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 be handed over to the Afghan authorities.

Paet stated that giving responsibility for the nation’s security to the local authorities is an important step for the building of the Afghan state. “We must also achieve agreements on the extent to which the international community is able to support and finance Afghan security forces,” he added.

At the London conference, Paet confirmed that Estonia will continue to contribute to Afghanistan. “Estonia’s principle is that we will stay in Afghanistan for as long as needed, but we will withdraw our troops as soon as possible,” confirmed the foreign minister.

According to the foreign minister, Estonia is also planning on contributing to Afghanistan’s Peace and Integration Trust Fund. “Afghanistan’s job in the near future is to begin a reconciliation process within society. President Karzai says that everyone who honours Afghanistan’s constitution and is not linked to terrorist organisations is welcome to participate,” said Paet.

The Estonian foreign minister stated that it is also essential to include Afghanistan’s neighbouring countries in the rebuilding process more that previously.

The conference in London is taking place on the foreign ministerial level and all 44 nations that contribute to the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), Afghanistan’s close neighbours, the UN, the European Union, and the World Bank have been invited to attend.

Within the framework of the conference, Foreign Minister Urmas Paet also has bilateral meetings scheduled with the foreign ministers of Jordan, Australia, and Turkmenistan.

Photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/foreignoffice/4311379896/sizes/o/

More information:
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Anneli.Kimber@mfa.ee
Tel: +44 20 7838 53 90
Mob: +44 77689 13554
www.estonia.gov.uk

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According to Foreign Minister Urmas Paet, Estonia will be sending two 45 m2 tents with floors, furniture and lighting. “These Estonian tents are needed to provide the aid operation workers with temporary living and working quarters, thereby helping aid to reach those who need it faster. Each tent contains working space for 20 people,” explained Foreign Minister Paet. The tents were acquired by the Rescue Board with the support of the Foreign Ministry in 2009 within the framework of the project to increase the capability of International Humanitarian Partnership.

Foreign Minister Paet stated that it is critically important for help to reach the people who need it in Haiti as quickly as possible. “At the earliest opportunity, when the long-term aid requirements in Haiti have been estimated, we will need to start making plans to support the reconstruction and restoration of Haiti,” said Paet. The foreign minister emphasised the importance of close co-operation among European Union member states in reacting to humanitarian crises.

Paet noted that aid sent to alleviate the aftermath of the Haiti earthquake should include measures to ensure public order and a way to ensure access for humanitarian aid as well as its proper distribution. “On Monday the European Union foreign ministers will discuss matters related to possibly sending a civil mission. Estonia supports initiating preparations for the potential implementation of a European Union civil mission,” said Foreign Minister Paet.

Estonia is contributing 2.5 million kroons (160 000 EUR) through the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies to alleviate the effects of the earthquake in Haiti. Estonia also sent an IT expert and a 3-member logistics team with supplies to Haiti to support the activities of international organisations. A member of the Estonian Rescue Board also worked in Haiti as part of the European Union evaluation team.

The European Commission has promised to support long-term reconstruction work in Haiti with 3.1 billion kroons (200 million EUR). The European Commission has allocated 468 million kroons (30 million EUR) for humanitarian aid in Haiti and the member states have bilaterally donated nearly 1.44 billion kroons (92 million EUR).

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Foreign Minister Paet asserted that Estonia supports the prompt signing of the visa facilitation and readmission agreement between the EU and Georgia, as well as beginning negotiations for an EU-Georgia Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement (DCFTA) and an Association Agreement as soon as Georgia is ready.

Paet and Saakashvili also discussed the situation in South Abkhazia. Foreign Minister Paet reaffirmed Estonia’s support for Georgia’s territorial integrity. Paet stated that a long-term political solution must be based on respect for Georgia’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.

Paet noted that Georgia is still one of Estonia’s priority partners for foreign and security policy and development co-operation. “Estonia and Georgia’s co-operation is close, and in the development aid sector, it is developing further though many bilateral projects for improving domestic security, developing rule of law, and improving state capabilities, as well as education projects,” said Paet. Within the past five years, Estonia has funded 30 different bilateral develop co-operation projects in Georgia.

Paet and Saakashvili also discussed future co-operation opportunities for enlivening economic relations. Paet expressed hope that business relations between Estonia and Georgia would be facilitated by the agreement for the protection of investments that will soon come into force.

