Monday 18 July, Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Paet attended the General Affairs and External Relations Council (GAERC) in Brussels.
Foreign Minister Urmas Paet gave an overview to his EU collegues concerning the ratification of the Estonia-Russia Border Treaties and thanked the member states for the support they have shown. Paet assured that the signing of the Estonia-Russia Border Treaties is a collective EU achievement. „This is a good example of achieving a desired result when speaking with one voice,” he said.
According to the Estonian Foreign Minister, the EU member states hope for good relations with Russia without uncertainty or misunderstandings. „The ratification of the Border Treaties is in our, Estonia, Russia and the EU’s, mutual interest,” Paet stressed.
According to the Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Paet, Estonia is content with the UK presidency programme as the priorities coincide with the priorities of the Estonian government. „Our aim is to come to an agreement concerning the financial perspective as soon as possible for the continuation of utilising the structural resources depends upon it,” Paet stressed. „The future of the European Union is a subject that holds a fair amount of interest for everyone of us.”
During the external relations council session there were talks about the preparation for the WTO, EU-China and UN summits as well as about the situation in Uzbekistan and Zimbabwe. The foreign ministers expressed concern about Uzbekistan’s choice not to allow an independent international enquiry into the events in Andijan of 13 May. According to Foreign Minister Paet the fact that the mission is not permitted to enter the country is regrettable. „It is necessary to constantly observe the situation in Uzbekistan; its leaders have to respect the principles of democracy, rule of law and human rights as well as obligations that stem from the Partnership and Co-operation Agreement with the European Union.”
During the official lunch the foreign ministers gave special attention to the situations in Middle East, Iran, Syria and Lebanon.
Tonight the Foreign Minister Urmas Paet will give the Estonian State decorations to three European Commission officials for actively supporting the Estonian accession to the European Union. The President of the Republic of Estonia honoured the European Commission official for enlargement Eneko Landaburu with the III class Order of the Cross of the Terra Mariana and the European Union accession negotiations organisers Nikiforos Sivenas ja Dirk Lange with the IV class Order of the Cross of the Terra Mariana.
Foreign Minister Urmas Paet giving the III class Order of the Cross of the Terra Mariana to Eneko Landaburu
Foreign Minister Urmas Paet giving the IV class Order of the Cross of the Terra Mariana to Dirk Lange
Foreign Minister Urmas Paet giving the IV class Order of the Cross of the Terra Mariana to Nikiforos Sivenase
PRESS SPOKESPERSON'S OFFICE
MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFARIS OF ESTONIA
(+372) 6317 654
(+372) 50 94 645
[email protected]
Foreign Minister Urmas Paet gave an overview to his EU collegues concerning the ratification of the Estonia-Russia Border Treaties and thanked the member states for the support they have shown. Paet assured that the signing of the Estonia-Russia Border Treaties is a collective EU achievement. „This is a good example of achieving a desired result when speaking with one voice,” he said.
According to the Estonian Foreign Minister, the EU member states hope for good relations with Russia without uncertainty or misunderstandings. „The ratification of the Border Treaties is in our, Estonia, Russia and the EU’s, mutual interest,” Paet stressed.
According to the Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Paet, Estonia is content with the UK presidency programme as the priorities coincide with the priorities of the Estonian government. „Our aim is to come to an agreement concerning the financial perspective as soon as possible for the continuation of utilising the structural resources depends upon it,” Paet stressed. „The future of the European Union is a subject that holds a fair amount of interest for everyone of us.”
During the external relations council session there were talks about the preparation for the WTO, EU-China and UN summits as well as about the situation in Uzbekistan and Zimbabwe. The foreign ministers expressed concern about Uzbekistan’s choice not to allow an independent international enquiry into the events in Andijan of 13 May. According to Foreign Minister Paet the fact that the mission is not permitted to enter the country is regrettable. „It is necessary to constantly observe the situation in Uzbekistan; its leaders have to respect the principles of democracy, rule of law and human rights as well as obligations that stem from the Partnership and Co-operation Agreement with the European Union.”
During the official lunch the foreign ministers gave special attention to the situations in Middle East, Iran, Syria and Lebanon.
Tonight the Foreign Minister Urmas Paet will give the Estonian State decorations to three European Commission officials for actively supporting the Estonian accession to the European Union. The President of the Republic of Estonia honoured the European Commission official for enlargement Eneko Landaburu with the III class Order of the Cross of the Terra Mariana and the European Union accession negotiations organisers Nikiforos Sivenas ja Dirk Lange with the IV class Order of the Cross of the Terra Mariana.
Foreign Minister Urmas Paet giving the III class Order of the Cross of the Terra Mariana to Eneko Landaburu
Foreign Minister Urmas Paet giving the IV class Order of the Cross of the Terra Mariana to Dirk Lange
Foreign Minister Urmas Paet giving the IV class Order of the Cross of the Terra Mariana to Nikiforos Sivenase
PRESS SPOKESPERSON'S OFFICE
MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFARIS OF ESTONIA
(+372) 6317 654
(+372) 50 94 645
[email protected]
