As of the beginning of September, the Estonian Embassy in Cairo will begin accepting applications for visas to travel to Estonia.

Foreign Minister Urmas Paet emphasised that the embassy opened in Cairo this year is Estonia’s first embassy in Africa. “Cairo is one of the biggest centres of not only the Arab world, but of all Africa. The Estonian Embassy being active in Cairo provides a basis for intensifying ties with the region as well as for the development of business and cultural contacts,” he said. “Since Egypt is one of the most popular tourist destinations for Estonians, the existence of the embassy is also important for helping out our citizens in Egypt,” Paet added.

Previously Estonia was represented by the Latvian Embassy in Cairo for the issuing of Schengen visas in Egypt.

Estonian Embassy in Cairo
8th floor, Abou El Feda Building
Abou El Feda 3, Zamalek
Cairo 11211
Tel: (20) 227 384 190
Fax: (20) 227 384 189
E-mail: embassy.cairo@mfa.ee
http://www.kairo.vm.ee

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The Foreign Ministry is supporting two experts from the Rescue Board as they embark to help Pakistan, which has suffered from heavy flooding. As part of an international team, the Estonian experts will head to the city of Sukkur to erect a base camp for UN humanitarian aid workers.

Foreign Minister Urmas Paet stated that Pakistan is standing face to face with the greatest humanitarian and natural disaster in the country’s recent history. “The Estonian experts are heading to Pakistan within the framework of International Humanitarian Partnership upon the request of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs,” stated Foreign Minister Urmas Paet. “The regions affected by the floods are the poorest in the nation. Nearly 900 000 homes have been destroyed. Because of the floods, close to 15 million people have either lost their homes or been forced to leave their homes for the time being. Almost 1 500 have lost their lives,” said Foreign Minister Paet.

The UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) issued an appeal for help to the countries of the International Humanitarian Partnership (IHP) yesterday to build a base camp in the city of Sukkur in Pakistan for UN humanitarian aid workers. The erection and further servicing of the base camp will be the collective operation of the IHP and will include the participation of Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Norway and Finland. As of January of this year, Estonia has been participating along with other IHP countries in a similar operation in Haiti.

The region around the city of Sukkur is one of the regions that has suffered the most as a result of the flooding in Pakistan, and a great number of UN humanitarian aid workers are going there to co-ordinate the distribution of aid.

Soon after the disaster began, Estonia provided food aid totalling one million kroons through the UN World Food Programme (UNWFP) for those suffering due to floods caused by heavy monsoon rains. The Estonian humanitarian aid for alleviating the situation of the Pakistani people is being allocated from the Foreign Ministry’s development and humanitarian aid budget.

In addition, member of the Estonian Rescue Board Gert Teder went to Pakistan as part of the European Union assessment and co-ordination team. The goal of the EU assessment mission was to evaluate the most urgent needs of the residents and co-ordinate arriving aid.

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While meeting with director of the Black Nights Film Festival Tiina Lokk, Foreign Minister Urmas Paet talked about co-operation opportunities for introducing Estonian culture and film.

Foreign Minister Paet stated that the Black Nights Film Festival (PÖFF), which will take place for the 14th time this year, is expanding its scope, and in addition to the main programme and sub-festivals the “Black Market” film market will also take place. “The film market will be a suitable place for the Foreign Ministry’s development co-operation partners, for example Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine, as well as other Eastern European, Southern Caucasian and Central Asian nations to have an opportunity to introduce their film productions more widely. For this reason the Foreign Ministry decided to provide support for the organisation of the event,” said Paet, adding that supporting the participation of films and filmmakers in the film market will provide an opportunity to intensify co-operation between developing film industries in Europe in the long run.

The foreign minister also spoke with Tiina Lokk about the 23rd European Film Awards ceremony, which will take place in Tallinn on 4 December. Foreign Minister Paet stated that we can also introduce Estonia when the major event for the film world takes place in Tallinn. “It is important that we use every opportunity for artists to show their creations and thereby show Estonia to the world,” he noted.

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The SÄSI exhibition will introduce the nominees and winners of the Young Estonian Designer award, the SÄSI 2010. This year's award went to textile designer Karin Luuk. Smaller SÄSI awards went to ceramic artist Raili Keivi and the product designer duo of Sven Sellik and Pent Talvet.