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In accordance with the visa representation agreement, Poland will begin representing Estonia in Mongolia, North Korea, Turkmenistan, Ethiopia, and Columbia. Estonia will begin to represent Poland in Pskov. “Visa representation agreements help countries in the Schengen area be represented as widely as possible all over the world. Estonia’s network of foreign representations is limited, and co-operation like this makes it possible for somebody to get an Estonia visa even in a country where we don’t have our own embassy,” Paet explained.

Paet introduced Estonia’s steps towards joining the euro and balancing the state budget to Sikorski and Deputy Speaker of the Polish Seim Jerzy Smajdzinski. His Polish colleagues recognised Estonia’s successful activities for meeting the criteria to join the euros. Paet also told Sikorski about Estonia’s candidacy to be the location for the European Union’s IT agency for justice and home affairs and called on Poland to support Estonia’s candidacy. In speaking about the development of Estonia-Poland bilateral relations, Paet emphasised the importance of the Tallinn-Warsaw flight route that will soon be opened.
The Estonian foreign minister thanked the Polish foreign minister for Poland’s participation for the third time in the rotation of Baltic airspace policing that will begin in May. “Poland also does commendable co-operation with Estonia at the Baltic Defence College, and our views on NATO’s new strategic concept are in agreement,” Paet added. Paet stated that Poland joining the NATO Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence in Tallinn is also important.

At his meeting with Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski, Paet emphasised Estonia’s support for commemorating victims of the Holocaust. “Estonia has condemned all crimes against humanity, including the Holocaust. These horrors must never occur again,” he stressed. Paet informed Sikorski that Estonia responded to Poland’s request and made a donation of 20 000 euros to the Auschwitz-Birkenau Fund.

During Paet and Sikorski’s meeting, they also discussed adding substance to the Eastern Partnership Programme more quickly. “We must work together in the name of making the European Union progressively more open to Georgia, Ukraine, Moldova, and the other Eastern Partnership nations,” stated Paet. “Estonia is prepared to establish an Eastern Partnership training centre.”

Paet said that in order to increase energy security, it is important to connect the electricity networks of the Baltic states with those of Poland, in order to put and end to the situation in which the Baltic states, due to limited energy connections, live on an isolated “energy island”.

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Foreign Minister Urmas Paet stated that Estonia’s contribution to help the victims of the Haiti earthquake totals 3.9 million kroons. “Of this total, 2.5 million is financial aid through the Red Cross, and to send experts to the crisis region to help we are contributing 350 000 kroons to the IT experts and 1 million kroons to the aid mission of the logistics experts,” said Paet. “Estonia’s final contribution will be known when the missions of our experts come to an end. The role of the logistics experts sent from Estonia is to help co-ordinate arrivals, and their mission may be extended depending on developments in Haiti,” Paet emphasised.

Foreign Minister Paet emphasised that in order for the aid that has been contributed and will continue to be contributed to reach those who need it in Haiti, the international community must work in close co-operation. “It is necessary to get rapid aid that is also well co-ordinated to the victims of the earthquake. Since there is a need to co-ordinate the aid activities of European Union countries, an extraordinary meeting of the European Union development ministers took place today in Brussels,” he noted. “The co-operation of the Dominican Republic in helping to facilitate international aid is also very important,” Paet added.

The Commission also announced that it will contribute 200 million euros to meet long-term development aid needs for re-building Haiti. Another topic separately discussed at the meeting of the development ministers of the European Union was the co-ordinated co-operation of member states and the Commission with other international organisations, including the UN, which has taken on the co-ordinating role in Haiti.

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Foreign Minister Urmas Paet stated that the international organisations that have representatives at the scene have launched extensive aid operations. “Victims of the earthquake are lacking in medical supplies, food and drinking water, and thousands are without shelter. Access to the disaster zone is also difficult. Haiti needs medical equipment, search and rescue technology, and means of communications,” said Paet. “With the help of their observers, international organisations will be able to best assess the situation and the nature of the aid needed. This is why the Foreign Ministry is sending its financial aid through the Red Cross,” Paet said, explaining Estonia’s choice for providing aid.

The International Red Cross has sent out its first appeal for help to the extent of 10 million dollars. The aid will we directed towards helping the 20 000 families (100 000 people) affected by the earthquake for the next nine months. The Red Cross also hopes to get the first field hospital working, which would be capable of helping at least 50 people at once.

Gert Teder, a member of the Estonian Rescue Service, was among the European Union evaluation team that travelled to Haiti yesterday. The purpose of the team, sent within the framework of the civil protection mechanism, is to evaluate the needs of those who have been injured and co-ordinate the arriving aid. The European Union evaluation team sent to Haiti includes representatives from six nations.

