overview of bilateral relationstreaty, energy policies, and bilateral relations. one of last...

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Overview of bilateral relations

North America, Western and Southern EuropeThe summer of 2007 marked 85 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations

between Estonia and the United States of America. The U.S. policy of non-recognition of

the forcible incorporation of Estonia into the Soviet Union is very valuable for Estonia.

Giving a speech in June at the Heritage Foundation on the occasion of the 85th anni-

versary of diplomatic relations between the Baltic states and the United States, Daniel

Fried, the Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs, joked

that in all likelihood, he and Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Paet could exchange

speeches – the message would be the same. The common values of Estonia and the

U.S. are not just empty words. A similar vision of the world truly exists. The meeting

between Foreign Minister Urmas Paet, the Latvian and Lithuanian foreign ministers,

and U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice within the framework of the anniversary

of diplomatic relations was also very open and friendly.

Testimony to the common view of history is provided by the establishment of a memorial

to the victims of communism in Washington DC, which Estonia supported with a contri-

bution. In 2008, there are plans to start up a virtual museum to introduce the crimes of

communism, to which Estonia was the fi rst country to make a fi nancial contribution.

If the highlight of 2006 was the visit of President George W. Bush to Estonia, then 2007

was graced by the visits of the Estonian heads of state and government to the United

States. The visit of President Toomas Hendrik Ilves to the U.S. at the invitation of Presi-

dent George W. Bush took place in June 2007, and included meetings with Defence

Secretary Robert Gates and Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House of Representatives.

In November 2007, Prime Minister Andrus Ansip made a working visit to the United

States. The Prime Minister met with U.S. Vice President Richard B. Cheney, Secretary

of State Condoleezza Rice, Secretary of Energy Samuel Bodman, and Carlos Gutierrez,

the Secretary of Commerce.

At the end of November, Minister of Defence Jaak Aaviksoo also made a working trip

to the U.S., where he met with Defence Secretary Robert Gates and Gordon England,

the Deputy Secretary of Defence.

ESTONIAN MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS YEARBOOK2007

84

2007 confi rmed the continuation of mutual relations between Estonia and Ireland as

reliable co-operation partners. This is proved by joint participation in the EU Nordic

Battle Group. Within the framework of the European Union, there are also other topics

that unite the two countries – energy issues, competitiveness, and innovation. In the

case of the latter, Estonia has quite a bit to learn from Ireland.

A sign of the traditionally close relations between the two countries is the invitation

issued in spring 2007 by Irish President Mary McAleese to her Estonian colleague

to visit Ireland. The state visit will probably be one of next year’s most important

events, and will vividly characterise the friendly and direct relations between the two

countries.

In relations between Estonia and the United Kingdom, 2007 can be characterised by

a partnership in both the EU and NATO contexts. During the last year, an important

expression of bilateral activity was defence-related co-operation. In September the

minesweeper Admiral Cowan was inaugurated at the Tallinn Mine Port. This is the

fi rst of the naval vessels to be procured from Great Britain. An Estonian contingent

participates along with British soldiers in the International Security Assistance Force

(ISAF) in the Helmand province of southern Afghanistan.

Prime Minister Andrus Ansip and President Toomas Hendrik Ilves, who visited Great

Britain at the beginning of the year, focused on EU topics in their public appearances

at the London School of Economics and Oxford Students’ Union respectively, in order

to introduce the viewpoint of a new member state.

Work-intensive contacts continued between the Estonian and British parliaments.

In June, Sven Mikser, the chairman of the Riigikogu’s Great Britain Parliamentary

Group, and Marko Mihkelson, member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, visited their

colleagues in London. During the fall of last year, a delegation of Liberal Democrats

from the House of Commons and Gordon Marsden, the chairman of the Estonian

Friendship Group in the House of Commons, visited Estonia.

Cultural relations between Estonia and Great Britain intensifi ed further in 2007. Of the

numerous musical events, the following deserve special mention: the premiere of Arvo

Pärt’s work dedicated to Lennart Meri by the London Isis Chamber Orchestra; concerts

by the London Philharmonic Orchestra and Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra con-

ducted by the Estonian conductors Neeme Järvi and Paavo Järvi; and performances

by the Scottish Chamber Orchestra under the direction of Olari Elts. The works of Es-

tonian artists reached the British public in the galleries and exhibition halls of Cardiff

and Glasgow. The year’s literary event was the publication of Viivi Luik’s The Beauty

of History in English.

2007

85

2007 again demonstrated that relations between Estonia and Germany are very good.

Early in the year, from 10-12 February, President Toomas Hendrik Ilves visited Germany.

Meetings took place with Chancellor Angela Merkel and Federal President Horst Köhler.

The main topics were the Reform Treaty, the Western Balkans, and EU-Russia relations.

In addition, the importance of a common EU energy policy was acknowledged, as was

the need for intensifying partnership relations between the EU and the U.S.

On 15 March, a meeting took place in Tallinn between Foreign Minister Urmas Paet and

Peter Harry Carstensen, the Premier of the State of Schleswig-Holstein. In addition

to bilateral relations, the main topics of the meeting were the Reform Treaty and EU

maritime policy. In May, Interior Minister of the State of Schleswig-Holstein Ralf Stegner

also paid a visit to Estonia, and renewed a co-operation agreement.

Germany’s Minister of Economics and Technology, Michael Glos, visited Tallinn from

3-4 May. At a meeting with Prime Minister Andrus Ansip and Juhan Parts, the Minister

of Economic Affairs, Estonian-German economic relations were discussed and special

attention was paid to the EU’s common energy policies.

From 18-20 April, a visit by Susanne Kastner, Vice-President of the Bundestag, took

place. The topics under discussion included the German EU Presidency, the Reform

Treaty, energy policies, and bilateral relations.

One of last year’s high points was the offi cial visit of German Foreign Minister Frank

Walter Steinmeier to Estonia from 10-11 July. At meetings with President Toomas Hendrik

Ilves, Prime Minister Andrus Ansip and Foreign Minister Urmas Paet, EU topics, as well

as Afghanistan, the Middle East, Central Asia and Africa were under discussion.

As in previous years, numerous cultural events also took place in 2007. Estonian cinema

received great recognition last year, when the beloved animated fi lm Lotte from Gadgetville

became the fi rst Estonian fi lm to be distributed in Germany. From 19-20 April, an

exhibition and fi lm program entitled Having Soul – 50 Jahre Nukufi lm Tallinn took

place at the Dresden Film Festival.

Also worth mentioning is the success of Estonian design in Germany. From 30-31

March, Estonia was a partner country at the Stuttgart design conference, Face to

Face 7. Great recognition was also given to two Estonian companies – Aquator and

Thulema – in the form of a design management certifi cate of honour, presented in

Essen in November 2007.

Various exhibitions, poetry evenings, and concerts continually take place at the Estonian

Embassy. From January to September, an exhibition of Meiu Münt’s paintings entitled

OVERVIEW OF WORLDWIDE BILATERAL RELATIONS


86

“The Day is Dark” was on display; and in November, a photo exhibition on Arvo Pärt

opened, for the occasion of the composer’s 70th birthday. The composer and his wife

also attended the opening of the exhibition.

Last year, our musicians continued to enjoy success in Germany as well. Thus, on

1 May in Karlsruhe, Kristjan Randalu was presented with the Jazz Prize of the State

of Baden-Württemberg for 2007. On 9 November, one of Estonia’s most renowned

composers, Arvo Pärt, was presented with the International Bridge Award in Görlitz.

Riigikogu Speaker Ene Ergma also attended the ceremony, and the Laudatio was

given by President of the German Bundestag, Norbert Lammert.

