Foreign Minister Reinsalu: small states have a very important role in world politics

On Monday 23 September, Foreign Minister Urmas Reinsalu gave a speech at Columbia University in New York, highlighting the valuable of role of small states and the importance of the international rules-based order for ensuring peace and security. The Foreign Minister also attended a discussion on cybersecurity, where like-minded countries adopted a joint statement on advancing responsible state behaviour in cyberspace. At a meeting with the Georgian Foreign Minister Davit Zalkaliani, Foreign Minister Reinsalu reaffirmed Estonia’s unwavering support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia and the country’s EU and NATO ambitions.

At the lecture at Columbia University, Foreign Minister recounted how the small Estonia, once occupied by the Soviet Union, has become a success story. “Following the restoration of independence, Estonia has successfully integrated with the European Union, NATO, the OECD and many other international organisations. Standing in the Baltic Way 30 years ago, the Estonians dreamt of their own country that would be a member of the UN. Now we have been elected to the UN Security Council,” Foreign Minister Reinsalu said. “The nuclear weapon of small states is international law,” he said, quoting former Estonian President Lennart Meri to illustrate why we value the rules-based order.

At the cybersecurity discussion organised by the United States, the Netherlands and Australia, Estonia was held up as an example on several occasions. Foreign Minister Reinsalu, who participated in a panel, said that cybersecurity was becoming an increasingly important element in ensuring national defence capabilities and in internal security as well as in international security in general. “This is why it is important for states to behave responsibly in cyberspace and adhere to rules and norms. To reassert this idea, we adopted a joint statement expressing the commitment and vision of like-minded countries. We must also deal more skilfully with the countries that threaten cybersecurity,” Foreign Minister Reinsalu said.

The Estonian Foreign Minister also had bilateral meetings with his Georgian, Yemeni and South Sudanese counterparts. He also attended the meeting of the foreign ministers of the European Union.

The joint statement of foreign ministers from the cybersecurity discussion is available here: https://vm.ee/en/news/joint-statement-advancing-responsible-state-behavior-cyberspace

Photos from the meetings: https://www.flickr.com/photos/estonian-foreign-ministry/albums/72157711040778538

Additional information:

Liisa Toots
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Media Adviser, Communication Department
[email protected]
+372 637 7628

Forwarded by:

Britta Tarvis
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
[email protected]