The entire international community has rushed to the aid of Haiti, which is suffering in the aftermath of a powerful earthquake. The best opportunity for Estonia and any Estonian citizens to help alleviate the situation is through co-operation with others. In addition to countries and international organisations, the following organisations have announced the launch of aid operations: the International Red Cross, the World Food Programme (WFP), UNICEF, the World Health Organisation (WHO), the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), and many other international organisation and non-profits. UNICEF is focusing first and foremost on helping children in Haiti, the IOM is working to offer temporary shelter to thousands of Port-au-Prince residents who have lost their homes, and the Red Cross and WHO and attempting to provide first aid to the injured. They are all in need of funds for procuring medicine, drinking water, tents, or other necessary supplies. In Estonia, donations are being collected by the Estonian Red Cross and the Estonian National Committee for UNICEF.

Estonian Red Cross: SWEDBANK 1180001436 and SEB 10220039608010, subject “Haiti maavärin”

Estonian National Committee for UNICEF: SEB 10052039502009, subject “Haiti”

IOM: http://www.iom.int/jahia/jsp/index.jsp
IFRC: http://donate.ifrc.org/
UNICEF: http://www.supportunicef.org/site/pp.asp?c=9fLEJSOALpE&b=1023561
WFP: https://donate.wfp.org/supporter/donatenow.do?n=gbss&dfdbid=1044253

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Foreign Minister Paet stated that Estonia’s co-operation with the Palestinian Authority is becoming more and more active. “In October of 2009, within the framework of Estonia’s first development co-operation project with Palestine, 20 officials from the Palestinian Authority were introduced to the experiences of developing Estonia’s e-government,” Paet noted, expressing hope that the training designed for the diplomats of the Palestinian Authority would be as successful as the previous project. Contacts formed within the course of the training help to intensify co-operation between the nations even more.

The diplomats from Afghanistan and Palestine will gain knowledge about diplomacy, international relations, and communicating with the EU and NATO. They will also be introduced to the principles of the operative functioning of the EU and NATO and Estonia’s experiences in building up its own foreign service. The visitors to Estonia will also meet with representatives from various Estonian institutions.

The Estonian School of Diplomacy has had multi-faceted co-operation with Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia and Armenia since 2003. Scholarship programmes and training courses have been organised for the diplomats and state officials of these countries. The Estonian School of Diplomacy has also provided training for the diplomats of Iraq and Kosovo.

Funding for the training for Afghan and Palestinian diplomats is being allocated from the Foreign Ministry’s budget for development and humanitarian aid.

For more detailed descriptions of Estonia’s development co-operation projects from previous years, please visit the Foreign Ministry’s web page at http://www.vm.ee/?q=en/taxonomy/term/55.

Foreign Minister Paet stated that relations between Estonia and Turkey are good and close. “In the near future we anticipate the opening of the direct flight connection and many joint cultural projects within the framework of Istanbul 2010 and Tallinn 2011 as European Capitals of Culture. Turkey’s decision in the summer of 2008 to allow visa-free travel for Estonian citizens has also had a positive effect,” Paet added.

Paet confirmed Estonia’s support for Turkey’s desire to join the European Union. “Turkey has made progress in implementing reforms. However, there is still much to be done, and so it is a good thing that the environmental chapter of European Union-Turkey accession negotiations will be opened on Monday,” Paet noted. “At the same time, reforms must continue, and resolving the issues with Cyprus is also of key importance.”

One chapter of negotiations that is currently frozen is the energy chapter. According to Paet, Turkey is one of the most important energy transit countries and source of alternatives for the EU, and it plays a vital role in increasing the energy security of the European Union. “Increasing energy-related co-operation is in the interests of both the European Union and Turkey,” stated Foreign Minister Paet.

The foreign ministers also discussed Estonia’s co-operation with Turkey within the framework of NATO. Foreign Minister Paet stated that Estonia’s defence-related co-operation with Turkey in NATO has gone very well. “Turkey was the first NATO member from the Mediterranean region who guarded the airspace of Estonia and the other Baltic nations, and they did it for a longer period that usual. Our views on NATO’s new strategic concept are the same as well,” asserted Paet. The Estonian foreign minister also welcomed Turkey’s participation in the NATO Co-operative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence. “Cybercrime is a part of today’s security risks, and international co-operation to ensure cyber security is extremely important,” Paet emphasised.