In 2007, preparations were initiated for a dignifi ed celebration to mark the 90th anniver-

sary of the Republic of Estonia. From January to June of this year, an extensive cultural

programme entitled ESSENTIA BALTICA 2008, dedicated to the 90th anniversaries of the

Republics of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, will take place in Germany. In addition to

Berlin, Estonia will concentrate its events in the State of Baden-Württemberg, and the

focus will be on culture, tourism, economics and education. In addition to Stuttgart and

other cities in the state, events will also take place in Baden-Württemberg’s missions in

Berlin and Brussels.

In respect to France, the highlight of 2007 was the opening of the new Estonian Embassy

in Paris on 13 February. This meant a return to one’s own building after the occupation

and annexation of Estonia by the Soviet Union in 1940.

Numerous high-level meetings and visits took place in 2007. Within the framework

of the opening of the new Estonian Embassy, a bilateral meeting took place between

Foreign Minister Urmas Paet and Catherine Colonna, France’s Minister for European

Affairs, where current EU topics and EU-Russia relations were discussed.

On 9 October, Jüri Pihl, the Estonian Minister of Internal Affairs, participated in

MILIPOL, the worldwide exhibition of internal state security in Paris, and also met with

his French colleague, Minister of the Interior Michèle Alliot-Marie. Their discussions

included possibilities for intensifying co-operation within the framework of common

EU policies and bilateral relations.

On 2 November Jean-Pierre Jouyet, France’s Minister of State for European Affairs,

met with Foreign Minister Urmas Paet and the members of the Riigikogu’s Committee

for European Union Affairs.

Foreign Minister Urmas Paet met with French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner in

Paris on 18 December. At the meeting the topics under discussion included relations

2007

87

between Estonia and France, European Neighbourhood Policy, the updating of Eu-

rope’s security strategy, the Treaty of Lisbon, and relations between the European

Union and NATO.

Excellent co-operation has developed between the Estonian and French parliaments.

Delegations have conducted regular reciprocal meetings. In June 2006, the Estonian

Riigikogu had the pleasure of hosting Christian Poncelet, the President of the

Senate. The reciprocal visit of Riigikogu Speaker Toomas Varek to Paris took place from

29-31 January.

The cultural relations between Estonia and France are also consolidating. Within the

framework of the opening of the new embassy building in February, an exhibition

of Estonian graphic arts from the 70s-90s, originating from the collections of the Art

Museum of Estonia, was organised at the embassy in co-operation with the Cultural

Offi ce of the Foreign Ministry.

An exhibition entitled “Tammik: rétrospective-perspective” celebrating the 60th birthday

of Rein Tammik, an artist who has lived in France since 1992, was held in April at the

Jesuit Chapel in Eu in Normandy. Pianist Mihkel Poll gave a concert at the Eu City

Theatre. In addition to works by Ludwig van Beethoven and Franz Liszt, the program

included works by Estonian composers Arvo Pärt and Eduard Tubin. At a meeting

in Brussels in November, the Estonian and French ministers of culture agreed that

Estonian Culture Days would take place in France in 2010.

In February, the largest purchase-sale agreement for defence-related equipment came

to fruition. During two years, a consortium of MBDA France and SAAB AB will supply

the Estonian Ministry of Defence with an integrated air defence system, at a cost of

64 million EUR. The contract includes a commitment for reciprocal purchases from

Estonia in the same amount.

From 18-19 September, the second session of the joint committee for the fulfi llment of the

co-operation agreement between the Belgian French-speaking community, the Walloon

regions, and the government of the Republic of Estonia took place, during which a co-

operation protocol for 2008-2010 was signed. Of the projects to be executed on the basis of

the agreement, the most noteworthy are academic co-operation for the breeding of agri-

cultural cultures, co-operation related to information technology, cultural and educational

co-operation, including the guarantee of reciprocal study opportunities for the Estonian

and French languages, and the publication of a large Estonian-French dictionary.

The signifi cant cultural events that deserve mention include the exhibition of Eduard

Wiiralt’s works in January at the Félicien Rops Museum in Namur. Also noteworthy is



88

an Estonian literary evening in Brussels in March, where translator Antoine Chalvin

introduced Estonian literature and the Kalevipoeg epos.

The highlight of Estonia-Belgium relations in 2008 will be the state visit of King Albert II

of Belgium to Estonia from 10-12 June.

The most important event during the past year in relations with the Netherlands was

the visit of President Ilves to The Hague on 15 June. During the visit, the president

met with Her Majesty Queen Beatrix and with Foreign Minister Maxime Verhagen.

The exchange of ideas focused on the EU Reform Treaty, EU internal co-operation,

and developments in the Balkans. The president’s visit to the Netherlands also had

a signifi cant cultural dimension. On 15 June, Estonia’s top conductor Neeme Järvi’s

70th birthday was celebrated with a concert by the Hague Symphony Orchestra. The

concert was attended by President Ilves. Mr. Järvi conducts the Hague Symphony

Orchestra since 2005.

Preparations for the star event of Estonia-Holland relations in 2008 – the state visit of

Queen Beatrix to Estonia in May – are underway.

The visit of Luxembourg’s Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker to Estonia from 24-25

September was a reciprocal visit to Prime Minister Andrus Ansip’s visit to Luxem-

bourg on 10 May 2006. In Estonia, Prime Minister Juncker had meetings with Prime

Minister Ansip, Minister of Finance Ivari Padar, Andres Lipstok, the President of the

Bank of Estonia, and Kristiina Ojuland, the Deputy Speaker of the Riigikogu. The main

topics under discussion were European Union energy policy, energy solidarity and

EU-Russia relations. Ideas were also exchanged on the future of Europe and the com-

mon currency, as well as the enlargement of the European Union.

A confi rmation of progressing relations is the fact that Luxembourg has decided to assign

an ambassador to Estonia for the fi rst time – Jean Faltz, who resides in Prague.

Austria’s President, Dr. Heinz Fischer, made a working visit to Estonia in the spring of

2007. From 11-12 April, President Fischer met with President Ilves and Prime Minister

Ansip. Ideas were exchanged on the EU Reform Treaty and the future of the EU, along

with developments in the neighbourhood of the European Union.

From 9-11 July, the state visit of President Toomas Hendrik Ilves to the Kingdom of

Spain took place. The goal of the visit was to develop and strengthen relations between

Estonia and Spain, as well as to exchange ideas on the future of Europe and the EU

Neighbourhood Policy. This was the fi rst Estonian state visit to Spain and it marks the

high point of bilateral relations.

2007

89

During the state visit, the Estonian president met with King Juan Carlos, Prime Minister

José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, and Manuel Marín, the President of the Congress of

Deputies. The president gave a lecture at the Royal Elcano Institute on the topic of the

future of Europe, opened a business seminar in Madrid, and gave a speech at a business

seminar in Barcelona. In Barcelona, President Ilves also met with José Montilla, the

President of the Generalitat de Catalunya. The Estonian president was accompanied by

Foreign Minister Urmas Paet, Minister of Economic Affairs Juhan Parts, and Minister of

Culture Laine Jänes, as well as a 24-member business delegation. The foreign minister

had a meeting with Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Moratinos and Minister Parts

had a meeting with Joan Clos, Minister for Industry, Tourism and Commerce. During

the state visit, a cultural and educational co-operation agreement was concluded between

the Republic of Estonia and the Kingdom of Spain.

At the invitation of Jaime Gama, Portugal’s President of the Assembly of the Republic,

the visit of Ene Ergma, the Speaker of the Riigikogu, took place from 19-22 September.

The main topics of discussion were issues related to the EU Reform Treaty and EU

energy policies.

On 21 December, Prime Minister José Sócrates and Foreign Minister Luís Amado of

Portugal, which held the EU Presidency for the second half of 2007, visited Tallinn in

connection with the formal celebration of Estonia’s accession to Europe’s Schengen

visa area.

