Remarks by Minister Ilves at the meeting of WEU Foreign Ministers

Toomas Hendrik Ilves, Minister of Foreign Affairs, 11 May 1999, Bremen


Mr. Secretary-general, Ladies and Gentlemen,

To begin, on behalf of Estonia I would congratulate the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland upon their formal assumption of WEU Associate Member status. We hope that in light of the NATO Washington summit Final Communiqué, additional countries will be joining this list in the near future.

The Kosovo crisis is at the top of the European security agenda, and Estonia has supported and continues to support international efforts and Alliance actions to guarantee an internationally acceptable solution to this crisis and for the region in general. The recent common statement by the G-7+1 foreign ministers provides a good basis and opportunity to move decisively towards normalisation of the situation in the region and to find a solution that is acceptable to all - most of all, of course, to the people of Kosovo.

Estonia's contribution to the international effort has come in the form of humanitarian aid for displaced persons, and we have stated our readiness to accept an appropriate number of Kosovo refugees. When a peace plan is agreed upon, Estonia is ready to participate in a peace operation to enforce the agreement. We will also continue our ongoing involvement in the region through WEU. Estonia is participating in the WEU's MAPE operation in Albania. Our contribution to Kosovo and MAPE in Albania illustrates the indivisibility of European security. This is a principle, which we hold dear, and we are ready to participate at the forthcoming European Union conference on a Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe.

On a related point, as a country that aspires to NATO membership and has already started accession negotiations with the European Union, we consider it important to be involved as much as possible in the process of strengthening ESDI and European capabilities. The decisions to come from the upcoming EU summit in June will undoubtedly reflect the Washington conclusions. We believe these decisions will affect the future of the European Union in the field of security and the future of the WEU - including the status of associated partners of the WEU.

The process of enhancing European potential in the EU framework and WEU transformation should be inclusive foremost for all candidate countries, including Estonia, as appropriate. In other words, in a Europe where security is indivisible, we all should be able to contribute to European crisis management. The NATO, WEU and EU enlargement processes are the most elegant and effective way to give substance to this reality.

Thank you.