The foreign ministers also addressed the situation in the South Caucasus. Foreign Minister Paet stated that the normalisation of relations between Turkey and Armenia will open new opportunities for important developments in the entire region. “We should also use all possible opportunities to gradually reach a peaceful solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict,” said Paet.

During his visit, Foreign Minister Urmas Paet also has meetings scheduled with Turkish Minister for European Affairs and chief European Union negotiator Egemen Bagis and Minister of Culture Ertugrul Gunay.

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A brave member of the Defence Forces, a son and a brother has left us – an Estonian soldier who gave his life for the security of all of us. Kristjan was devoted to his fatherland and defence of the state. It is tragic that his path in life had to end so early. Soldiers know the dangers of their profession, but it does not make any of the suffered losses easier.

International forces, including Estonia, are there in Afghanistan with the mandate of the UN Security Council and at the request of the Government of Afghanistan. It is our goal, together with our allies and the Afghans, to reach the point where the Afghans would be able to ensure the stability of their country on their own. We wish that Afghanistan would not become a threat and the people of Afghanistan could live their lives in peace – with hospitals to help those in need, children able to attend school and experience childhood without fearing these very same improvised explosive devices that are dangerous for our soldiers as well.

The countries participating in the Afghanistan mission have promised to significantly increase the number of their forces. This will increase security above the current level, thereby improving the situation in Afghanistan and allowing the Afghans to start ensuring the security of their country on their own. For the sake of this goal, we will remain in Afghanistan and perform our duties as an ally.

Estonia and its allies remember their heroes. Let us bow our heads together with the people of Estonia and the family and friends of Kristjan Jalakas.

Tallinn, 15 December 2009.

At the meeting of the NATO-Georgia Commission, the NATO foreign ministers recognised Georgia for implementing reforms and called on the nation to continue to do so.

Paet stated that the NATO foreign ministers emphasised that NATO-Georgia relations are based upon the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia. “These principles and the non-recognition of the separation of South Ossetia and Abkhazia are key elements to resolving the conflicts in the South Caucasus,” stressed Paet, calling on the parties to the negotiations in Geneva to continue working to achieve a peaceful solution and fulfil their responsibilities. Paet stated that access to Abkhazia and South Ossetia for international monitors and humanitarian aid workers is essential. In addition, Foreign Minister Paet recognised Georgia for its contribution to NATO operations.

Tonight the NATO foreign ministers will discuss Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina’s chances for receiving NATO Membership Action Plans. Tomorrow the topic of discussion will be the future of the Afghanistan mission and NATO-Russia relations.


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The NATO foreign ministers confirmed that NATO’s doors will remain open to all democratic European nations that share NATO’s values and are prepared to fulfil the responsibilities and obligations that are required for membership. Foreign Minister Paet said that Estonia has always been a strong supporter of NATO enlargement and the MAP.

Paet confirmed that the NATO Membership Action Plan is an effective and successful tool that helps new democracies carry out reforms. “At the same time, the MAP does not automatically mean membership in NATO,” Paet stressed. He added that there are different paths for achieving NATO membership—equally valuable is the compilation and fulfilment of an Annual National Plan (ANP).

Foreign Minister Paet stated that the NATO foreign ministers emphasised that NATO enlargement is the most effective way to bring stability and well-being to the Western Balkan region.

The NATO foreign ministers confirmed their readiness to give a MAP to Bosnia and Herzegovina. Paet said that the stability of Bosnia and Herzegovina is very important to the entire Balkan region. Paet also noted that the NATO foreign ministers agreed that Bosnia and Herzegovina has achieved great success in carrying out its reforms and they welcomed the country’s application for a Membership Action Plan. The NATO foreign ministers called upon Bosnia and Herzegovina to continue its close co-operation with NATO through intensive dialogue and the Individual Partnership Action Plan. “Estonia supports and encourages Bosnia and Herzegovina to continue its successful work with reforms,” Paet confirmed.

The foreign ministers also agreed that a detailed discussion over the new strategic concept will take place at the next NATO foreign ministers’ meeting, which will take place in Tallinn in April of 2010.

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Estonia is diversifying its military contribution in Afghanistan through adding special capabilities: a fire support team will be sent to strengthen the Estonian contingent and provide greater security, and within the next year Estonia plans to add an improvised explosive device disposal (IEDD) team and an intelligence unit. Estonia will maintain its current contribution in terms of numbers, which means no more than 170 soldiers, most of whom will continue to ensure security in Helmand Province in southern Afghanistan.