In February, a photo and book exhibition introducing Estonia was held in Abrantes,

which culminated in a concert by Estonian singer Hedvig Hanson.

Estonia’s relations with Italy were embellished last year by several important cultural

events. On 22 November, at the famous San Luca National Academy (Accademia Nazio-

nale di san Luca) in Rome, a conference took place that was entitled, “L’ideale classico

al Nord. Dal Mare Nostrum al Mare Balticum”. From 27 September to 10 December,

an international art exhibition entitled “Peinture Pure” was held at the CAM Casoria

Contemporary Art Museum in Naples, with Jaan Elken participating from Estonia.

On 24 November, the General Assembly of the Estonian-Italian Friendship Center or

CAIE took place at the Estonian Embassy.

From 9-10 April 2007, Swiss President and Foreign Minister Micheline Calmy-Rey

paid a visit to Estonia. During the visit to Tallinn, the Swiss president had meetings

with the Estonian president, prime minister, and foreign minister. Against a back-

ground of generally good bilateral relations, it was considered important to intensify

economic ties. An exchange of ideas took place with the Speaker of the Riigikogu and

a group of Estonian opinion leaders.



90

On 20 December, Minister of Finance Ivari Padar was in Bern to sign a framework

agreement for Estonian-Swiss co-operation. The agreement for the distribution and

use of support funds allocated by Switzerland was specifi ed during 2006. The goal

of Switzerland’s support funds is to help reduce the economic and social differences

between EU member states. For this purpose, in 2004, Switzerland allocated a total

of 1 billion Swiss francs over 10 years for the countries that had acceded to the EU,

including almost 40 million francs for Estonia.

Northern and Central EuropeIn 2007, co-operation between the Baltic and Nordic countries (NB8) continued at its

traditionally active pace. The co-operation between these countries, which share regional

interests and cultural background, is expanding organically into more and more fi elds of

activity. New fi elds of co-operation are added from year to year. In 2007, the joint training

of young diplomats from the NB8 countries was initiated, and co-operation continued in

the joint use of diplomatic missions and reciprocal apprenticeship of diplomats. In 2008,

within the NB8 framework, there are plans to continue the development of a com-

mon consular network, and in the interest of improving the availability of consular

services, to plan closer co-operation in the enlarged Schengen space. Estonia, as the

NB8 co-operation co-ordinator, plans to promote all these topics during 2008.

Estonia’s defence co-operation with the Nordic countries has also achieved a new

level of quality. The Nordic Battle Group, which was created within the framework of

EU defence and security policies, is now ready to be deployed. During the fi rst half of

2008, the Battle Group will link countries in the region that actually have somewhat

differing national security arrangements, but which are, nevertheless, prepared to fully

co-operate with each other.

While the Estonian Embassy in Helsinki transferred its function as the NATO Contact

Point Embassy, a role that it had successfully fulfi lled from 1 September 2004 to 1 Feb-

ruary 2007, to the Latvian Embassy, then, starting in 2007, the same assignment was

given to the Estonian Embassy in Stockholm, and it will continue through 2008.

In 2007 several successful trilateral development co-operation projects with the Nor-

dic countries continued, which are focused primarily on the transmission of Estonia’s

reform experiences to third countries.

Economic and trade relations with the Nordic countries continued to be active. Sweden

remains Estonia’s largest foreign investor, with Finland in second place. During the

last year, the proportion of Danish and Norwegian investments in Estonia also visibly

increased. Energy security and the diversifi cation of energy supplies are fi elds that are

increasingly important in Estonia’s relations with the Nordic countries. While last year

2007

91

we wrote about the completion of the Estlink electrical cable between Estonia and Fin-

land, which was also Estonia’s fi rst connection to the European energy system, then this

year the Finnish and Estonian power companies have already started to confer on the es-

tablishment of a more powerful cable – Estlink II – which should be completed by 2013.

Close co-operation with Finland continued in many fi elds. The contacts and co-opera-

tion between the authorities in the two countries are increasing from year to year. More

and more attention is being paid to the mutual appreciation of language and culture.

Since the Estonian community in Finland is growing rapidly – while 22,500 Estonians

lived in Finland in December 2006, the number had increased to 27,300 by September

2007 – the educational authorities of both countries have started to seek opportunities

for expanding the Estonian-language education being provided in Finland.

In connection with the celebration of the 90th anniversaries of the Republic of Finland

and the Republic of Estonia, more emphasis than usual was placed on Estonian-Finnish

cultural relations. Thus, a large number of events for the reciprocal introduction of

culture took place. One of the main Finnish events in Estonia was an Estonian-language

lecture by former Finnish Foreign Minister Erki Tuomioja in the Main Hall at the

University of Tartu. In Tallinn, a seminar dedicated to Finland took place at the Town

Hall, where the speakers included President Toomas Hendrik Ilves and former Finnish

Prime Minister Paavo Lipponen.

Although the main events of Estonia’s jubilee year celebration are planned for 2008,

numerous exhibitions, seminars, and concerts introducing Estonian culture were already

organized in Finland in 2007. The annual St. Martin’s Fair took place at the cultural

centre in the Helsinki Cable Factory, which this time attracted 11,000 visitors, including

President Tarja Halonen. The aforementioned events also marked the 70th anniversary

of the signing of the Estonian-Finnish Cultural Agreement and the 25th anniversary of

the Tuglas Society (an organisation for promoting the development of bilateral cultural

relations between the two countries).

Cultural events worth mentioning include the Second Estonian-Finnish Song Festival in

Pori, where Estonia was represented by 106 collectives with more than 2,500 singers and

musicians. In the next few years, Estonian-Finnish cultural co-operation will intensify,

since Tallinn and Turku have both been named European Capitals of Culture for 2011.

In addition, the publication of a voluminous work on Estonian history by renowned

Finnish historian and Estophile Seppo Zetterberg deserves mention.

Co-operation between Estonia and Finland in the European Union has been based, to a

great extent, on the report Estonia and Finland in the European Union, compiled in 2003,

the basic recommendations of which have been implemented to date. The need to



92

develop new co-operation objectives initiated the preparation of the second Estonian-

Finnish co-operation report. At the Prime Ministers’ meeting in Helsinki in June, it

was agreed that the new rapporteurs would be Jaakko Blomberg, the former Finnish

ambassador in Tallinn, from the Finnish side, and Gunnar Okk, vice-president of the

Nordic Investment Bank, from the Estonian side. The co-operation report should be

completed during 2008, and its goal is to provide new ideas for joint Estonian-Finnish

contributions to the development of the Baltic Sea Region, primarily in the fi elds of

research, development, and innovation.

In September, while meeting on the Estonian island of Saaremaa, the prime ministers

of Estonia and Finland decided that the second meeting of the councils on research and

development of both governments will be held in the spring of 2008 in Tallinn. In addi-

tion, the prime ministers decided to enhance the already intense bilateral co-operation

in the fi eld of energy, in order to move towards a more unifi ed energy market.

Among the customarily intense round of offi cial visits, the state visit of President Toomas

Hendrik Ilves to Finland in March deserves highlighting. In the course of the visit, the

president gave a public lecture at the University of Helsinki on the common roots of

Estonia and Finland, the future of Europe, and the security of the Baltic Sea area. In addi-

tion, the president participated in a business seminar and visited the University of Oulu

and Technopolis, the research and technology park in Oulu. The president was accom-

panied by a business delegation. The great interest of Estonian businesspeople in the

Finnish market was also demonstrated by the active participation at a business seminar,

attended by over 80 participants, at the Estonian Chamber of Commerce and Industry in

October. The interest of Finnish entrepreneurs in Estonia also continues to be high.

In May, the foreign minister of newly elected Finnish government, Ilkka Kanerva, paid

his fi rst offi cial visit to Estonia. In November, during the respective visit of Estonian

Foreign Minister Urmas Paet to Finland, co-operation between the two foreign ministries

was discussed, among other issues. One particular aspect discussed concerned the

exchange of diplomats and consular representation in third countries.

