Baltic Sea cooperation prominent in discussions between Kanerva and Paet

Foreign Minister Urmas Paet of Estonia visited Helsinki on 27 November at the invitation of Foreign Minister Ilkka Kanerva. Various topics were discussed, including bilateral relations between Finland and Estonia, the Baltic Sea region, European affairs and global challenges, such as Kosovo and Afghanistan.

Important issues that also rose to the fore were relations between the European Union and Russia, the border problems and long border queues experienced by the two countries, Russia’s future membership of the WTO and Finland’s upcoming chairmanship of the OSCE, for which Estonia wishes to offer her neighbour full support in the face of a challenging task.

At the press conference, Foreign Minister Kanerva told that the ministers had discussed development of the Baltic Sea region and particularly cooperation between the countries, among others, in energy policy. Both ministers stressed the importance to the European Union of a strategy for the Baltic Sea region. It is especially important for Estonia to develop the country’s energy cooperation with neighbouring states.

Support from Estonia for the transition processes in Georgia, Ukraine and Moldova

When the ministers were asked their views of the criticism former Speaker of Parliament Paavo Lipponen had presented with regard to Estonia’s policy on Russia, Kanerva replied that each country has its own history, even if the same values may be shared. In Kanerva’s opinion, the history of nations should be respected, as should countries’ right to solve their own challenges themselves. In his view, it is important that the European Union has its own common approach to Russia, even if individual states have their own perspective. Finland strives, for instance, to be active and constructive in relations with Russia. It is important for Russia to adopt European values and to take part in European cooperation structures.

Foreign Minister Paet stated that Estonia’s four main development cooperation partners are Georgia, Ukraine, Moldova and Afghanistan. The first three of these have requested Estonian assistance concerning the country’s experience of the transition process and rapprochement with the European Union and NATO. Paet said that Estonia had seen a real wish to change and implement reforms in these countries, and pointed out that Estonia, too, had received assistance when in the midst of the transition process. He considers it important to understand that this cooperation and development is not targeted against any other country. On the contrary, Europe should be satisfied that the area of democracy and stability will be larger in future; Europe should also contribute to supporting countries in their transition process.

Estonia and Finland to develop their cooperation in providing consular services

As concerns bilateral relations between Estonia and Finland, Paet said that alongside the exchange of civil servants, the two countries were developing their cooperation, among others, with regard to consular services. In third countries where only one has a foreign mission, in future the Consulate of the other may, for example, be the authority to grant visas. Finland’s network of foreign missions is larger at present, but for instance, the Estonian Consulates in Tbilisi, Minsk and Pskov could also receive visa applications addressed to Finland.

Paet also mentioned preparations to open an Estonian school in Helsinki, possibly during 2009.