News

Foreign Minister Paet: Baltic Sea Region Co-operation Serves as Example for Creation of Danube Strategy
Nr 79-E 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 ...

Foreign Minister Paet: Estonia Supports Serbia on Path to European Union
Nr 80-E 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 ...

Latvian Foreign Minister to Visit Estonia
Nr 15-TT 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 ...

Foreign Minister Paet: Holland’s Contribution to Stabilising Situation in Afghanistan Has Been Essential
Nr 78-E 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 ...

Foreign Minister Paet: EU Needs Strong European External Action Service That Can Help Citizens of Union in Crisis Situations
Nr 76-E 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 ...

Foreign Minister Paet: Visa Freedom with All Western Balkan Countries is Clear Intention of EU
Nr 77-E 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 ...

Serbian Foreign Minister to Visit Estonia
Nr 14-TT 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 ...

Dutch Foreign Minister to Visit Estonia
Nr 13-TT 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, ...

Europe-related Consultations Took Place Between Estonia and Russia in Moscow
Nr 74-E 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 ...

Foreign Minister Paet to Discuss Creation of EU External Action Service with Colleagues in Córdoba
Nr 75-E Today and tomorrow Foreign Minister Urmas Paet will participate in an informal Gymnich meeting of the European Union foreign ministers in Córdoba, Spain. The foreign ministers will discuss ...

Estonia to Participate in NATO Crisis Management Exercise
Nr 73-E 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 ...

Foreign Minister Paet Opened Estonian Honorary Consulate in Geneva
Nr 72-E 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 ...

Foreign Ministry Undersecretary for EU Affairs and Swedish Minister for European Union Affairs Discuss Implementation of Baltic Sea Region Strategy
Nr 70-E 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. ...

Estonian Foreign Ministry Issues Protest to Russian Ambassador
Nr 67–E 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 ...

Estonian Foreign Minister Recognises Contribution of Egyptian Colleague to Middle East Peace Process
Nr 69– E 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 ...

Foreign Minister Urmas Paet Opened Estonian Embassy in Egypt
Nr 68– E 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 ...

Foreign Minister Paet: President Assuming Office Creates Good Situation for Stabilisation of Domestic Politics in Ukraine
On Monday, 22 February Foreign Minister Urmas Paet attended a meeting of the European Union external relations council in Brussels, where topics of discussion were the situation in Ukraine, building up ...

Foreign Minister Paet and European Affairs Minister Ohlsson: Baltic Sea Region Strategy Could be Example for Danube Countries
At his meeting with new Swedish European Union Affairs Minister Birgitta Ohlsson in Brussels on Monday, 22 February, Foreign Minister Urmas Paet said that the success of the Strategy for the Baltic Sea ...

Foreign Minister Paet Opened Estonian Honorary Consulate in Damascus
Foreign Minister Urmas Paet opened the Estonian Honorary Consulate in Damascus. The Estonian honorary consul in Damascus is Awab Shubat. During the opening of the honorary consulate, Foreign Minister Paet ...

Estonian Embassy in Finland Celebrating Estonia’s 92nd Anniversary with Dance Performance “Opus Tempus” in Helsinki’s Savoy Theatre
On Thursday 25 February at 18.00 the music and dance performance “Opus Tempus” will be performed at the Savoy Theatre in Helsinki to celebrate Estonia’s independence day. The performance ...

Independence Day to be Celebrated in England with Veljo Tormis Concert
On the anniversary of the Republic of Estonia, 24 February, a concert of Veljo Tormis’s music will take place in the United Kingdom, during which the composer’s works will be performed by the ...

Foreign Minister Paet: Smooth EU Accession Negotiations with Turkey are in Estonia’s Interests
During his meeting in Tallinn with Turkish European Union Affairs Minister Egemen Bagis, Foreign Minister Urmas Paet confirmed Estonia’s support for Turkey continuing accession negotiations with ...