In 2007, the network of Estonian honorary consuls in Finland also expanded. On 6 June,

Prime Minister Andrus Ansip opened the fourth Estonian Honorary Consulate in Finland

in Tampere, where Tuomo Marttila assumed the duties of honorary consul. Reciprocal

representation also increased in other spheres. In 2007, the offi ce of Enterprise Estonia

in Helsinki started operating as a tourism promotion offi ce, and in turn, Kymenlaakso

County, in Southern Finland, opened its offi ce in Tallinn.

Estonia’s traditionally good and close relations with Sweden were enriched in 2007

by several large events. Estonia, as the guest of honour at the popular Gothenburg

2007

93

Book Fair in 2007, attracted exceptionally positive attention among Swedes. The

book fair dedicated to Estonian literature was opened on 27 September by President

Toomas Hendrik Ilves. A total of over 100,000 book enthusiasts visited the fair, and

many of them also visited the Estonian pavilion – the so-called “black cube”. Many

of the more than 20 translations prepared especially for the fair and the almost 250

translations of the works of Estonian authors on display were sold out.

The historical connection with Sweden, the “good old Swedish era” (about 1630 to 1700),

was recalled by the celebration of the 375th anniversary of the University of Tartu in

the fall of 2007. A member of Sweden’s royal family – Queen Silvia – also took part

in the culmination of the Academia Gustaviana jubilee celebrations. In the spring,

charitable activities also brought Princess Madeleine of Sweden to Estonia.

The friendly relations between Estonia and Sweden are characterised by direct commu-

nication on all levels, as well as similar positions concerning many important foreign

policy issues in the context of both the EU and relevant regional organisations. A simi-

larity of standpoints and common positions also pervaded the visit of Swedish Prime

Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt to Estonia in November within the framework of the Baltic

Sea Development Forum, as well as the visit of Per Westerberg, the Swedish Speaker

of the Parliament, at the beginning of the year. The period between the two visits

encompassed the participation of Gunilla Carlsson, Sweden’s Minister for Develop-

ment Co-operation, in the forum on Georgia organised in Tallinn, the joint visit of

the secretaries general of Sweden’s ministries to Tallinn in May, as well as numerous

consultations and discussions between various experts of both countries.

During the visit of the Swedish Minister of Communications Åsa Torstensson in February,

the Agreement on Co-operation in Maritime and Aeronautical Search and Rescue between

Estonia and Sweden was signed, which came into force on 6 March 2007.

In September, at a high-level international foreign policy roundtable on the island

of Gotland, President Ilves gave an analytical speech on relations between the EU

and Russia. Visits to Sweden were paid also by Ene Ergma, Speaker of the Riigikogu;

Defence Minister Jaak Aaviksoo; Juhan Parts, the Minister of Economy; and Minister

of Culture Laine Jänes. In October, at the Swedish Embassy, Speaker Ene Ergma was

formally awarded Sweden’s highest decoration – the Royal Order of the Northern Star,

First Class.

The end of 2007 saw the implementation of a bilateral co-operation project between

diplomatic missions that was started at the beginning of the year. Namely, an Estonian

diplomat started work at the Swedish Embassy in Cairo, Egypt, in order to start prepa-

rations for the opening of an Estonian mission there.



94

The high point in relations between Estonia and Denmark during 2007, was the offi cial

visit of President Toomas Hendrik Ilves and Mrs. Evelin Ilves to Denmark in Septem-

ber. At a meeting with Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen, numerous fi elds of

co-operation between Estonia and Denmark were discussed, including international

peacekeeping missions (Afghanistan, Kosovo), the promotion of transatlantic relations,

and energy and climate issues. While last year Finland and Iceland were the Nordic

countries that opened their job markets to the citizens of the new EU member states, in

2008 Denmark also decided to take this step.

Throughout 2008, the 90th jubilee of the Republic of Estonia is being celebrated. In

Copenhagen and Aarhus, the jubilee is being celebrated with concerts by the Esto-

nian National Men’s Choir. In addition, at a concert to take place in Copenhagen in

May 2008, the world-famous Estonian composer Arvo Pärt will receive Denmark’s

most renowned music award – the Léonie Sonning Music Prize.

After a gap of several years, this year saw a high-level Norwegian visit to Estonia.

Namely, the Chairman of the Norwegian Parliament (Storting), Thorbjørn Jagland,

along with a high-level parliamentary delegation, visited Tallinn.

In respect to cultural relations, the exhibition dedicated to the 50th anniversary of

Eesti Nukufi lm (an animated puppet fi lm studio), which was on display in Oslo and

Fredrikstad, deserves mention. As do the Norway Days in Estonia, during the course

of which Norwegian tourism opportunities were quite thoroughly introduced to the

Estonian public.

Relations with Iceland were at a high point in 2006, when 15 years of re-established

diplomatic relations were celebrated with high-level visits. After this celebration, the

good relations continued in 2007. In May, a conference dedicated to economic rela-

tions between the two countries was held at the Estonian Foreign Ministry, with the

participation of Foreign Minister Urmas Paet and Iceland’s former foreign minister,

Jón Baldvin Hannibalsson.

2007 was an extremely busy year for co-operation between Estonia, Latvia and

Lithuania. In 2007, we sensed with great clarity the strong support and solidarity

provided to Estonia by Latvia and Lithuania, especially in connection with the events

at the end of April and in May. Last year, a new initiative was added to relations with

Latvia. Based on existing Estonian-Finnish experience, the idea to compile an Estonia-

Latvia future report was developed. The report will be compiled by Gints Jegermanis,

the former ambassador to Estonia, on the Latvian side and Mart Meri, the director

of the Estonian Institute, on the Estonian side. The completion of the report and its

presentation to the governments is scheduled for the fi rst half of 2008.

2007

95

During the last few years, as a mark of the good neighbourly relations between Esto-

nia and Latvia, it has become customary for top Latvian politicians to make their fi rst

foreign visits to Estonia. Thus, the fi rst trip of new Latvian President Valdis Zatlers,

who took the oath of offi ce on 8 July 2007, was to Estonia on 12 July. The visit of

Latvia’s Foreign Minister Maris Riekstinš took place on 15 November, which continued

the tradition that expresses the mutual trust between the countries.

Among other visits, that of Lithuanian Prime Minister Gediminas Kirkilas to Estonia in

February deserves mention, as does the offi cial visit of Prime Minister Andrus Ansip to

Latvia on 11-12 June. During that visit, the prime minister visited the Estonian School,

opened a commemorative tablet dedicated to the legendary Estonian diplomat Ernst

Jaakson at the Estonian Embassy in Riga, and made a presentation at an international

energy forum.

During the last few years, relations with Latvia and Lithuania in the fi elds of economics

and tourism have continued to intensify, and last year was no exception. In order to

assemble the Estonian companies operating in Latvia, the Estonian Chamber of Com-

merce in Latvia opened its doors in April 2007. In May, a direct fl ight was instituted

between Riga and Kuressaare which, along with the Ventspils-Mõntu shipping line that

was previously instituted, has signifi cantly increased the number of Latvian tourists

visiting the islands of Western Estonia.

Reciprocal investments are also increasing from year to year. Estonia’s largest invest-

ments have gone to the other Baltic countries – as of the fi rst half of 2007, Latvia’s

share of Estonia’s total investments was 36.9%, whereby Estonia continues to be

the largest foreign investor in Latvia; at the same time, Lithuania’s share was 29.1%.

In 2007, Latvia’s largest investment in Estonia to date – the Sakret plant in Central

Estonia, producing building materials – was realised, and the opening on 13 July was

attended by both prime ministers.

