Ministry press centre know at centre@mfa.ee or by phone at 637 7630 by Monday, 8 March at 10.00.

We ask that journalists arrive no later than 13.30 on 8 March. Enter the Foreign Ministry’s B-annexe from the guest entrance at Lauteri 2. Please bring along a photo ID!

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Consultations about Europe took place between the foreign ministries of Estonia and Russia in Moscow on Wednesday, 3 March. Topics discussed at the meeting were co-operation in the OSCE, in the NATO-Russia Council and on a regional level, as well as EU-Russia relations. The Estonian side of the consultations was led by Foreign Ministry political director Clyde Kull and the Russian side was led by director general of the European Co-operation Department of the Foreign Ministry of the Russian Federation Vladimir Voronkov.

Foreign Minister Urmas Paet stated that the regular exchange of ideas with Russia regarding Europe and international co-operation in general is important and useful.

In talking about developments related to the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), Estonia is content with the fact that the Corfu Process, within the framework of which Russia’s proposals for European security are being discussed, is taking place within the OSCE and is therefore strengthening the OSCE’s role in security reform. Topics that still require attention are the matter of Georgia’s territorial integrity and the restoration of the OSCE representation and monitoring mission in Georgia. Estonia supports the efforts of Kazakhstan as the chairman of the OSCE in 2010.

Another topic addressed at the consultations was co-operation in the Council of Europe. It is important that the priorities of the Swiss presidency are the safeguarding of human rights, democracy, and rule of law. Estonia welcomed Russia’s ratification of Protocol 14 of the Council of Europe Convention on Human Rights.

They also discussed co-operation in the NATO-Russia Council (NRC) and addressed the NATO foreign ministers’ meeting taking place in Tallinn in April.

While talking about co-operation between the European Union and Russia, the focus was on the EU-Russia partnership for modernisation, negotiations for a new EU-Russia agreement, Russia joining the WTO, the EU-Russia visa dialogue, and co-operation in crisis management.

In talking about regional co-operation, EU-Russia co-operation within the Northern Dimension was addressed and cross-border co-operation was discussed. It was declared that the signing of the financing agreement for cross-border co-operation programmes of the European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument (ENPI) with Russia at the EU-Russia summit in Stockholm in November of 2009 is an important step in advancing co-operation between the regions.

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They also discussed the situation in the Western Balkans and the European Union’s relations with China, India and Brazil.

Another topic on the agenda for the meeting of the European Union foreign policy leaders is discussing the situation in the Middle East, focusing on the EU’s roll in advancing the peace process. Paet stated that we must continue making an international effort and finding opportunities to renew the Middle East peace negotiations. “Regulating the Israel-Palestine conflict must be based on a two-state solution,” said Paet.

Gymnich is an informal meeting of the foreign ministers of the European Union which gets its name from the Gymnich castle near Bonn, where the first meeting of its kind took place.
 

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Estonia will be participating in a NATO Crisis Management Exercise (CMX 2009) from 4-10 March. The purpose of the exercise is to practice the NATO crisis management process for areas outside the Euro-Atlantic region, in which a worsening security situation will be accompanied by attacks on UN peacekeeping missions, humanitarian crises, a nation threatening its neighbour, regional conflicts, and terrorism. The scenario for the staff exercise, which will take place in real time, is fictional.

The CMX is a regularly scheduled NATO Crisis Management Exercise, the goal of which is to practice political, military and civil organisation and crisis management procedures in order to be able to support NATO consultations and the collective decision-making process in a crisis situation.

Another aim of the exercise is to practice consultation procedures with the NATO partner states and international organisations participating in the exercise. Participating in CMX 2009 will be all 28 NATO member states, the partner states Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Finland, Georgia, Ireland, Sweden, Switzerland, Macedonia and Ukraine, as well as Israel from the Mediterranean Dialogue countries. In addition, the sub-organisations of the UN, the International Committee of the Red Cross, the European Union, the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe, and the International Organisation for Migration will be participating. About 2 500 will be involved in the exercise.

Institutions from Estonia that will be included in the exercise are the Foreign Ministry, Estonia’s Permanent Representation to NATO, the Defence Ministry, the Defence Forces, the State Chancellery, the Security Police, the Ministry of Economics and Communications, the Interior Ministry, the Rescue Board, the Finance Ministry, and the Justice Ministry.

This is Estonia’s fourth time participating in the CMX exercise (earlier exercises took place in 2005, 2006 and 2008).