The award is given to young Estonian designers for outstanding work in product design in the last three years. The competition was initiated in 2005 by MTÜ Sina, Mina ja Keegi. For its first three years, the competition were held in cooperation with the Academy of Arts, and in 2010 the partner is the Estonian Design Centre.

More information: http://www.sasi.ee/et/uudised/2010

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Resonabilis is unique for its focus on the chromatic version of the Estonian folk instrument, the kannel, accompanied by voice, flute, cello and other instruments. The kannel is notable among folk instruments for its exceptional compatibility with classical instruments. The sound of the instrument and the pliant timbral range of the ensemble have drawn praise from a number of composers both in Estonia and abroad.
From Finland, Resonabilis will travel on to Wales where it will participate in the Vale of Glamorgan festival, which is part of the Walestonia 2010 program.

More information:
Maarika Saarna-Siimann
Estonian Embassy in Helsinki
Telephone: +358505013721
maarika.siimann@mfa.ee

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In an exchange on defense policy, Tarmak alluded to the strong commitment to public defense in both countries, expressed in the high support for general compulsory military service in both countries. Tarmak said he felt the meeting was lent a very home-like atmosphere by the extraordinary opportunity to speak Estonian with the Finnish head of state, as the conversation took place in Estonian and Finnish by turns.

Ambassador Tarmak and President Halonen also spoke of cooperation between European Union member states in the field of development cooperation and civilian aspects of crisis control.

Mart Tarmak was born in 1955 in Tallinn. In 1978, he graduated from the University of Tartu with a degree in chemistry. From 1981-1986 he studied journalism through a correspondence program offered by Vilnius University followed by Portuguese at the University of Lisbon from 1991-1992. From 1990-1992, Tarmak was the Estonian chargé d'affaires ad interim in Vilnius, and in 1992-1993 adviser at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. From 1995-1997 Tarmak served as adviser at the Ministry of Defence. From 1998-2003 Tarmak was a freelance interpreter. From 2003-2006, Tarmak was employed in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs political department. From 2006–2010 Tarmak was Estonia's Ambassador to Portugal and from 2008, the non-resident Ambassador to Morocco.
Tarmak is married with a grown son. Tarmak speaks English, Lithuanian, Finnish, Russian, Spanish, Portuguese and Latvian.

Photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/estonian-foreign-ministry/

More information:
Maarika Saarna-Siimann
Estonian Embassy in Helsinki
Telephone: +358505013721
maarika.siimann@mfa.ee

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The report also offers a number of ideas for cooperation on energy issues and environmental and defense issues. Paet said Estonia supports the establishing of additional energy links between the Baltic and Nordic regions and Poland.

Nordic-Baltic cooperation - NB8 - is a regional cooperation format in which Sweden, Finland, Norway, Iceland, Denmark, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania further political dialogue and practical cooperation.


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Today and tomorrow, Minister of Foreign Affairs Urmas Paet will be participating at the meeting of the foreign ministers of Estonia, Sweden, Finland, Norway; Denmark, Iceland, Lithuania, and Latvia held in Riga, where the agenda includes the report on Nordic and Baltic cooperation as well as cooperation in various aspects of international policy.

According to Foreign Minister Paet, the central goal for the Nordic and Baltic foreign ministers in Riga will be to analyze ideas submitted by each country and experts with regard to the cooperation report . "Even analysis of current cooperation prospects may result in further suggestions in all of the fields planned thus far -- be they defense cooperation, development cooperation, consular cooperation, maritime monitoring or some other area of cooperation,“ said Paet.

Besides the cooperation report, the meeting of the foreign ministers will address the situation in Afghanistan, aspects related to the NATO's strategic concept, and preparations for the OSCE summit.


Today, on 26 August, the political directors of the foreign ministries will also meet in Riga in the framework of the NB8 meeting. Besides discussing Nordic and Baltic cooperative relations, the political directors will also address relations with Turkey, Russia and the EU's Eastern Partnership.

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Among other things, the good economic relations between Estonia and Norway are characterized by the relatively large trade volume. “Norwegian investments into the Estonian economy have also increased consistently since the mid-1990s,” said Paet. Norway is the country with the fourth-most investments into Estonia as of the end of 2009.

Paet said Estonia considers Norwegian financial assistance through the Norwegian and EEA financial mechanisms. “Most recently, Norwegian assistance was used to open a Peipsi region visitor centre and SOS children’s village in Põltsamaa,” said Paet. The Norwegian financial mechanism has thus far provided over 30 million euros of financing for Estonian projects.

