Europe-related Consultations Took Place Between Estonia and Russia in Moscow

05.03.2010

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 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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