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Foreign Minister Urmas Paet opened the Estonian Honorary Consulate in Geneva on Wednesday, 3 March. The new Estonian honorary consul in Geneva is Matteo Inaudi.

According to Foreign Minister Urmas Paet, relations between Estonia and Switzerland are very good but there is room for improvement in economic relations. “The opening of the honorary consulate will give us an opportunity to further intensify Estonia-Switzerland relations in the economic, educational and cultural realms. As a lawyer specialising in the financial sector and banking, Estonia’s new honorary consul can help our entrepreneurs with matters of interest to them in Geneva,” said Paet. “Our new honorary consul can also help to promote contact between Estonia and Switzerland’s francophone cultural spaces,” he added. Estonia has two honorary consulates in Switzerland.

The new Estonian honorary consul’s consular region is Genève, Neuchâtel, Jura, Fribourg, Vaud ja Valais. The honorary consulate is located at 5 avenue Léon-Gaud, 1206 Geneva, Switzerland. The honorary consulate can be reached by phone at +41 (0) 22 839 70 00, fax at +41 (0) 22 839 70 07, or email at the address minaudi@avocats.ch.

Matteo Inaudi was born in 1956 and earned his higher education at the University of Zurich. He is a respected lawyer in the Ming Halpérin Burger Inaudi law firm who has specialised in business, banking and bankruptcy law. Inaudi has been the director of the classical music festival “Amadeus” for over ten years and is a legal advisor for the European Festival Association.

Currently Estonia has 125 honorary consuls in 59 nations. For additional information on Estonia’s honorary consuls: http://www.vm.ee/?q=en/taxonomy/term/155.

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On Tuesday, 2 March, Foreign Ministry Undersecretary for European Union Affairs Kaja Tael met with Swedish Minister for European Union Affairs Birgitta Ohlsson, who is on a visit in Estonia. At their meeting they discussed the Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region, the EU’s renewed competitiveness strategy “Europe 2020”, and issues of gender equality.

Undersecretary Kaja Tael and Swedish Minister for European Union Affairs Birgitta Ohlsson agreed that the Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region is off to a good start and that Estonia and Sweden’s co-operation is going very smoothly, for example in concrete projects in the internal market sector. “The goal in the near future is to successfully tie the Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region to the key policies of the European Union, such as cohesion, regional and budget policies, but also to common agricultural policy. The Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region is a natural means for implementing the upcoming ‘Europe 2020’ strategy,” said Tael.

Tael explained that the Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region can, among other things, remove bureaucratic obstacles to regional development, that affect things like the realisation of the principle of the free movement of good, services and people. All of this will increase the competitiveness of the entire union. The successful start to the Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region suggests that regional strategies will be increasingly important in the future.

In talking about the formulation of the renewed strategy for the European Union “Europe 2020”, Estonia clarified its position on how the renewed strategy should first and foremost help raise the competitiveness of the EU through further developing the union’s internal market. Swedish Minister for EU Affairs Ohlsson emphasised the need to include the issue of gender equality in the topic of employment.

Other topics discussed at the meeting were Estonia’s candidacy to be the location for the EU IT agency for justice and home affairs and EU budgetary reform. Both Estonia and Sweden are of the position that the EU budget requires comprehensive reforming and updating.
 

Today, 1 March, the Foreign Ministry summoned the ambassador of the Russian Federation in Tallinn. The Foreign Ministry issued a statement of regret and protest over the decision of the Foreign Ministry of the Russian Federation to ask the Estonian consulate general in St. Petersburg to leave the country in the next two weeks.

The Russian Foreign Ministry justified its decision as a response to Estonian authorities refusing to allow the candidate for consulate general of the Russian Federation in Narva to assume the post.
 

While meeting in Cairo with his Egyptian colleague Ahmed Ali Aboul Gheit, Foreign Minister Urmas Paet said that the opening of the Estonian Embassy in Cairo would give a boost to intensifying of bilateral relations.

Paet and Gheit discussed Estonia-Egypt economic co-operation, including the development of tourism, the increasing activity of the Estonian timber industry in Egypt, and co-operation opportunities in the IT sector. “Egypt is one of the most popular tourist destinations among Estonians, and Estonian entrepreneurs also have a growing interest in Egypt,” said Paet. “Estonia recently joined the IT-related partnership working group for the Joint Africa-European Union Strategy, which is another opportunity for Estonia to share its IT solutions and for our country and its entrepreneurs to share their experiences,” said Paet. “Estonia is also interested in cultural co-operation with Egypt,” stated Foreign Minister Paet, inviting Egypt to participate in the Tallinn European Capital of Culture project in 2011.