Latvia’s active chairmanship of the co-operation between the Baltic countries, which

included several summit meetings, also deserves to be highlighted. A joint meeting

of the Baltic Assembly and the Baltic Council of Ministers took place in Sigulda on

18 May, and the main topics were job markets and migration. On 24 November,

Latvia presented summaries of its chairmanship and handed the chairmanship over

to Estonia for 2008.

During its term chairing Baltic co-operation, Estonia’s objective is to continue working

on many important issues. One of the priorities is working toward ensuring the region’s

energy security. There are also plans to make co-operation in fi elds related to IT security

and cyber security more effective.



96

Active and diversifi ed relations with the Central European and Balkan countries

continued in 2007, while the center of gravity of the relations shifted toward co-operation

within the framework of the European Union and NATO.

In 2007, Estonia’s relations with Poland continued to develop dynamically; in April,

a working visit by President Toomas Hendrik Ilves took place, and in June, Prime

Minister Andrus Ansip made an offi cial visit. In June, political consultations between

the foreign ministers also were conducted in Tallinn, and in October, political-military

consultations took place between the ministries of defence in Warsaw. Also during

October, General Franciszek Gagor, Commander of the Polish Defence Forces, made a

working visit to Estonia.

Poland is Estonia’s largest foreign trade partner among the countries of Central Europe,

and in addition to trade, it has connections with Estonia through such projects as the

construction of the new nuclear power plant in Lithuania, Via Baltica, and Rail Baltica,

as well as the protection of the Baltic Sea natural environment.

Slovakia is an important partner for Estonia in Central Europe and a like-minded

country in the EU and NATO, and to a large extent, bilateral relations are also conducted

in these contexts. In December 2007, an Honorary Consulate of Slovakia was opened

in Tallinn.

Relations with the Czech Republic continued at a slightly higher level of activity than

the previous year. Three high-level visits took place during the year – the working visit

of President Toomas Hendrik Ilves in June, Prime Minister Andrus Ansip’s visit in

August, and the offi cial visit of President of the Senate Premysl Sobotka to Estonia in

September.

Estonia traditionally has had good relations with Hungary. This is thanks both to

partnership in the EU and NATO, the kinship between the Estonian and Hungarian

peoples, and the educational and cultural co-operation cultivated by both countries –

Estonia and Hungary continue to exchange both instructors and students. Estonian-

language lecturers work in Budapest, and a lecturer in Hungarian teaches at the Univer-

sity of Tartu, while cultural institutes – the Estonian Institute in Budapest and Hungarian

Cultural Institute in Tallinn – also do worthwhile work in the mutual introduction

of culture. Hungary sees even greater opportunities for mutual communications be-

tween the countries within the framework of Finno-Ugric co-operation, and has made

a proposal to create a Finno-Ugric Council under Hungarian leadership with the par-

ticipation of Estonia and Finland for future linguistic and cultural assistance for those

Finno-Ugric peoples that have no statehood. The most important visit from the stand-

point of bilateral relations was the offi cial visit of Hungarian Prime Minister Ferenc

2007

97

Gyurcsany to Estonia in November, while Riigikogu Speaker Ene Ergma visited Buda-

pest in May. The signing of two agreements between Estonia and Hungary should also

be mentioned (the agreement for reciprocal interstate consular co-operation and the

departmental cultural co-operation programme).

After the accession of Romania to the European Union on January 1, 2007, relations

have shifted to a large extent to the framework of EU meetings. Of bilateral meetings, the

visit of the Riigikogu Foreign Affairs Committee to Bucharest in May 2007 deserves men-

tion, as do the active relations in defence. In April, Major-General Ants Laaneots, the

Commander of the Defence Forces, paid a visit to Romania, as did Defence Minister Jaak

Aaviksoo in July. The enlivening of economic relations between Estonia and Romania is

confi rmed by the increasing activity of Estonian investors in the Romanian market.

Similarly to Romania, Estonia’s relations with Bulgaria shifted to the EU framework

after the accession of Bulgaria to the EU on 1 January 2007. Last year, Estonia opened

its only embassy in the Balkan region to date in Sofi a, and Rein Oidekivi was appointed

the fi rst Estonian ambassador to reside in Bulgaria.

Relations with Cyprus are developing in a stable manner, and Secretary General Matti

Maasikas met with Alexandros Zenon, the Permanent Secretary of the Cypriot Ministry

of Foreign Affairs, in March. Foreign Minister Urmas Paet has met repeatedly with the

Foreign Ministers of both Greece and Cyprus at events co-ordinated by international or-

ganisations. In 2008, high-level visits are to be exchanged with both Greece and Cyprus.

During the last year, noteworthy progress was made in cultural co-operation with

Turkey. In December, political consultations took place in Ankara, at the level of the

secretaries general from the two foreign ministries. Estonia supports further enlargement

of the European Union. To this end, during 2007, Estonia actively supported and

encouraged the efforts made by Turkey to fulfi l the accession criteria.

Prime Minister Andrus Ansip visited Slovenia in November. During the visit, Estonia

expressed support for the priorities of Slovenia’s EU Presidency. Slovenia, for its part,

is interested in Estonia’s e-government experience, which Gregor Virant, Slovenia’s

Minister of Public Administration, became familiar with during a visit in June.

In 2007, the most important event in relations with Croatia was undoubtedly the

offi cial visit of President Stipe Mesič to Estonia, during which Estonia expressed its

support for Croatia’s accession to the EU and NATO.

As of 2006, Estonia’s bilateral relations with Albania have consolidated considerably,

primarily at the political level. Economic relations between Estonia and Albania have



98

been modest to date and could certainly intensify in the future. Consultations took

place between the foreign ministries in Tirana in May 2007. Estonian businessmen

have recently demonstrated interest in response to Albania’s wish to see investments

in the country. In 2007, closer contacts between the parliaments of Estonia and Albania

were initiated. In April, an Estonian-Albanian Friendship Group was created in the

Riigikogu. At the end of August, the members of the Friendship Group visited Albania

and met with the Prime Minister Sali Berisha and President Bamir Topi.

In 2007, the important event in relations between Estonia and Bosnia and Herzegovina

was the working visit of Prime Minister Andrus Ansip to Sarajevo and the Camp

Eagle military base. The 18-month service of the ESTGUARD infantry unit within the

framework of the EU military mission EUFOR ended on 30 June. Currently two police

offi cers from Estonia are stationed in Bosnia and Herzegovina with the EU police

mission, and three staff offi cers are assigned to the EU’s EUFOR-ALTHEA military

mission.

A signifi cant new milestone in relations with Macedonia was reached already at the

beginning of 2007, when Macedonia opened a liaison offi ce in Tallinn. In March, the

head of the liaison offi ce, Nenad Kolev, was appointed chargé d’affaires. In 2007, a large

number of bilateral meetings took place between Estonia and Macedonia. Macedonian

Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski made an offi cial visit to Estonia in January.

During the year, visits of a consultative nature were organised by the foreign and defence

ministries. In October, Macedonia was visited by the Riigikogu Estonia-Macedonia

Parliamentary Group, which was created in April 2007. Estonia also provided fi nancial

assistance to Macedonia for fi ghting forest fi res.

Montenegro’s Deputy Prime Minister Vujica Lazović made a working visit to Estonia

on 11 May. The meetings that took place in the course of the visit focused on economic

relations and the strengthening of IT-related co-operation.

From 25-27 June, Foreign Minister Urmas Paet paid a visit to Montenegro. Also in June,

the fi rst political consultations between the foreign ministries of the two countries took

place in Tallinn. In April, the foundation was laid for closer parliamentary co-operation,

when the Riigikogu created a 13-member Estonia-Montenegro Parliamentary Group,

with Mart Nutt as chairman.