Foreign Minister Paet Met with USA Under Secretary of Defence Flournoy
Foreign Minister Urmas Paet met today with Under Secretary of Defence for Policy of the United States Michele Flournoy. At the meeting they discussed co-operation between Estonia and the USA in Afghanistan ...

Foreign Minister Paet and French Secretary of State for European Affairs Lellouche Discussed NATO-Russia Relations
During their meeting in Tallinn, Foreign Minister Urmas Paet and French Secretary of State for European Affairs Pierre Lellouche discussed matters related to the Treaty of Lisbon, the development of the ...

Syria Interested in Co-operation with Estonia in Oil Shale and Information Technology Sectors
At his meeting with his Syrian colleague Walid al Muallim in Damascus, Foreign Minister Urmas Paet said that Estonia would like to intensify its communication with the nations of the Middle East. Paet ...

Competition for Estonian-Latvian and Latvian-Estonian Translation Award Begins
Nr 31-E Foreign Minister Urmas Paet and Latvian Foreign Minister Māris Riekstiņš today announced the opening of the competition to recognise the best Estonian and Latvian translators. The best translator ...

Danish Foreign Minister to Visit Estonia
Nr 9-TT On Tuesday, 23 February Danish Foreign Minister Per Stig Møller will come to Estonia for a visit and meet with Foreign Minister Urmas Paet. At the meeting, they will discuss matters related ...

Foreign Ministry Secretary General Participated in Meeting of Nordic-Baltic Co-operation Ministers
Nr 55-E Foreign Ministry Secretary General Marten Kokk participated in a meeting of the Nordic-Baltic co-operation ministers on Thursday, 18 February. Topics being discussed were co-operation opportunities ...

EU Development Co-operation Ministers Discussed Efficiency of Aid and Fulfilment of UN Millennium Development Goals
Nr 54–E An informal council of co-operation development ministers took place in Segovia, Spain from 17-18 February. The Estonian delegation was led by Foreign Ministry Undersecretary for Economic ...

Foreign Minister Paet: Estonia Will Join OECD During Next Few Months
Nr 53-E Secretary General of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Angel Gurría confirmed in his meeting with Foreign Minister Urmas Paet in Paris that the decision to ...

Foreign Minister Urmas Paet Opens Estonian Honorary Consulate in Bordeaux
Nr 51-E Foreign Minister Urmas Paet opened the Estonian Honorary Consulate in Bordeaux on Tuesday, 16 February. It is the fifth Estonian honorary consulate in France. The Estonian honorary consul ...

The Celebration of the 92nd Anniversary of the Republic of Estonia in Tallinn and in Tartu
Nr 34-E Attention journalists! Accreditation begins today for the events celebrating the 92nd anniversary of the Republic of Estonia in Tallinn and in Tartu. Journalists, photographers and cameramen interested ...

Foreign Minister Paet Discussed Co-operation with New Lithuanian Foreign Minister
Nr 47- E Foreign Minister Urmas Paet spoke on the phone with new Lithuanian Foreign Minister Audronius Ažubalis, who was assigned to his position on Thursday. The foreign ministers discussed matters related ...

Estonian Film Festival Taking Place in Eminent London University
The Estonian film festival “Disco and Atomic War” will begin at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) on Thursday, 11 February. Within the framework of the three-day festival, ...

Paet: Estonian Tourism Sector Recovering from Economic Decline
Nr 48-E At the opening of the tourism fair “Tourest 2010” at the Eesti Näitused exhibition centre, Foreign Minister Urmas Paet said that tourism is an important branch of Estonian economics. ...

Estonia Extends Mission of Health Care Expert in Afghanistan
The Foreign Ministry is extending the mission of health care expert Anu Raisma, who works to co-ordinate development co-operation in Helmand Province in Afghanistan, by half a year to the end of July this ...

Leonhard Lapin Exhibit Opened Today in Estonian Embassy in Helsinki
Nr 52-E Today an exhibit by the grand old man of Estonian art, Leonhard Lapin, will be opened in the Estonian Embassy in Helsinki at 16.00. The exhibit is made up of a selection of pieces from the artist’s ...