Paet and Aboul Gheit confirmed that Estonia and Egypt will continue to hold regular political consultations between the two nations. This year a delegation from the Egyptian Foreign Ministry is to visit Estonia.

Paet stated that Egypt is one of the leading nations of the Islamic and Arab worlds as well as the European Union’s most important partner in Northern Africa and the Mediterranean Union. Egypt also plays a vital role in the progress of the Middle East peace process. “Estonia consistently supports finding a two-state solution in the Middle East peace process. We are certain that the parties to the conflict must continue with negotiations,” stated Paet.

Paet also discussed the Middle East peace process in a separate meeting with Egypt’s top negotiator in the peace process, Intelligence Minister Omar Suleiman. At their meeting they also discussed the security situation, preventing the spread of nuclear weapons, and developments in the entire Middle East region and surrounding areas, such as Iran, Iraq, Sudan, and Somalia.

Paet and Aboul Gheit also talked about Estonia and Egypt’s co-operation in international organisations, first and foremost in UN structures, and introduced their reciprocal candidacies for positions in their governing bodies. They also thoroughly discussed the reform of the UN development system. “It is important for Estonia to be an active nation in world development co-operation. With the reform of UN development systems, we would like to ensure the smoother transfer of aid funds to nations and people in need. This is especially important right now, when the economic situation in the world is very tense,” said Paet.

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Foreign Minister Urmas Paet opened the Embassy of the Republic of Estonia in Cairo on Monday, 1 March. Paet stated that the embassy in Egypt is Estonia’s first representation in the Arab world and in Africa.

Foreign Minister Paet said that Estonia decided to establish its first embassy in Cairo based on the fact that Egypt is one of the leading nations of the Arab world and also plays a vital role in the Middle East peace process. “Relations between Estonia and Egypt have historically been good. Now Estonia is expanding its visibility and increasing its activity in the Middle East,” said Paet while opening the embassy. “In addition to intensifying bilateral relations, Estonia would also like to intensify relations with other Arab nations through its embassy in Cairo. It is important for Estonia to actively participate in the shaping of the European Union’s common foreign policy—the embassy in Cairo will also begin to represent Estonia in relations with the Arab League,” said Paet.

During the opening of the Estonian Embassy in Cairo, Paet noted that Egypt is one of the most important vacation destinations for Estonian tourists. “The existence of an embassy will help us aid Estonian citizens when necessary,” said Paet. “Estonian entrepreneurs also have a growing interest in Egypt. This includes the IT sector, the timber industry, and other areas,” Paet stated.

“Estonia now has two embassies in the Middle East. At the end of 2009 we opened an embassy in Tel Aviv, Israel,” said Paet, introducing the development of Estonia’s foreign relations.

The Estonian and Latvian embassies in Cairo are located in the same building and use some shared rooms in addition to their own embassy rooms. The Estonian and Latvian embassies also co-operate to provide consular aid to citizens.

Estonia has had a special mission in Cairo since 2007, and one of its goals was to prepare for the opening of an embassy. The Estonian Ambassador to Egypt is Tiia Miller, who currently resides in Tallinn. Tiia Miller will remain the non-residing ambassador until a residing ambassador is named.

The contact information for the Estonian Embassy in Cairo is:

8th floor, Abou El Feda Building
Abou El Feda 3, Zamalek
Cairo 11211
Egypt
Tel: (20) 27 384 190
Fax: (20) 27 384 189
E-mail: embassy.cairo@mfa.ee
http://www.kairo.vm.ee

In talking about the situation in Ukraine after the presidential elections, the European Union foreign policy leaders expressed hope that after the democratically executed elections Ukraine’s domestic political situation would stabilise and Ukraine would be able to carry out necessary reforms more rapidly than before. “Ukraine must continue implementing constitutional reforms and co-operating with the International Monetary Fund and other international organisations to stay on the course for European Union integration,” said Foreign Minister Paet. “Ukraine must develop stricter financial discipline,” Paet added.

The European Union foreign ministers feel that faster progress should be made with the European Union-Ukraine association agreement, as well as in free trade agreement negotiations between the EU and Ukraine. Foreign Minister Urmas Paet stated that visa facilitation and moving towards visa freedom play an essential role in Ukrainian society becoming more integrated with the European Union.