During 2007, Serbia was the focus of international relations primarily due to the issue

of the status of Kosovo. Three Estonian staff offi cers and the ESTRIF-2 reconnaissance

unit, comprised of members of the Defence League, were serving in Kosovo at the end

of 2007. Foreign Minister Paet met with his Serbian colleague in December. Serbia is

2007

99

interested in Estonia’s NATO experiences and in sending military personnel to study

at the Baltic Defence College in Tartu.

Estonia’s eminent politician Liia Hänni, who participated in the creation of the Estonian

Constitution in the beginning of the 90s, has been working with the Kosovo Parliament

since the beginning of 2007 to help them to draw up a new Constitution for Kosovo.

Co-operation between the member states of the Adriatic-U.S. Charter and the Baltic-U.S.

Charter is important in relations with the Western-Balkan countries. Estonia organised

a meeting of foreign and defence ministers that took place from 5-6 February, during

which Minister Urmas Paet met with the foreign ministers of Albania (Besnik Mus-

tafaj), Bosnia and Herzegovina (Mladen Ivanic), Croatia (Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovič),

Macedonia (Antonio Milošoski), Montenegro (Milan Roćen) and with the deputy foreign

minister of Serbia (Bratislav Djordjevic). During these meetings the European integra-

tion of the Western Balkans was the primary topic of discussion. On 13 October, Esto-

nian Foreign Minister Urmas Paet participated in the Adriatic-Baltic-Atlantic Meeting

of the Ministers for Foreign Affairs in Split. This time the meeting focused on the

upcoming NATO summit in Bucharest.

Eastern Europe and Central AsiaIn Estonia-Russia relations, a series of bilateral meetings of a practical nature took

place in 2007, primarily in connection with various multilateral events. Thus, Ministers

of Economic Affairs Juhan Parts and German Gref met in June at an international eco-

nomic forum in St. Petersburg. During the same month, Foreign Ministers Urmas Paet

and Sergei Lavrov met in Malmö at the meeting of foreign ministers of the Council of

Baltic Sea States. Later in the fall, Foreign Minister Urmas Paet also met with Deputy

Foreign Minister Vladimir Titov in Moscow.

The usual consular consultations and consultations between the foreign ministries

took place last year. In the EU-Russia visa dialogue, attention must be paid to the full

implementation of the EU-Russia visa facilitation and readmission agreements that

came into force on 1 June 2007.

In bilateral relations, Estonia wishes to proceed with agreements that would be of

practical use to the residents of both countries. Important are the intensifi cation of

regional and cross-border co-operation and environmental issues in the Baltic Sea

region, as well as issues related to nuclear safety and energy carrier transport, and

questions related to transport infrastructure. It is important that Russia join the WTO

as soon as possible, provided it meets accession criteria. This would also set Estonia-

Russia trade relations on a fi rmer legal foundation. The border crossing queues on the

EU’s eastern border continue to demand a resolution.



100

Ukraine is an important partner for Estonia, and the relations between the countries

have been pragmatic and lively. Last year, Estonia-Ukraine economic relations developed

at a rapid pace. In January 2007, Prime Minister Andrus Ansip made a visit to Ukraine,

during which an intergovernmental agreement for economic, technical, and scientifi c

co-operation was signed. An intergovernmental commission will be set up again to

discuss issues of bilateral co-operation.

The co-operation between various ministries has increased, as has communication

between the countries’ business and professional associations. Minister Urve Palo visited

Simferopol in Crimea and the village of Krasnodarka on the occasion of the 10th anni-

versary of the Estonian Cultural Society.

Ukraine is one of Estonia’s most important partners in development co-operation. In 2007,

as in previous years, Estonia organized training programs for Ukrainian offi cials within the

framework of Estonia’s development co-operation. The fl ow of Estonian capital to Ukraine

continued, and Estonian investors have started moving out of Kiev into the provinces.

Since 2005, a noticeable upturn has taken place in the bilateral relations between

Estonia and Moldova, and the positive dynamics continued in 2007. Of the important

visits that took place, one worth noting is Prime Minister Andrus Ansip’s offi cial

visit to Moldova from 12-15 November, which included meetings with Moldova’s

Prime Minister Vasile Tarlev, Parliament Speaker Marian Lupu, and Andrei Stratan,

the Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration. Prime Minister Ansip was

accompanied by a large business delegation, which participated in an Estonia-Moldo-

va business seminar organised in Chisinau. In March, Foreign Minister Urmas Paet

also visited Moldova. The activeness of inter-parliamentary relations is proven by

Riigikogu Speaker Ene Ergma’s visit to Moldova, where she participated in the opening

of the joint European Union visa center in Chisinau. In November, Riigikogu’s Estonia-

Moldova Friendship Group visited Moldova.

Moldova is an important target country for Estonian development co-operation. Sharing

Estonia’s experience will provide Moldova’s offi cials with a good overview of our

development model, which can then be used in planning Moldova’s reforms.

The low point in the relations between the European Union and Belarus is also refl ected

in the reserved relations between Estonia and Belarus. Estonia supports sanctions against

Belarusian President Lukashenka and the top leadership of the country, who are respon-

sible for the suppression of democracy as well as massive violations of human rights.

Estonia continues, at the same time, to help Belarusian students who are victims

of political persecution by making it possible for them to continue their studies in

2007

101

Estonia. We try to support the civil society in Belarus by promoting tourism and by

improving the bilateral contractual basis for this.

The relations between Estonia and Armenia continued in their steady rhythm in

2007. Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian visited Estonia from 4-6 December.

In the course of the visit, a co-operation memorandum related to the European Union

was concluded between the foreign ministries. Estonia will support the Armenian

Foreign Ministry in its endeavours dealing with the European Union.

In the fi eld of development co-operation, the large, three-year Development of Civil

Protection Capabilities in the Republic of Armenia project, which the Estonian Foreign

Ministry supports with 1.6 million EEK (about 100,000 €), was launched by the Esto-

nian, Armenian, and Swedish emergency services.

Relations between Estonia and Azerbaijan demonstrated an enlivening in many areas.

Estonian Foreign Minster Urmas Paet paid an offi cial visit to Azerbaijan from 29-30 Oc-

tober. During this visit, Foreign Minister Paet met with President Ilham Aliyev, Prime

Minister Artur Rasizade, Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov, and other high offi cials.

Foreign Minister Paet was accompanied on his visit by a large business delegation, and

an Estonia-Azerbaijan business forum took place in Baku. Topics at the meetings

included bilateral political relations, possible visa-free travel to Azerbaijan for Estonians,

and bilateral economic relations and energy co-operation, as well as Azerbaijani rela-

tions with its neighbours, including the possibility of fi nding a peaceful solution to the

Nagorno-Karabakh confl ict.

Kristina Ojuland, Deputy Speaker of the Riigikogu, visited Azerbaijan in June, within the

framework of the II GUAM (Organisation for Democracy and Economic Development –

Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, and Moldova) Conference, where she met with Azerbaijani

Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov. At the end of 2007 Azerbaijani Defence Minister

Safar A. Abiyev visited Estonia.

The state visit by Estonian President Ilves to Georgia, from 7-9 May, can be considered

to be the most important bilateral visit between the two countries. In the course of

the visit, the president met with Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili, Parliament

Speaker Nino Burjanadze, and various government ministers. President Ilves was

accompanied by a large business delegation. A business seminar also took place,

which has already resulted in the enlivening of business and trade activities as well

as investments.

During 2007, Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Paet met repeatedly with his Georgian

colleague Gela Bezhuashvili at various international forums. Defence Minister Jaak



102

Aaviksoo made an offi cial visit to Georgia in October. Georgia was also visited by

Riigikogu Speaker Ene Ergma in September, along with the Baltic and Nordic speakers.