In discussions on the situation in Afghanistan, Paet said that Estonia has consistently stressed the need to develop the process of transferring security responsibility in Afghanistan. “It is very important that Afghanistan’s government play an increasingly leading role in stabilization of the security situation, reintegration, national reconciliation and implementation of reforms to promote sustainable institutional and economic development. This must take place with the continued support of the international community,” said Paet.

Paet and Støre also discussed cooperation in international organizations. The foreign ministers considered “promising” cooperation between the Baltic and Nordic countries for supporting each other’s candidates in the UN. Paet said Estonia had a high regard for Norway’s support for Estonia’s candidacy in the UN Human Rights Council 2012-2015 and considers Norway’s role to this point to be very important.

At a meeting with Ine Marie Eriksen Søreide, the chairwoman of the Norwegian parliament’s standing committee on foreign affairs and defence committee, Paet spoke of regional cooperation, particularly in the Council of Baltic Sea States and the Baltic Sea strategy and the Northern Dimension

From 1 July Norway holds the presidency of the Council of Baltic States. The three national priorities of Norway’s presidency are maritime policy, including developing marine rescue capability for disasters; the fight against human trafficking; and developing the activities of the Council of Baltic Sea States. Paet expressed pleasure with well-functioning Nordic-Baltic cooperation.


* The Arctic Council is a high-level intergovernmental forum responsible for pursuing cooperation between countries and peoples in the Arctic. The member states are Canada, Denmark along with the Faroe Islands and Greenland, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Russia, Sweden and the US.



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On Wednesday, 18 August, Minister of Foreign Affairs Urmas Paet is on a visit to the Kingdom of Norway.

Paet says that cooperation between Estonia and Norway is close in various fields. "I will discuss with Norwegian colleagues opportunities for making Estonian-Norwegian relations even stronger in future, including our economic contacts and cultural ties. Estonia and Norway also have similar interests in regional cooperation and on international issues,“ added Paet.

The foreign minister is scheduled to meet Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs Jonas Gahr Støre and Ine Marie Eriksen Søreide, Chair of the Storting (Norwegian parliament) Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence.

At the meetings, the officials will discuss Estonian-Norwegian relations, including economic cooperation and mutual support for candidacies in international organizations. As to international security matters, they will discuss the NATO strategic concept and issues to be addressed at the NATO summit in Lisbon in the autumn as well as the situation in Afghanistan. They will also deal with the Baltic Sea Strategy and the future of regional cooperation.

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On Friday, 13 August, in Helsinki, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Secretary-General Marten Kokk and his Finnish counterpart, Foreign Ministry Secretary of State Pertti Torstila, signed an agreement between the foreign ministries of the two countries under which an Estonian diplomat will be stationed in the Finnish embassy in Lusaka, Zambia, starting in January 2011.

Kokk said the exchange diplomat will give Estonia a good opportunity to gain experience in the particularities of African social customs. "It will also be important for us for developing future diplomatic activities in African countries, “said Kokk. He expressed hope that it could develop into a good model for cooperation in other parts of the world.

Kokk and Torstila said bilateral relations had been very close in this year. "Last year, nearly every Finnish leader paid a visit to Estonia. The joint foreign visits of both the foreign ministers and secretaries-general also demonstrate the good cooperation between the foreign ministries of Estonia and Finland. We hope to continue this practice in the future as well, “said Kokk.

The meeting also dealt with Estonia's proposal to sign an Estonian-Finnish legal assistance treaty. Kokk said the treaty would significantly simplify daily relations between Estonian and Finnish citizens. "This agreement is necessary taking into account both the size of the Estonian community in Finland and the large number of Finnish citizens in Estonia," he added.

Also discussed were opportunities for making cooperation between the Nordics and the Baltics even closer. It was decided that in the near future, joint visits would be undertaken to Belarus and Poland.



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The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will transfer to the State Archives documents from Estonia's London Embassy from the years 1919 and 1924-1989. The records include political, consular and culture-related correspondence.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Urmas Paet noted the significance of the London archive from the perspective of the history and legal continuity of the Estonian foreign service: "The London embassy archive also spans the years from 1940-1989, when the Embassy in London functioned as a piece of independent Estonia, embodying the fact that the state had not been destroyed completely. Transferring the archive will give historical scholars and the public broader opportunity to access these documents."

