Foreign Minister Paet Addressed Estonian Economic Relations with Colleagues
19.07.2010
Nr 234 – E
18 July 2010
Within the framework of the meeting of the foreign ministers of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) in Almaty, Foreign Minister Urmas Paet met with the foreign ministers of Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Switzerland, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Thailand, Tajikistan, and Canada.
Paet and Georgian Foreign Minister Grigol Vashadze signed the agreement for the avoidance of double taxation between Estonia and Georgia and discussed the domestic situation in Georgia and Georgia’s reforms for closer co-operation with the entire European Union.
“Georgia has also been active within the framework of Eastern Partnership. Utilising the Eastern Partnership programme, it is possible to accelerate developments in Georgia in the areas of the economy and developing democratic values. At the same time, it is important for the European Union Monitoring Mission to be extended by at least two more years,” noted the Estonian foreign minister. Paet stated that Estonia supports the continued presence and active observation by the European Union Monitoring Mission. “In addition to observation tasks, in the future the mission should also have a mandate for investigating incidents and patrol and security functions,” Paet noted.
At his meeting with Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian, Paet discussed preparations for an agreement for the facilitation and protection of investments that would give entrepreneurs additional security in making investments. Hopefully the agreement will be concluded this upcoming fall. Foreign Minister Paet expressed hope that co-operation would also continue within the framework of European Union Eastern Partnership. “Armenian diplomats have already attended trainings in Estonia, and the Estonian School of Diplomacy is prepared to participate in the development of a diplomatic school in Armenia,” he stated. The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict was also discussed at the meeting. Paet noted that the peaceful resolution of the conflict is extremely important. “Both Armenia and Azerbaijan should utilise all opportunities to achieve peaceful resolutions,” Paet emphasised.
At his meeting with Serbian Foreign Minister Vuc Jeremic, the Estonian foreign minister expressed support for Serbia’s rapid momentum towards EU membership. “Hopefully it will be possible for accession negotiations to begin very soon,” he added.