Paet said that while increasing the military contribution, the need for civil contributions will increase as well. In 2010 Estonia will increase its civil contribution: the Ministry of Defence will send an advisor to the NATO Training Mission (NTM-A), and a third Estonian police officer will be sent to join the two already participating in the European Union police mission EUPOL Afghanistan. Development co-operation projects in Afghanistan will continue to the full extent of their original plans.

The foreign ministers emphasised the need to increase co-ordination between military and civil efforts and agreed on the necessity of the UN’s increased role in managing this. Foreign Minister Paet stressed that military and civil co-operation and the effective use of resources are vitally important. The foreign ministers also emphasised the necessity of increasing the Afghans’ responsibility and sense of ownership in all sectors. “Estonia expects that the new Afghan government will take on more responsibility and implement concrete measures—the fight against corruption is especially important,” asserted Paet.

The reintegration and reconciliation process plays an essential role in increasing stability in Afghanistan’s society and in the rebuilding of the nation. “This process is of key importance for the effective functioning of a legitimate government that is recognised by Afghan citizens. ISAF Afghanistan can provide support in this area,” Paet stressed.

The foreign ministers of the ISAF nations confirmed that they will continue providing military and economic support as well as development aid to Pakistan in order to support the nation’s fight against extremism.

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Paet stated that NATO emphasised Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and called upon Russia to retract its decision to recognise the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. The NATO foreign ministers also called on the parties to the Geneva negotiations to be constructive and to find a peaceful resolution to the conflict through co-operation with the UN, EU and OSCE.

Paet welcomes the US president’s decision to significantly increase the USA’s contribution in Afghanistan. “Adding 30 000 soldiers is a valued decision that will help allies come to terms more effectively with the upcoming obligations,” stated Paet. The foreign minister emphasised that in order to improve the security situation and ensure sustainability in Afghanistan, it is necessary for the Afghans to accept greater responsibility. “One goal of sending in additional forces is to increase training for the Afghan security forces, which will result in the Afghans being able to carry the responsibility for their own nation’s security in the future,” Paet added.

Estonia will continue to contribute to the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan to the same degree as before, according to Foreign Minister Paet. “On average there are 150-165 Defence Forces members participating in the mission, including the fire support team sent to strengthen the Estonian contingent and provide greater security,” said Paet. “During the next year we also plan to add an improvised explosive device disposal (IEDD) team,” stated Foreign Minister Paet. A majority of the Estonian Defence Forces members will continue to ensure security in Helmand Province in southern Afghanistan.

Paet stated that while the military contribution is being increased, more attention should be paid to building up Afghanistan. “Estonia plans to increase its civil contribution in the next year, and we plan to send a third Estonian police officer to join the two already participating in the European Union police mission EUPOL Afghanistan,” the foreign minister stated. Paet added that Estonia intends to continue its development co-operation projects in Afghanistan to the full extent of their original plans.

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In the meeting with NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen, the topic of discussion was how to make European Union-NATO co-operation more effective, particularly in crisis management. Foreign Minister Urmas Paet said that NATO-EU co-operation at the moment is modest compared to the potential of the two institutions together. “In order to ensure Euro-Atlantic security and the general enlargement of the secure zone, we must use our existing resources and opportunities more rationally,” asserted Foreign Minister Paet. The European Union foreign policy leaders emphasised the vital importance of European Union and NATO co-operation in achieving stability in Afghanistan, keeping in mind the need for co-operation in both civilian and military reconstruction work. Foreign Minister Urmas Paet believes that an appropriate form and common ground for co-operation must be found between two missions with very different roles, the European Union Police Mission (EUPOL Afghanistan) and the NATO Training Mission (NTM-A), on both the regional and local levels.

The European Union foreign ministers discussed the future and direction of the Lisbon Strategy—the so-named “continuation strategy”. Foreign Minister Urmas Paet said that the European Commission is currently working out the new strategic draft legislation “European Union 2020”. “In the current economic situation, in addition to continuing to work out strategies for exiting the crisis in the member states, it is also essential to continue re-organising economic structures and making reforms, as is stated by the Lisbon Strategy,” acknowledged Foreign Minister Paet. “The new strategy should focus on economic growth and employment and address the effect of climate change on competitiveness,” Paet elaborated.