Deputy Speaker Kristina Ojuland paid a separate visit to Georgia in December. In the

course of the year, visits to Estonia were also made by Georgian Minister of Economic

Affairs Zaza Chikhradze, the state minister on European and Euro-Atlantic integration,

and other high Georgian offi cials.

The Georgian Embassy in Tallinn was opened on 10 April.

Georgia is one of Estonia’s priority partners in development co-operation. In 2007,

three million EEK (nearly 200,000 €) were directed at projects for the training of

Georgian diplomats, supporting of Georgian vocational education, increasing of the

administrative capacities of the court system, the prevention of illicit trade, transferring

of reform experiences in connection with accession to the EU and NATO, as well as the

strengthening of Georgia’s business climate.

The prevailing trend within the EU of strengthening relations with Central Asia has not

passed Estonia by – in December, Marina Kaljurand became Estonia’s fi rst non-resident

ambassador to Kazakhstan, and in 2008, there are plans to open an Estonian Honorary

Consulate in Almaty. In September, within the framework of the United Nations General

Assembly, Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Paet met with his Kazakh colleague Marat

Tazhin.

An opportunity to intensify relations with the Central Asian states was also provided

by a meeting among the foreign ministers of the Northern, Baltic and Central Asian

states at the meeting of the OSCE Ministerial Council in November, where opportunities

for co-operation were discussed.

In 2007, the EU approved a Central Asia strategy, and designated education, human

rights, democratisation, economic development, development of energy and transport

connections, environmental protection, and the fi ght against terrorism as the targeted

fi elds of activity.

Asia and OceaniaEstonia’s accession to the European Union has intensifi ed our relations with Asia.

Participation in the work of the ASEM (Asia-Europe Meeting) has also made it possible

to discuss and develop bilateral relations. Foreign Minister Paet met bilaterally with

colleagues from Pakistan and Vietnam within the framework of the ASEM Foreign

Ministers’ Meeting in Hamburg on 28 May. In 2007, the most important event in EU-Asian

co-operation was defi nitely the EU-ASEAN Summit, which approved the Plan of Action

for the EU-ASEAN Enhanced Partnership for the next fi ve years.

2007

103

Our most important partner in East Asia, in the political and economic sense, continues

to be China, and last year many reciprocal visits took place. Foreign Minister Urmas

Paet’s visit to Beijing from 24-26 January, and the signing of the purchase-sale contract

for a plot for the new Estonian embassy building, opened a new phase in Estonia-China

relations.

The goals for mutual Estonia-China cultural co-operation were also set for the next

fi ve years, when Minister of Culture Laine Jänes and Sun Jiazheng, her Chinese

colleague, who was on a trip to Estonia from 1-2 November 2007, signed a cultural

exchange programme for 2008–2012 between the Estonian and Chinese Ministries of

Culture.

In the light of increased business ties, an important step is the preparation being made

for the opening of an Enterprise Estonia offi ce in China. Co-operation in the fi eld of

transit has become signifi cant, and the realisation of several long-term projects is

hoped for during the year 2008.

In 2007, the brightest moment in Estonia-Asia relations was the visit of Japan’s impe-

rial couple from 24-25 May, which marked our very good mutual relations. President

Ilves hosted Their Majesties Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko at the presiden-

tial palace in Kadriorg Park. The Estonian people had an opportunity to meet them

at the Song Festival Grounds, where a concert was given by a united choir of 3,000

young singers. Estonia was also visited by Japan’s deputy minister of fi nance, with

whom the possibility of intensifying Estonia-Japan business ties was discussed, and

an agreement regarding the avoidance of double taxation was prepared. In addition,

Estonia was repeatedly visited by Japanese IT expert groups, who are interested in

Estonia’s experiences in the fi elds of e-government and e-services.

2007 also saw an upturn in activity in the direction of Southeast Asia, Oceania, and

Australia. Although Estonia’s economic interests in this region are modest, the impor-

tance of Southeast Asia as a tourism destination is increasing for Estonians.

An important step was taken to develop relations with Indonesia. From 10-11 Sep-

tember 2007, the fi rst bilateral consultations between the Estonian and Indonesian

Foreign Ministries took place in Jakarta, and a memorandum of understanding was

signed, which prescribed future co-operation.

In 2007 Peeter Miller, Estonia’s ambassador to Japan, presented his credentials to Major

General Michael Jeffrey, the Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia,

on 30 November, and to Anand Satyana, the Governor-General of New Zealand, on

5 December. Only a few months earlier, on 5 October, the fi rst bilateral agreement



104

with New Zealand – the Working Holiday Arrangement – came into force, which allows

citizens of Estonia and New Zealand who are under the age of 35, to remain in the

other country for up to a year, and to work for various employers for periods of three

months.

In South Asia, Estonia’s attention is mostly focused on Afghanistan. Making a mili-

tary and civil contribution to the stabilisation and development of Afghanistan is,

presently, one of Estonia’s foreign policy priorities. In 2007 Estonia established a special

diplomatic mission in Kabul, which is led by a chargé d’affaires. At the beginning of

2008, credentials will be presented by a non-resident ambassador. An offi cial from

the Estonian Ministry of Defence is working as an adviser at the Afghan Ministry of

Defence.

In 2007, Estonia completed its fi rst civil project in Afghanistan. Estonia delivered

medical equipment to the central hospital in Helmand province, which was intended

for use by the paediatrics department to reduce infant mortality. Development aid was

also directed through UN agencies, bringing the amount allocated for development

work to 100,000 euros. In addition, we contributed to the NATO Post-Operation Huma-

nitarian Relief Fund, which is intended for the restoration of civil institutions and

infrastructure, as well as supporting EUPOL, the European Union’s police mission in

Afghanistan. In 2008, Estonia plans to signifi cantly increase the amount of develop-

ment co-operation funds allocated for Afghanistan.

In August, Defence Minister Jaak Aaviksoo visited Afghanistan. In September, a delega-

tion of representatives from the Afghan Ministry of Defence visited Estonia. The visit

was the fi rst offi cial Afghan visit to Estonia.

Out of the other South Asian countries, Estonia has the most comprehensive relations

with India. Bilateral foreign policy consultations have become regular. The agreement

on avoidance of double taxation, as well as the investment protection agreement that

are being prepared, create good prerequisites for the intensifi cation and expansion of

economic co-operation. Since 2005, Estonia has had a consular diplomat at the Finnish

Embassy in New Delhi. Estonia plans to open a mission in India in the near future.

Geopolitically, Pakistan is a key country in South Asia as a whole, and the events

in that country also affect developments in neighbouring Afghanistan. In May 2007,

Foreign Minister Urmas Paet met with Pakistani Foreign Minister Khurshid Mahmood

Kasuri at the 8th ASEM Foreign Ministers’ Meeting. At this conference, the discussions

focused on relations between the European Union and Pakistan, as well as the situa-

tion in Afghanistan. The second political consultations between Estonia and Pakistan

took place in July 2007 in Islamabad, where the reciprocal interests of the countries

2007

105

were mapped in order to develop relations. Bilateral relations have the potential for

broader co-operation in various fi elds. Student exchange programmes would promote

educational and cultural communication.

The Middle East and the Gulf countriesEstonia’s foreign policy activities in the Middle East take place primarily through the

European Union’s Common Foreign and Security Policy. Estonia is helping to shape

a stronger position for the EU in the search for a solution to the Middle East confl ict,

in opposing Iran’s nuclear ambitions, and in developing the region’s governmental

structures.

In 2007, Estonia decided to contribute 1 million USD to the Middle East peace process.

