In the meeting following the presentation ceremony, Ambassador Pajula and President Van der Bellen concentrated on providing continued support to Ukraine and raising the cost of the aggression for Russia. “In addition to defence assistance, Estonia considers it important to move forward with rebuilding Ukraine,” Pajula said, adding that President Van der Bellen emphasised Austria supported Ukraine in preparing for the coming winter.
They also spoke about the close relations between Estonia and Austria and additional cooperation opportunities, especially on digital affairs and achieving climate neutrality. “I see renewable energy sources as a sustainable alternative to traditional energy carriers, and an opportunity for Estonia and Austria to boost their cooperation on moving towards climate neutrality,” Pajula said.
Merle Pajula has worked at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs since 1992. Between 1992 and 1995, Pajula worked at the Press and Information Department; from 1995 to 1998, she was a press and information diplomat at the Estonian embassy in Helsinki and between 1998 and 2000, she was the Director General of the Press and Information Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. From 2000 to 2004, Pajula served as Estonia’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the UN in New York; from 2004 to 2006, she worked as the Director of the Foreign Relations Department of the Chancellery of Riigikogu, and from 2006 to 2010, she was the Estonian Ambassador to the Republic of Finland. In 2010-2012, she was the Director of the Analysis Division of the Policy Planning Department; from 2012 to 2014, she was the Director of the Policy Planning Division at the Political Department, from 2015 to 2019 she was the Estonian Ambassador to the Kingdom of Sweden and from 2019 until her appointment as ambassador, she was the Head of the Foreign Relations Department at the Chancellery of Riigikogu.
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