More information:
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+32 474 98 16 57

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Foreign Minister Urmas Paet confirmed Estonia’s ongoing desire to help build up the health care sector in Helmand Province. The foreign minister noted that currently the Foreign Ministry is supporting two projects in co-operation with MTÜ Mondo that are helping to establish first aid training for adults and create a supplementary training system for doctors. “At the moment, opportunities for medical workers in Helmand Province to receive any supplementary training after completing the appropriate school are extremely limited. Due to the complicated security situation and cultural factors, all of Afghanistan continues to struggle with a lack of medical personnel, particularly female doctors, nurses, and midwives,” said Paet. “This training visit is the first step in our endeavour to help create the needed training centre and support the training of nurses and midwives,” he added.

Health care advisor for the governor of Afghanistan’s Helmand Province Dr. Hedayatullah and the head doctor of the Province’s central hospital Dr. Inayattulah passed a message of gratitude on to Foreign Minister Urmas Paet from Afghanistan’s minister of health and presented a letter of thanks from the governor of Helmand to Estonia for improving the central hospital of Helmand Province and providing it with necessary medical equipment.

Paet states that thanks to co-operation between Estonia and Great Britain, opportunities to get medical treatment in Bost Hospital have greatly improved. “The hospital’s technical capabilities now meet the standards set by the health minister of Afghanistan, and this allows the hospital to take the next step of improving the quality of care and making its work more effective,” stated Paet. “In addition to supplying equipment to the medical establishment, it is also very important to focus on finding the necessary personnel and training them,” he emphasised.

Paet also emphasised the importance of the other project that is developing the medical skills of Afghans. “It is very important to give attention to the residents’ ability to administer first aid when needed, so that they can take care of their own health and the health of their families in this way,” stressed the foreign minister.

The Afghan health care workers brought up examples of the most recent positive developments in Helmand Province’s health care sector, in which Estonia has played an important role. The medical technology equipment at Helmand Province’s central hospital is some of the best in the province. Estonia has helped the hospital to procure, among other things, an autoclave, oxygen generators, and a portable oxygen delivery system. Lashkar Gah´ in Helmand Province has begun to offer an ambulance service—this service is not available anywhere else in Afghanistan except for Kabul. Across the province there are 52 clinics offering medical aid, 16 of which have been recently opened.

More than 1.4 million people live in Helmand Province, but there are only slightly more than 1 300 health care workers there. Fewer than 100 of them are doctors and only four of them are female doctors.

Since March 2008, an Estonian health care expert has been working in the city of Lashkar Gah´ in Helmand province. The expert’s responsibility is implementing Estonia’s development co-operation project on location and consulting with the board of the United Kingdom’s development team and Helmand’s provincial government about developing the health care system.

Additional information about Estonia’s contribution to building up Afghanistan: http://www.vm.ee/?q=en/node/4080

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Paet mentioned that Estonia and the Baltic nations are participating, for the first time in history, in the formulation of a new NATO strategic concept through their common representative. “Estonia’s strategic feeling of security has not wavered due to the economic crisis. For example, we are actively participating in the formulation of NATO’s new strategic concept,” said Paet. “In addition, we will soon be joining the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and we are close to meeting the Maastricht criteria and joining the euro-zone,” he asserted.

Paet emphasised that energy security issues are strategically important to all nations in the Northern European region. “There is no doubt that in the interest of future energy security, we must make an effort to unite the Nordic and Baltic energy markets and work out the necessary infrastructure,” Paet noted. “One factor that would facilitate the common energy market is the completion of the Estlink 2 connection between Estonia and Finland,” he added.

Paet stressed that the anticipated approval of the Strategy for the Baltic Sea States in the European Council this week give the nations in the Baltic Sea region an excellent starting point for even more focused and co-ordinated co-operation. “In a changing world, we must adapt to new challenges in order to ensure economic development, social well-being, and security. Now is exactly the right time to set future goals and be open to finding new opportunities and taking advantage of them,” said Paet.

During the Riga conference, there was a panel focused on strategic reassurance in Northern Europe that included Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Paet and Latvian Foreign Minister Maris Riekstins, Luxembourgish Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn, acting director of the Brussels branch of the German Marshall Fund Ronald Asmus, senior analyst of the Swedish Defence Research Agency Rober Daisjö, and senior researcher of the Danish Institute for International Studies Pertti L. Joenniemi.

The high-level international conference in Riga entitled “Economic Recovery in a Changing Security Environment: Transatlantic Agenda 2010” is taking place for the fourth time and is this time focusing on regional economic development and issues related to the effects of a changing security environment.

Additional information on the conference: http://www.rigaconference.lv/.

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