Foreign Minister Paet: Estonia Wishes to Open EU Eastern Partnership Training Centre
Nr 44 – E While talking about European Union matters in his speech in Riigikogu today about the primary topics of Estonian foreign policy, Foreign Minister Urmas Paet brought up Estonia’s candidacy ...

Foreign Minister Paet: Euro and Accession to OECD are Within Arm’s Reach
Nr 43-E In his foreign policy address today in Riigikogu, Foreign Minister Urmas Paet noted that Estonia has made significant decisions in the economic sector during the past year that have brought accession ...

Address by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Estonia Mr. Urmas Paet to the Riigikogu on behalf of the Government of Estonia 11 February 2010
Overview of Estonia’s Foreign Policy Honourable Chairman, Respected Members of the Riigikogu, Dear guests, Today’s foreign policy address is mainly concentrated on the following topics: security, ...

Foreign Minister Paet: Pillars of NATO Must Remain the Same
Nr 42 – E In his foreign policy address today in Riigikogu, Foreign Minister Urmas Paet emphasised that Estonia is actively involved in the formulation of NATO’s new Strategic Concept. “It ...

First-ever Trilateral Political Consultations With Finland and Turkey Took Place on Secretary General Level
Nr 40-E Trilateral political consultations between Estonia, Finland and Turkey took place on Monday, 8 February in Ankara. It was the first time ever the consultations were held together with Finland. ...

Foreign Minister Paet: Austria Expecting Estonia to Join Euro Zone Soon
Nr 39-E In Vienna today Foreign Minister Urmas Paet discussed Estonia’s candidacy to become the location for the European Union IT agency for justice and home affairs and accession to the euro zone ...

Mission of Estonian Experts in Haiti to Last Until End of April
Nr 35 - E Due to the complicated humanitarian situation there, Estonia will soon be sending a medical worker and a mechanic to support the work of rescue teams in Haiti. According to Estonian Foreign Minister ...

Estonia Supports Japan in UN Security Council Reform
Nr 36-E At a meeting with Japanese State Secretary Koichi Takemasa during the Munich Security Conference, Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Paet confirmed Estonia’s support for Japan’s permanent ...

Group of Factors that Determine International Security Constantly Expanding
Nr 37 – E The Munich Security Conference, which took place from Friday to Sunday, focused first and foremost on NATO’s values and primary responsibilities. Estonian Defence Minister Jaak Aaviksoo ...

Ski Festival Organised by Estonian Embassy Took Place in Turkey
Nr 38-E The Estonian Embassy in Turkey organised a spirited cross-country skiing festival in Turkey’s Bolu Province on Sunday, 7 February. The snow and sun brought together around a thousand skiing ...

Slovenian Foreign Minister Samuel Žbogar to Visit Estonia
Nr 7-TT Foreign Minister of the Republic of Slovenia Samuel Žbogar will arrive in Estonia for a working visit on Tuesday, 9 February. During the course of his visit, he has meetings scheduled with President ...

Estonian Ambassador to Slovakia Presents Credentials
Nr 33-E Ambassador of the Republic of Estonia to Slovakia Eve-Külli Kala presented her credentials to President of the Republic of Slovakia Ivan Gašparovič on Tuesday, 2 February. At ...

Foreign Minister Paet: Tartu Peace Treaty Brought Peace to Homes and Clarity to Estonia-Russia Relations
Nr 32-E At the opening of the room commemorating the signing of the Tartu Peace Treaty on February 2 in Tartu, Foreign Minister Urmas Paet emphasised that the conclusion of the peace treaty brought peace ...

Paet Met with Foreign Ministers of Jordan and Turkmenistan
Nr 30-E Foreign Minister Urmas Paet met in London with Jordanian Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh, who expressed interest in Estonia’s e-developments. The foreign ministers discussed co-operation opportunities ...