Estonia's Ambassador to Great Britain from 1934 was August Torma, who continued in his post after 1940 until his death in 1971. Torma was succeeded by the diplomat Ernst Sarepera, who died a month and a half later. Ernst Jaakson, the Consul General in New York, was then placed in charge of the embassy, while embassy official Anna Toru was in charge of the building and archive. In 1989, the Embassy building was sold off for financial reasons and the archive was moved to New York. In 1994, it was brought back to London. Now, after being preserved in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs archive, the well-travelled documents will take their rightful place in the State Archives, alongside other documents from Estonia's past.

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Yesterday Estonia dispatched to Russia a shipment of firefighting equipment, which is expected to arrive tonight. The four pumps and 10 kilometers of hoses along with equipment and fittings will be delivered by two Rescue Board instructors, who will provide instructions for using the equipment and hand it over to the Russian Emergencies Ministry.

Over 3 million kroons (close to 200,000 euros) of assistance from the Foreign Ministry's budget will be provided to assist the families and to send the firefighting equipment.

A state of emergency has been declared in a number of regions in Russia. As of this morning, Russia had experienced 26,739 wildfires over an area of 816,515 hectares in recent weeks. At the moment, 562 fires continue to burn on 81,015 hectares. In addition to the death toll of 53, a total of 741 people have needed medical assistance.



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The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is helping improve the living conditions of displaced young people in Georgia by building play and sports grounds in their villages.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Urmas Paet said that many families lost their homes in the aftermath of the armed conflict in Georgia in August 2008 and the younger members of these displaced families often lack opportunities for healthful recreational and sports activities. “Most domestic refugee settlements lack recreational opportunities for children and young adults. Building playgrounds and sports facilities offers a safe and positive opportunity for spending free time and helps them return to everyday life, “said Paet.

The project is being implemented by the Estonian Embassy in Georgia. Five playgrounds and four athletic fields are being built in villages in the regions of Shida-Kartli and Mtskheta-Mtianeti, which will give the opportunity of practicing sports and games for more than 800 young people and children.

The playground and sports facility program is being supported by 840 046 kroons (53,800 Euros) from the Foreign Ministry’s development cooperation and humanitarian assistance funds.

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Estonia will be sending Russia equipment to help put out the extensive wildfires in the country after Russia decided to accept the offer from the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Urmas Paet says it is only natural for neighbours to assist one another in a crisis. "Russia is facing an extensive disaster and the primary issue here is not whether or not the countries have signed a rescue treaty. Estonia offered to assist Russia to the best of its ability in efforts to extinguish the forest fires and Russia has accepted the assistance. Paet expressed the hope that the forest fires can be put as soon as possible and no further people would have to lose their lives or their homes.

Estonia is sending Russia four pumps and 10 kilometres of fire hoses, including connectors and other fittings to allow water to be supplied to the fire zone. Two Rescue Board instructors will accompany the delivery of the aid, providing instructions for the use of the equipment and formally handing it over to the Russian Emergencies Ministry.

Due to the most extensive wildfires in Russia's recent history the president of the country has declared emergency situations in several regions, restricting the movement of people and economic activity. About 100 forest fires were still burning on an area of close to 190,000 hectares in Russia. Thousands of people have lost their homes in the fires and tens of thousands of hectares of woods and grain fields have been destroyed. Over 50 people have been killed in the fires, which have burned for weeks.

A total of nearly 1.5 million kroons (almost 100,000 euros) will be provided from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs budget to finance the Estonian aid being sent to the forest fire front.


More information:

Rescue Board spokesperson
Rain Porss
+372 525 2112
press@rescue.ee
http://www.rescue.ee/



MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
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The United Nations World Food Programme (UN WFP) has asked donor countries for assistance in supporting the flood victims. The WFP has been central to relief efforts since the crisis began. On 1 August, the first deliveries of food arrived to 3000 families in Peshawar, Nowshera and Charsadda. Delivery has been hampered by damage to key transport routes and bridges.

The UN estimates that the floods – the worst in recent Pakistani history – directly impacts three million people. The floods and related landslides have claimed 1,400 lives in the north-western part of the country. Death tolls may rise amid continuing rain and many have been reported missing. Many roads have been closed and infrastructure destroyed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, with 30,000 homes damaged. A cholera outbreak has also been reported.

