8 May

Today, 8 May, another round of border treaty consultations between the Estonian and Russian foreign ministries took place in Moscow. Estonia’s positions at the consultations are based on the positions and topics discussed and expressed by Riigikogu factions and the foreign affairs committee. The border line that the Estonian Riigikogu ratified in 2005 will not be discussed, as this request was not included in the joint proposal compiled by all the factions in Riigikogu last fall.

Foreign Minister Urmas Paet stated that the consultations in Moscow passed appropriately and constructively. “The two sides share the goal of a border treaty coming into force,” stated Foreign Minister Paet. “It is the norm in international relations to have a shared border established by a border treaty. Estonia and Russia should not be an exception in this matter,” the foreign minister added. The previous rounds of consultations took place on 31 October in Moscow and on 18 December in Tallinn.

Estonia is being represented at the consultations by Foreign Ministry Undersecretary for Legal and Consular Affairs Lauri Bambus and Estonian Ambassador to Russia Jüri Luik. The Russian delegation is being led by Deputy Foreign Minister of Russian Vladimir Titov and director of the Russian Foreign Ministry’s 2nd political department Viktor Tatarintsev.