Estonian Foreign Minister Paet and Polish Foreign Minister Sikorski Sign Estonia-Poland Visa Representation Agreement
Nr 18 – E Today Foreign Minister Urmas Paet and his Polish colleague Radosław Sikorski signed an Estonia-Poland visa representation agreement together in Warsaw. In accordance with the visa representation ...

Foreign Minister Paet: Afghanistan Must Become Capable of Taking Over Security Responsibilities
Nr 29-E At the international Afghanistan conference in London, Foreign Minister Urmas Paet said during the next few months a situation should be created in which security responsibilities can gradually ...

Paet to Participate in Afghanistan Conference in London
Nr 28-E Foreign Minister Urmas Paet will participate in the international Afghanistan conference taking place in London on Thursday, 28 January. The international community’s efforts in co-operation ...

Paet and Saakashvili Discussed Georgian Integration into EU and NATO
Nr 21–E At his meeting today in Tallinn with Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili, Foreign Minister Urmas Paet emphasised Estonia’s support for Georgia’s integration into the European ...

Estonia Considers Continued European Union Support for Moldova to be Essential
Nr 26-E At a meeting with Moldovan Foreign Minister Iurie Leanca in Brussels on 25 January, Foreign Minister Urmas Paet confirmed Estonia’s support for starting negotiations for visa facilitation ...

Foreign Minister Paet: European Union Ready to Contribute Police to Improve Security in Haiti
Nr 25-E Foreign Minister Urmas Paet participated in the European Union foreign ministers’ council in Brussels today, 25 January. During the external relations session the situation in Haiti was discussed ...

Foreign Minister Paet Introduces Estonia’s Path to the Euro in Poland
Nr 19 – E While speaking today in the European Union and foreign policy think tank Demos Europa in Warsaw, Foreign Minister Urmas Paet emphasised that the economic crisis brought a 5% decline to ...

France to Represent Estonia for Issuing of Visas in 15 Countries
Nr 20-E The government approved the conclusion of a visa representation agreement with France, which will begin to represent Estonia for the issuing of visas in 15 countries. Foreign Minister Urmas ...

Estonia Sends Supplies to Aid Workers’ Field Camp in Haiti
Nr 23-E At the request of the UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Estonia will be sending supplies to the humanitarian operations information centre. According to Foreign Minister ...

Paet Participating in Meeting with European Union Colleagues
Nr 24-E Foreign Minister Urmas Paet will participate in a session of the General Affairs and External Relations Council in Brussels tomorrow, 25 January, where the topic of discussion will be the programme ...

The Estonian Guild in London Begins its Activities
Nr 17-E On Tuesday, 19 January, Ambassador of Estonia to the United Kingdom Margus Laidre opened the seminar of the London Estonian Guild, which brings together Estonian entrepreneurs and enterprising ...

Estonian Support for Victims of Haiti Earthquake Close to Four Million Kroons
Nr 15 – E Today the European Union development ministers agreed on the co-ordinated activity of the European Union to help the victims of the Haiti earthquake over the next few weeks and months. ...

Georgian President Mihhail Saakashvili to Visit Estonia
Nr 3-TT Georgian President Mihhail Saakashvili will be in Estonia for a working visit from 20-21 January along with his wife Sandra Elisabeth Roelofs. This will be the Georgian president’s first ...

Estonia Allocates Additional Aid for Victims of Haiti Earthquake
Nr 14-E The Foreign Ministry is donating an additional 1.5 million kroons through the International Red Cross to help the victims of the earthquake in Haiti. Currently Estonia’s aid to Haiti totals ...

Foreign Minister Paet Presented Foreign Ministry Cultural Stipends to Imbi Paju and Tiit Ojasoo
Nr 13-E Today Foreign Minister Urmas Paet presented Foreign Ministry cultural stipends to two creative Estonians—author, director and journalist Imbi Paju and theatre director Tiit Ojasoo. Foreign ...