The regions impacted by the flooding are the country’s poorest and the WFP was already been providing assistance in the region to 2.7 million people displaced by the conflict in Afghanistan.

The humanitarian aid for Pakistan will come from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs budget for development and humanitarian assistance.

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Estonian Ministry of the Interior Under Secretary Erkki Koort says Estonia is prepared to provide assistance. “Although there is no specific rescue treaty in place between Estonian and Russia, this cannot be a reason for failing to lend a helping hand,” he said.

The President of the Russian Federation has declared a state of emergency in seven regions due to the wildfires, and established restrictions on travel and economic activity. A state of emergency has been declared in Mari El Republic and Mordovia as well as in the oblasts of Vladimir, Voronezh, Moscow, Nizhny Novgorod and Ryazan.

According to the Russian Federation’s Emergencies Ministry, about 7,000 wildfires range over more than 500,000 hectares. The situation is the most serious in the Nizhny Novgorod and Moscow oblasts.

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MINISTRY OF THE INTERIOR
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1 August marks the entry into force of a youth mobility agreement between Estonia and Canada, which gives Estonian and Canadian citizens aged 18-35 an opportunity to live and work in each other’s country for a short term (up to 1 year).

Minister of Foreign Affairs Urmas Paet says the agreement gives people more opportunities to pursue academic or vocational education, gain work experience and develop a better understanding of the other country’s languages, cultures and society. “The agreement lays a foundation for improving the competitiveness of the two countries’ educational institutions and entrepreneurs,” said Paet.

Under the agreement, young adults age 18-35 will be able to work and pursue in-service studies in the host country on the basis of a previously agreed employment contract. Registered students and enrolled university students will be able to undertake a pre-approved internship or studies in the respective host countries. The agreement also affords the opportunity for the participants to travel in the host country and accept short-term employment.

The agreement sets forth the precise conditions for entering Canada. Estonian participants in the programme must meet the requirements of Canadian immigration acts, substantiate sufficient funds to cover the initial costs in Canada, and have health insurance. For more information on the permits necessary to enter Canada on the basis of the agreement and on the application process and fees payable, please contact the Canadian Embassy’s Tallinn office. Canadian citizens wishing to travel to Estonia can obtain more details from the Estonian Embassy in Ottawa.

The Estonian-language consolidated text of the youth mobility agreement between Estonia and Canada can be found at: https://www.riigiteataja.ee/ert/act.jsp?id=13329930

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Minister of Foreign Affairs Urmas Paet said that sending a health care expert to Afghanistan was one of Estonia’s most important civilian missions and that the international recognition signals that Estonia’s contribution to the rebuilding of Afghanistan is highly valued by Estonia’s partners as well. “As a result of the work of the Estonian health care expert, we have been able to make progress with the medical care situation in Helmand in spite of the challenging security situation,” said Paet. “Estonia will continue making an effort to improve the health care sector in Afghanistan,” he said.

Paet said that the Helmand Province Reconstruction Team has, in cooperation with the province’s health care board, reopened a number of medical facilities and the number of medical staff working in the state health care system has grown. Infrastructure has also improved, he noted. “Inhabitants of Helmand have increasing confidence in the state’s medical system and this is also shown by the fact that more and more people have started seeking out state medical centres instead of private clinics,” he said.

An Estonian health care expert has been based in the city of Lashkar Gah in Helmand as part of the British-led Helmand Province Reconstruction Team since March 2008. Raisma served as the Estonian health care expert in Afghanistan from March 2009 to July of this year. Priit Paju will now take over for Raisma in developing Helmand’s health care sphere. Up to March 2009, the Estonian health care expert in Afghanistan was Argo Parts. The Estonian health care expert is sent to Afghanistan in cooperation between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and MTÜ Mondo.

The functions of the expert are to implement Estonian development cooperation projects, organize the carrying out of health care projects funded by other backers and serve as an adviser to the Helmand provincial government with regard to development of the health care system. The expert’s main job duties involve coordination between Helmand province’s medical facilities, emergency medical care and other rebuilding efforts in the health care sector.

For a photograph of Anu Raisma being awarded the NATO medal, visit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/estonian-foreign-ministry/4837029067/

More information:
Aet Kukk
MTÜ Mondo
53 302 328
aetkukk@gmail.com
http://mondo.org.ee

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