While talking about the situation in Ukraine, the European Union foreign ministers also addressed energy security issues. Foreign Minister Urmas Paet stated that the European Union and Ukraine must intensify energy-related co-operation. “In order to avoid gas crises, Ukraine must increase transparency in the supply and transit process for natural gas and intensify co-operation with the European Union for the creation of a more effective gas distribution system in Ukraine,” noted Foreign Minister Paet.

The European Union foreign ministers talked about the post-earthquake restoration work being done in Haiti and emphasised the importance of comprehensive co-ordination in planning long-term reconstruction work in Haiti. Foreign Minister Urmas Paet stated that currently there are close to one hundred thousand people homeless in Haiti, and a shelter solution must be devised with the help of the European Union by the end of April. Foreign Minister Urmas Paet confirmed that Estonia has allocated 2.5 million kroons to alleviate the aftermath of the earthquake in Haiti through the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and has donated 3.16 million kroons’ worth of expert aid and supplies through International Humanitarian Partnership.

The European Union external relations council also discussed the Iran nuclear issue and the steadily worsening human rights situation in Iran.

More information:
Marika Post, press spokesperson, Estonia’s Permanent Representation to the EU
+32 474 98 16 57

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Foreign Minister Urmas Paet and Swedish Minister for European Union Affairs Birgitta Ohlsson agreed that the European Union Baltic Sea Region Strategy is off to a good start, which shows that regional strategies will become more important in the future. “Within the Baltic Sea Region Strategy, Estonia is focused on three sectors: the sea environment and navigation, better communication in the Baltic Sea region, and a knowledge-based society,” said Foreign Minister Paet. Foreign Minister Urmas Paet confirmed that the implementation of the Baltic Sea Region Strategy will support the goal of the European Union’s new economic growth and employment strategy to make the union more competitive.

While talking about the European Union’s renewed competitiveness strategy “Europe 2020”, Foreign Minister Urmas Paet and Swedish Minister for European Union Affairs Birgitta Ohlsson both were of the opinion that the new economic growth and employment strategy should focus on a limited number of priority goals on the European Union level, which the member states will set their own national goals to help fulfil. “Through the formation of Europe 2020, the role of the European Council should become stronger and the European Commission should increase its contribution to implementing the strategy,” said Foreign Minister Paet. Foreign Minister Urmas Paet emphasised that within the context of Europe 2020, Estonia feels that further developing a functioning European Union internal market is of key importance in order to help increase the competitiveness of the European Union.

According to Foreign Minister Urmas Paet, co-operation between Estonia and Sweden has always been good, and he stated that co-operation between the Nordic and Baltic countries is intensifying, both in the formation of common positions and in the implementation of practical co-operation programmes.

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During the opening of the honorary consulate, Foreign Minister Paet noted that Damascus has been one of the most important hubs of the Middle East for centuries. “Estonia would like to open up communication with Middle Eastern nations, and the opening of this honorary consulate will create an opportunity for closer communication between Estonia and Syria,” said Paet. “Estonia travellers will also find their way to Syria more and more often when they know that it would be possible to get help from the Estonian honorary consul in Damascus,” he added.

Foreign Minister Urmas Paet also expressed hope that the Estonian honorary consul’s interest and experiences in the information technology sector would provide a basis for developing economic relations between Estonia and Syria.

The consular area of Honorary Consul Awab Shubat is the territory of the Syrian Arabic Republic. The opening of the honorary consulate in Damascus increases Estonia’s network of honorary consuls in the Middle East. Estonia’s other honorary consulates in the region are in Beirut and Amman.

Estonian Honorary Consul Awab Shubat was born in 1972. Awab Shubat graduated from the law department of Aleppo University and is a member of the Syrian bar association and the owner of a law office. Awab Shubat has experiences in the electronic trade business and has been tied to many IT-related projects in the bar association. The Estonian honorary consul belongs to the Red Crescent Society.

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“Opus Tempus” is described by its creators as a surreal game of colour and form that links the dancers and musicians into a whole on the stage. It is a literally "upside down" performance inspired by the baroque paintings of the movie artist Mike Worrall. In addition to everything else that's in reverse, musicians will dance and dancers will create sounds in this piece, their talents and characters blending on stage to create a whole.

The choreographers of “Opus Tempus”, Mari Mägi and Kaja Lindal, are also dancers in the piece, and the music was written by Monika Mattiesen. The music is played by the quartet Una Corda, which consists of Liis Jürgens on harp, Ene Nael on harpsichord, Kristi Mühling on Estonian zither, and Monika Mattiesen on flute.

The premier of “Opus Tempus” took place in March 2009 in Tallinn, and the performance has earned considerable media attention.