Estonia’s important co-operation partner in the Middle East is Israel, and the fi rst

Estonian diplomat was stationed in Tel Aviv in 2007. Active bilateral co-operation

takes place between Estonia and Israel, including the conducting of regular consul-

tations between the foreign ministries of the two countries, as well as high-level

visits. A contribution to Estonia-Israel relations is made by the relatively small, but

active, Jewish community in Estonia. In 2007, Estonian President Toomas Hendrik

Ilves and Deputy Prime Minister, current President of Israel Shimon Peres attended

the opening of the new synagogue in Tallinn. At the end of 2007, Estonia joined the

Task Force for International Co-operation on Holocaust Education, Remembrance

and Research.

In 2007, Estonia’s dialogue continued with Jordan, one of the most stable countries

in the region, with the primary fi eld of interest being oil shale. Estonia can provide

long-term experience and technological know-how for processing this natural resource.

Jordan is the only country in the region that has been visited by the president of Estonia,

and we are expecting a reciprocal visit to Estonia by King Abdullah II of Jordan.

Lebanon continues to occupy the attention of the EU and UN due to the tensions

that accompanied the Israeli campaign in the country’s southern region in 2006, and

the complicated domestic political problems that carried on into 2007. A UN military

observation mission – the United Nations Truce Supervision Organisation (UNTSO) –

is striving to alleviate the tensions on the Lebanese-Israeli border. Two Estonian mili-

tary observers are serving there, being assigned to the monitoring of the situation in

southern Lebanon and the Golan Heights. Estonian observers have participated in

UNTSO since 1997.

In 2007, relations with the Persian Gulf states also developed further. Jüri Seilenthal,

chef de cabinet of the Foreign Minister, participated in the joint session of the Gulf



106

Co-operation Council (GCC) and EU Foreign Ministers in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Main attention was focussed upon the EU-GCC free trade agreement and upon political

co-operation to further the Middle East peace process.

Developments in Iraq are being very closely followed by Estonia due to the participa-

tion of our military personnel in the multinational coalition operating there. Thirty-

eight Estonian soldiers are serving together with the U.S. forces in Taji, near Baghdad.

At the end of December 2007, the Riigikogu extended the mandate for the deploy-

ment of Estonian Defence Forces’ personnel to Iraq for another year. Estonia is also

participating in the activities of the NATO Training Mission in Iraq at the staff offi cer

level, and in the EU Integrated Rule of Law Mission for Iraq (EUJUST LEX) training

program of Iraqi police.

With the support of international coalition forces, the Iraqi government moved toward

national conciliation in 2007, and this has been accompanied by a reduction in ethnic

and religious clashes and a stabilisation of the security situation. It has also made

it possible to transfer many regions of the strife-torn country over to the control of

Iraqi security forces. Estonia believes that it is necessary to provide help to the Iraqi

government until it is capable of achieving proper control over the situation in the

whole country.

AfricaEstonia’s foreign policy activities in Africa are still at the formative stage, so that diplo-

matic presence in and economic relations with this continent are modest. At the same

time, Estonia participates in the shaping of EU policies related to Africa within the

framework of the European Union’s CFSP. In 2007, Estonians also participated in elec-

tion observation missions in Mauritania, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Togo, and Kenya.

In 2007, after a seven-year pause, an EU-Africa Summit took place in Lisbon, where the

fi rst jointly developed European Union-Africa Strategy was approved, which defi nes

the foundations for long-term co-operation between the two continents. A Plan of

Action was approved, which will be launched in 2008. At the summit, Estonia was

represented by Prime Minister Andrus Ansip, and diplomatic relations were established

with Guinea-Bissau. In 2007, Estonia also established diplomatic relations with Liberia,

Gabon, and Equatorial Guinea.

Estonia’s primary partner state in North Africa is Egypt. Egypt plays a leading role

in the region, being one of the most infl uential players in the regional co-operation

organisations such as the Arab League, Organisation of the Islamic Conference, and

the African Union. For the EU, Egypt is also one of the most reliable and effective

partners in the region.

2007

107

In 2007, Estonia appointed its fi rst ambassador to the African continent. The fi rst Esto-

nian diplomat assigned to the continent started work in Cairo, with the task of con-

solidating bilateral relations and making preparations for the opening of the Estonian

Embassy. Currently, the Estonian mission operates out of the Swedish Embassy. In the

summer of 2007, political consultations between the foreign ministries of Estonia and

Egypt took place in Cairo. Bilateral relations were discussed, along with possibilities

for developing political, economic, and cultural ties. Egypt is becoming one of the most

popular tourist destinations for Estonians thanks to its climate and cultural treasures.

In 2006, about 37,000 Estonian tourists visited the country. Egyptian fi lms were also

screened at the 2007 Black Nights Film Festival in Estonia.

In 2007, relations also strengthened with Morocco. In early spring, political consulta-

tions between the foreign ministries took place in Tallinn, where bilateral relations

and developments in the region were discussed. At the end of the year, within the

framework of the EU-Africa Summit in Lisbon, Estonian Prime Minister Andrus Ansip

held a meeting with Moroccan Prime Minister Abbas El Fassi, where bilateral relations,

tourism, and investment opportunities were discussed.

In May 2007 Margus Reinsalu became Estonia’s honorary consul in Morocco. This

country is also becoming a popular vacation spot in North Africa for Estonians due

to is climate and fascinating culture.

Relations with Tunisia, which is increasing in popularity as a vacation destination for

Estonians, have also become more active. In January, an Honorary Estonian Consulate

was opened in Tunisia.

In the fall of 2007, Zambia’s Foreign Minister Kabinga J. Pande visited Estonia. The

Zambian Foreign Minister met with Foreign Minister Urmas Paet, Prime Minister Andrus

Ansip, and Riigikogu Deputy Speaker Kristiina Ojuland, as well as with representatives

from Enterprise Estonia, Estonia’s e-Governance Academy, and the Estonian Association

of Travel Agents. At a meeting between Prime Minister Ansip and Zambian President

Levy, within the framework of the Lisbon Summit, a mutual interest in future co-opera-

tion and in the development of bilateral relations was confi rmed.

Estonia continued the donation of development and humanitarian aid to Africa that

was started in 2004. This aid increased to 1.235 million EEK (approximately 80,000 €)

in 2007. Of this, 500,000 EEK (over 30,000€) was directed through the World Food

Program (WFP) towards the alleviation of the situation of refugees and internally dis-

placed persons in southern Sudan. Another 500,000 EEK was channelled through the

UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), to support the return and reintegration of

Sudan’s refugees and internally displaced persons. 234,699 EEK (15,000 €) was allocated



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to the European Union Benghazi Action Plan to support children infected with HIV/AIDS

in the Benghazi region of Libya.

Latin AmericaThe mutual interest between Estonia and Latin America has increased from year to

year. A diplomatic presence is lacking to date, but visits and meetings of top offi cials

took place within the framework of multilateral events.

Good opportunities for developing bilateral relations are provided by international

forums. In April 2007, Foreign Minister Urmas Paet participated in the XIII Ministerial

Meeting of the European Union (EU) and Rio Group that took place in Santo Domingo,

the Dominican Republic. Within the framework of the meeting, bilateral meetings

with the foreign ministers of Peru, Costa Rica, and the Dominican Republic, as well as

the deputy foreign minister of Chile, took place. At the meetings, the future of bilateral

and multilateral relations was discussed, along with developments in the region and

inter-regional co-operation.

During the session of the United Nations General Assembly in September, Foreign

Minister Paet met with Mexican Foreign Minister Patricia Espinosa Cantellano, as

well as with the Deputy Foreign Minister of Argentina. In addition to co-operation in

international organizations, bilateral relations were also discussed.

In April 2007, Estonia established diplomatic relations with Guyana. Estonians partici-

pated in European Union election observation missions in Ecuador and Guatemala.

Several Latin American countries (Mexico, Peru, and Chile) have offered our diplomats

interesting educational opportunities, and in 2007, an Estonian diplomat studied at

the Diplomatic Academy of Peru.

overview of bilateral relationstreaty, energy policies, and bilateral relations. one of last...

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