Foreign Minister Paet and French Secretary of State for European Affairs Lellouche Discussed NATO-Russia Relations

01.03.2010

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 European External Action Service, Eastern Partnership, the EU IT agency, and Estonia’s euro aspirations. They also discussed NATO-Russia relations and Estonia-France security co-operation, the situation in Afghanistan, and Estonia’s accession to the OECD.

French Secretary of State for European Affairs Lellouche confirmed to the Estonian foreign minister that France contributes to the security of the European Union and adheres closely to NATO’s principles of collective defence and co-operation in the EU. Secretary of State Lellouche expressed France’s desire to begin a series of security-related consultations with Estonia. Foreign Minister Paet stated that the unity of NATO is important, including open security-related conversations with France. In talking about security co-operation, the ministers also addressed the Mistral-type ships that are scheduled to be sold to Russia.

Paet and Lellouche also discussed the situation in Afghanistan and improving military and civil co-operation there. Foreign Minister Paet emphasised the need to ensure sustainability in both increasing the ranks of the security forces and implementing development aid projects. “What is important is that the Afghans can begin to accept responsibility for the security and development of their own country,” stated Paet. According to the Estonian foreign minister, increasing the participation of Afghanistan’s neighbours in the reconstruction of Afghanistan is also very important.

In discussing Estonia’s candidacy to become the location for the EU IT agency for justice and home affairs, Paet emphasised that Estonia feels that using information technology in a more efficient way than before in the EU’s interior security sector is very important, which is why it is necessary to create a separate IT agency. “Estonia presented its official application to become the host country of the EU’s IT agency for justice, freedom and security right before Christmas. 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 the foreign minister. 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.

While talking about the European External Action Service and the Treaty of Lisbon, Foreign Minister Paet noted that the implementation of the treaty and the creation of a common foreign service will help make the union’s foreign policy more unified and thereby make the EU more influential globally. “We would like for a strong and wide-reaching European Union foreign service to form by this upcoming April, so that it can be fully functional by 2012,” said Paet.

Foreign Minister Urmas Paet said that adopting the euro will significantly increase confidence in the stability of the economic environment for Estonian residents and those investing in Estonia. “Estonia would like to fulfil all the requirements and join the euro zone at the beginning of 2011,” said Paet.