Foreign Ministry has Information on Estonian Citizen in Haiti
Nr 2-TT The Foreign Ministry has information on an Estonian citizen who is in Haiti. The ministry was informed of the citizen’s presence in Haiti by the individual’s relatives. The citizen ...

Estonia Aids Victims of Earthquake in Haiti
Nr 12-E Estonia is donating one million kroons through the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) to help alleviate the effects of the earthquake in Haiti. In co-operation ...

Estonia Prepared to Help Victims of Haiti Earthquake
Nr 11-E Estonia is prepared to donate about one million kroons to help alleviate the aftermath of the earthquake in Haiti. The Foreign Ministry is currently assessing co-operation with other state institutions ...

Foreign Minister Paet: South Korea is Europe’s Strategic Ally
Nr 10-E At his meeting in Seoul today with South Korean Prime Minister Chung Un-chan, Foreign Minister Urmas Paet said that the free trade agreement coming into effect between the European Union and South ...

Paet: South Korea Interested in IT Development in Estonia’s Public Sector
Nr 9-E Foreign Minister Urmas Paet, who is on a visit to the Republic of Korea, discussed the development of political, economic, science and information technology co-operation between Estonia and South ...

Foreign Ministry to Send One-Day Consular Mission to Cyprus
Nr 5 - E During the course of the consular mission on 26 February, it will be possible for all Estonian citizens residing in Cyprus to apply for new passports or ID cards or receive pre-ordered documents. ...

Estonian Ambassador to Austria Presents Credentials
Nr 8-E Ambassador of the Republic of Estonia Eve-Külli Kala presented her credentials to President of the Republic of Austria Heinz Fischer on Monday, 11 January. During the meeting that took place ...

Estonian and Singaporean Foreign Ministers Opened Memorial to the Fall of the Berlin Wall
Nr 7-E Foreign Minister Urmas Paet, in Singapore for a visit, participated along with Singaporean Foreign Minister George Yong-Boon Yeo in the opening of a memorial dedicated to the 20-year anniversary ...

Estonia and Singapore Preparing for Agreement for the Protection of Investments
Nr 6–E Foreign Minister Urmas Paet and Singaporean Foreign Minister George Yong-Boon Yeo agreed to begin preparations for an agreement for the protection of investments between Estonia and Singapore. ...

Estonia Joined Council of Europe Convention Against Human Trafficking
Nr 4-E Today, 7 January, the government approved Estonia joining the Council of Europe’s Convention Against Trafficking in Human Beings. Foreign Minister Urmas Paet stated that human trafficking, ...

Foreign Ministry Gave Valuable 17th Century Dutch Painting to Art Museum of Estonia
Nr 3-E Foreign Minister Urmas Paet presented the Art Museum of Estonia with an oil painting by Dutch artist Govert Dircksz Camphuysen entitled “Chicken in its nest” in honour of the museum’s ...

Estonia Contributing to International Civil Mission in Kosovo
Nr 2-E The Foreign Ministry is supporting the International Civilian Office (ICO) in Kosovo with one million kroons. Foreign Minister Urmas Paet stated that the goal of the civil mission is to monitor ...

Afghan and Palestinian Diplomats to Receive Supplementary Training in Estonia
Nr 314-E Next year the Foreign Ministry will support the training of 10 Afghan and 15 Palestinian diplomats in a two-week programme at the Estonian School of Diplomacy. Foreign Minister Urmas Paet said ...

Estonia Prepares to Open Embassy in Cairo
Nr 1-E Foreign Ministry Secretary General Marten Kokk and Ambassador of the Republic of Latvia to Estonia Kārlis Eihenbaums will sign a memorandum of mutual understanding on 5 January, according to which ...

Visit Estonia!
www.visitestonia.com

Information on Estonia!
www.estonica.org

Invest in Estonia!
www.investinestonia.com

Estonian Foreign Ministry
www.vm.ee

© Estonian Embassy in Belgium and Luxembourg

Avenue Isidore Gerard 1, B-1160, Brussels tel. (32) 2 779 07 55, e-mail: