Main Guidelines of Estonia’s Foreign Policy
Address by Toomas Hendrik Ilves, Minister of Foreign Affairs to the Riigikogu on behalf of the Government of Estonia, 25 October 2001
Honorable Mr. Chairman, respected Members of the Riigikogu!
Barely half a year has passed since our last foreign policy discussion, but in that period, the international political and security environment has changed very drastically. The terrorist attacks which struck the United States on September 11 have forced the whole world to focus its attention upon the danger from which no state or individual is totally protected. As a result of international decisiveness, we have seen the creation of a uniquely extensive coalition of nations, which are doing everything in their power to ensure that people would not have to live in the fear of the havoc that terrorism sows. It is Estonia’s duty to be a contributing part of this coalition. The necessity of fighting against terrorism, and the participation in this struggle, are concrete reasons for Estonia to be an integral part of the Euro-Atlantic security sphere. Presuming, that as a future ally, we have the right to expect aid in a crisis situation, we have to be ready to fulfill our role in the structure, which ensures our common security. Therefore, on the one hand, we have to increase our military readiness, and on the other hand, we have to continue fulfilling our international obligations like the ever more stringent securing of our borders, the prevention of international financial crimes, and the increasing of our internal security so as to prevent terrorist and other organized crime activities.
The basic guidelines upon which Estonian foreign policy is based have not changed. The process of joining the European Union and NATO will be undergoing its decisive phase next year. I am convinced that the changes that have taken place in the international scene will not hinder the enlargement of neither NATO nor the European Union. Although international co-operation presently, due to the terrorist acts which were perpetrated against the United States, is understandably focused upon matters dealing with the fight against terrorism, ever more attention is being paid to the various strategic aspects of international co-operation, which must eventually reduce the threat of terrorism and help to eliminate the causes of terrorism. It must be noted that Estonia’s foreign policy endeavors fit into this context very well and are future oriented.
Therefore, in today’s address, I would like to primarily deal with our national security matters through the spectrum of Estonia’s foreign policy activities. Naturally, I will also give you an overview of the various developments, which have taken place in our on-going joining process with the EU and NATO.
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Firstly, Estonia and international security.
The situation in Estonia is calm. Matters related to Estonia’s security have been thoroughly discussed at Government sessions after the terrorist acts which occurred in the United States, and the US, with its allies, initiated anti-terrorist activities. We concluded that the Estonian administration is capable of ensuring our national security. We find, that in the present situation, it is necessary for the Governmental National Security Commission to regularly come together every fortnight. The Government has approved various foreign policy moves, which make it easier for Estonia to fulfill its role in the international fight against terrorism. Also, the National Defence Council has advised the new President about the readiness of the structures which ensure our national security.
The Government’s basic national security concept, which was approved by you on March 6, states, among other things, that: “Security related changes around the world have brought with them so-called new security risks as defined in NATO’s strategic concept, such as the proliferation of chemical weapons and weapons of mass destruction, organized crime, floods of those seeking refuge from crises and catastrophes, and so forth. States and international organizations have already had to strengthen their capacity to react to such crises (and battle such dangers), and will have to further bolster that capacity. Closely tied to this phenomenon is another development: international law is extending its influence to new spheres and is being interpreted in new ways. There is a growing need for co-operation of the closest kind and on various level.”
And I will also quote from the same source: “In the struggle against international crime and terrorism it is important not only to develop the national legal basis and promote co-operation between government agencies but also to develop international co-operation. Terrorism, terrorist organizations and extremist groups are not characteristic to Estonia. Still, terrorism as a potentially destabilizing factor in society must not be ignored.”
Therefore, we can say that the conceptual basis for the international and domestic activities connected with the struggle against terrorism already exists in Estonia. But the positions expressed in principle in the national security concept, must now be enacted with greater persistence than ever before. And I believe that the Government of the Republic of Estonia has already succeeded in doing this on several planes.
The risks, such as organized crime, money laundering, drug trafficking, corruption, the illegal migration of people, have now acquired a special significance even in the conventional security sense. This was demonstrated by the terrorist acts in the United States, and by the information concerning the activities of the network of terrorist organizations and the system for financing them. The fight against these phenomena requires even more intense co-operation than before. This is a sphere of activity in which all countries can make a contribution, regardless of size and economic resources. Of primary importance is the exchanging of information, which is essential in the fight against both terrorism and its financial sources.
International organizations also have a large role to play. United Nations Security Council resolutions, for instance, help to give banks a legal basis for investigating accounts suspected of being involved with illegal monetary transactions and money laundering.
I presented these conclusions to my colleagues at the recent NATO candidate countries’ foreign ministers’ conference in Bled, Slovenia. I stressed the fact that this kind of co-operation is possible and necessary also within the V10 framework, since this group of countries is actually a part of the international community of nations. Co-operation can be productive only if it whelms all nations who have joined the anti-terrorist coalition, and the exchange of information encompasses all of them.
Of major importance in the struggle against terrorism are international legal instruments, which create a basis for co-operation between nations. Estonia has already joined twelve international conventions, which are directly or indirectly meant for promoting the fight against terrorism. Plus, Estonia has signed the international convention for preventing terrorist bombings, the convention for blocking the financing of terrorism, the convention banning illegal activities which endanger maritime travel, and the international convention against kidnapping. The first two were sent this month by the Government to the Riigikogu for ratification, the last two having been sent to the Riigikogu already at an earlier date. Also, the Riigikogu is presently debating the joining of the International Criminal Court Statute.
By joining the UN and European Council conventions, nations take upon themselves, in a general sense, responsibilities in the struggle against terrorism. Measures are adopted to prevent money laundering (countries are obligated to legally define so-called money laundering crimes) and the financing of terrorism, and illegally earned profits are confiscated. The conventions obligate countries to share essential information concerning terrorism, to co-operate with each other in criminal matters, and to extradite criminals.
As a result of joining the aforementioned conventions, some changes had to be made to Estonian laws. A law was passed to prevent money laundering. The criminal code, the code dealing with the breaking of administrative laws, the code of criminal procedure, and other parts of the nation’s legal system had to be amended. By now, Estonian laws are in conformity with international laws, and no changes or amendments will have to be made after the beforementioned conventions against bombing terrorism and the financing of terrorism are ratified.
The following UN Security Council resolutions also deal with the fight against terrorism: 1269 (adopted in 1999), 1076 (1996), 1333 (2000), 1368 (2001), 1373 (2001).
The Foreign Ministry has drafted a law dealing with international sanctions, which would establish a more precise legal basis for enacting measures necessary for the adoption of international sanctions, thereby making it easier for Estonia to fulfill its international obligations.
Till this law is passed, UN Security Council decisions will have to be dealt with as if they were the Estonian Republic’s international commitments.
Article 3 of the Republic of Estonia’s constitution stipulates that the generally recognized principles and norms of international law are an inseparable part of the Estonian legal system.
The general principles of international law, as a basis for the aforementioned international legal system, are listed in article 38 subparagraph 1 of the statutes of the International Court of Justice, and are therefore binding for the Republic of Estonia, which recognizes the obligatory jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice.
In the case of the United Nations, both the General Assembly and the Security Council are political institutions, which, among other things, adopt resolutions dealing with the adaptation of the general principles of international law. On the basis of article 25 of the UN statutes, decisions made by the Security Council are binding for all UN member states.
And now a few words about the European Union’s common anti-terrorist measures and their enlargement to Estonia.
The European Union’s joint anti-terrorist measures were adopted at the European Council’s extraordinary session on September 21 with corollaries and a plan of action. Estonia decided to also adopt these documents, as result of which, the EU plans will enlarge to Estonia, to the extent that is possible in the case of an EU associated country. Five days ago, we had a discussion concerning anti-terrorist measures at the expanded European Conference, which this time, extraordinarily, also encompassed Russia, Ukraine, and Moldova. For Estonia, as a responsible state which shares common values, it is useful to also adopt, within our means, all anti-terrorist measures which have been approved by the EU. In addition to supporting the European Council’s decisions, the Government of Estonia, already on 18 September 2001, decided to join all anti-Taleban actions adopted by the European Union within the framework of a common foreign and security policy, thereby, practically, also enacting the UN Security Council’s resolution nr. 1333 (2000).
The European Council decided to support the United States in every way, and by co-operating with the United States, to help establish as extensive global coalition for the fight against terrorism. Concrete anti-terrorist activities will lead to the formulation of a common EU arrest warrant, enhanced police co-operation, the development of agreements concerning international law, the increasing of aviation security. The EU is activating its role and function in the worldwide arena by developing a Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP), and by making the European Security and Defence Policy functional as quickly as possible. And the European Union of course has a major role in the influencing of international economic development with the concrete steps taken by the European Central Bank and other banks, which help to regulate the situation which has developed in the world’s monetary markets. The EU also greeted OPEC’s decision to continue supplying oil.
By participating in the activities agreed upon in the European Council, Estonia will, first of all, be intensifying co-operation with the United States and the European Union, and with various security structures. Based upon decisions made by the EU, the EU legal acquis will in the near future be expanded by the anti-terrorism measures. The most important one will be the European common arrest and search warrant system, which is presently being drafted. Of major significance will also be the measures for obstructing the financing of terrorism, and the list of terrorists and terrorist organizations identified in Europe. The importance of the domestic policy sphere and matters dealing with the justice system are noticeably increasing in the European Union. The adoption of this future acquis will definitely help to increase Estonia’s security in a major way.
The Estonian Government has made a thorough evaluation of what could be our realistic contribution, at this moment, to the common fight against terrorism. In the Governmental National Security Commission it has been agreed upon what the appropriately timely activities of the various government agencies should be, which in itself is helping to deter the dangers posed by terrorism. We have naturally kept our closest partner states informed about these steps that we have taken. Since all these assigned activities fit into the regular functional framework of the of the government agencies, it has not been necessary to grant any special authority to any one or any agency. But this program encompasses a great many agencies, with the Governmental Crisis Commission helping to coordinate their various activities.
The Government has also dealt with the Estonian, Latvian, and Lithuanian joint anti-terrorist measures program, of which an informative overview was presented to the American Government. As you know, on October 10, Estonia signed a co-operation treaty with Europol, the European Union agency dealing with law enforcement. This treaty with Europol will help to increase the exchange of information and enhance the co-operation between police forces in their fight against various kinds of international crime, including terrorism.
I cannot overlook another very important field of activity, which plays an irreplaceable role in the fight against terrorism. This is the control of exports. We know that there are fanatical groups in the world who, to achieve their aims, are willing to kill, irrespective of the means. When making their killing plans, they are not guided by generally accepted moral codes, and the only limits are set by practical and technical problems. We know that if given the opportunity, they would, without a moment’s hesitation, be willing to use chemical, biological, or nuclear weapons. We also know that there have been cases where the technology necessary for making a weapon of mass destruction has changed hands. The terrorist acts of September 11 prove that the intensive fight against this kind of trade must be relentlessly continued.
Our various government agencies are doing their best to ensure that strategic goods are not illegally shipped or traded in Estonia. Within the framework of an international co-operative effort, an effective export control system is functioning in Estonia. The establishment of this system was started in 1994 at the instigation of the Foreign Ministry. A governmental interagency commission has been established, coordinated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and consisting of representatives of the Ministries of Defence and Finance, the criminal police, the Security Police Board, and the customs service.
The Estonian export control system has received international recognition. One proof of this is the fact that Estonia, along with NATO member countries, has been placed in the United States high technology infotechnology export trustworthiness table’s highest group.
But no system is perfect, and something can always be improved upon. Several extensive projects have been established, in the framework of which, customs agents and the officials of other agencies having investigative authority are given additional training in the field of export control and are supplied with specialized equipment. On a global scale, it would be most important to intensify international co-operation and the exchange of information. The further development of the Estonian export control system is beginning to be hindered by the fact that we do not belong to the appropriate international organizations. Therefore, Estonia has applied to join the Wassenaar Agreement, which we will hopefully be able to join in the near future
International co-operation in the field of export control helps nations with common values to achieve the established aims -- to promote the legitimate trade of high technology goods and to prevent sensitive goods and technologies from ending up in the hands of unsuitable end users.
Estonia can also make its contribution by helping to relieve the suffering of crises victims with humanitarian aid. Our resources for doing this cannot of course be compared with those of the great powers, but we can nevertheless do some concrete things to help others.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will very soon make a proposal to the Government of the Republic of Estonia to assist, by making use of the resources in the 2001 annual budget earmarked for development aid, Afghanistan residents and refugees through the Estonian Red Cross in accordance with the appeal issued by the International Red Cross Federation.
Presently, the Estonian Rescue Board is participating in a co-operative effort with the Swedish Rescue Agency, by preparing humanitarian aid meant for the crisis area, in the course of which, Estonia is making its contribution to the preparation and logistics of the shipping vehicles which the Swedes have placed at the disposal of the UN World Food Programme.
The Estonian representative, Rescue Board Chairman Mati Raidma, is participating in a three month mission in Turkmenistan, as one half of the two member UN Office for Coordinating Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) Disaster and Coordinating team (UNDAC).
As a response to the United States enquiry, which was made through NATO’s Euro-Atlantic Disaster Response Coordination Centre, Estonia communicated its readiness to add to the list of useable resources an Estonian rescue unit, which includes a medical team, a rescue team, and a logistics group.
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Respected members of the Riigikogu,
And now, as promised, an overview of the developments in NATO’s enlargement process.
For the first time, during the history of NATO’s existence, the North Atlantic Treaty’s article 5, which stipulates that an attack against one ally is an attack against all of them, has been applied. Originally, NATO was a union of nations formed purely for defensive and security reasons. But after the Cold War, NATO acquired new functions -- helping to solve crises outside of NATO territory. Now, within the framework of anti-terrorist activities, NATO’s sphere of activities has become even broader. This is a vivid example of how NATO is developing in response to changing conditions and dealing with new security risks. The operations in Kosovo and Macedonia also prove that NATO is successfully adapting to new challenges.
From the NATO enlargement point of view, the European visit of United States President George W. Bush, in June, was very important: in Brussels, there was a session of the NATO Council, a so-called mini-summit, attended by the member nations’ heads of government. Practically all member countries expressed support for enlargement, and several heads of government concretely mentioned the inviting of the Baltic states to join.
President Bush presented a noteworthy address in Warsaw -- the capital of a former Eastern Bloc country and present NATO member. He stated that NATO’s enlargement will be larger rather than smaller, and will encompass democratic countries between the Baltic and Black seas, who are able to meet the membership criteria. The same decisiveness was shown by Bush in the address which he sent to the October 5 conference of the heads of state of the NATO candidate countries (V10). President Bush’s form stand has encouraged other member countries to also react positively to the prospect of the Baltic states also becoming members. During the last half a year, several countries have joined our traditional supporting nations. At this point I would also like you to recall what was said when French president Chirac visited Estonia in a summer. In his address in Sofia, NATO’s Secretary General stressed that the terrorist attacks in the United States have not closed NATO’s doors or derailed enlargement. The prime minister’s and defence minister’s recent meeting with the vice-president of the United States reconfirmed that which had been stated earlier.
As you know, there are presently already19 member countries in NATO, who make decisions only on the basis of a consensus. The candidate countries’ suitability for membership is also determined by the countries’ ability work together constructively. In July, there was a meeting, in Tallinn, of the candidate countries’, the so-called Vilnius group’s (V10) foreign ministers, where it was decided to strengthen co-operation not only at the summit level, but also between the resident ambassadors in the NATO capitals. The V10 heads of state conference in Sofia confirmed the solidarity of the candidate countries with the Allies’ fight against the threat of worldwide terrorism, with each candidate country supporting the effort in accordance with their individual resources. Functioning together gives the process an additional value and prevents non-productive “beauty contests” between the candidate countries. As a result of this pragmatic and positive attitude, Croatia was welcomed into the Vilnius process.
If anyone even assumed, or perhaps even hoped, that in connection with the September 11 events NATO enlargement is no longer relevant for the democratic world, then, as we very well know, they were mistaken. In a little over a year, at the Prague summit, accession invitations will be presented to those countries which have been able to prove their desire and capability to function as democratic just societies and their determination to develop their national defence capability. Up until now, more general discussions have been held in NATO, and the naming of names will probably not take place until next year, after the results of the third cycle of the Membership Action Plans have become apparent.
At the end of September, we presented to NATO our third Annual National Plan. This encompasses the experiences of the previous years and our own analyses, plus evaluations done by NATO and member countries. The first responses from NATO member states and from NATO headquarters are encouraging. The ANPs of the Baltic states are regarded as being ambitious, but at the same time, realistic. So as to preserve this realism, our civilian and military specialists have analyzed the human and monetary resources necessary for achieving the established goals and have made adjustments to some intermediate period plans. The resulting decisions are more in tune with our resources and requirements.
The developing of national security, as you very well know, requires appropriate legislation. This year, some essential steps have been taken in this sphere: the Riigikogu has adopted the principles upon which the Republic of Estonia’s national security policy is based -- the national security concept, which is also the basis for the national defence strategy. These basic documents are essential signposts which our government agencies use as guides for executing Government policies. But this legislative basis needs to be enlarged -- on the agenda is new legislation regulating peacetime national security and new legislation regulating the national defence force. It is essential that this legislation be brought up to date, so as to be able to regulate our defence capabilities and at the same time increase civilian control over our defence force.
The public image of our defence force and the other national defence structures has recently improved. I believe that one reason for this is the preparatory work that is being done for joining NATO, which is helping to explain and enhance the authority of the national defence system in the public eye. This in turn is helping to maintain the Estonian public’s support for the concept of joining NATO.
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And thirdly, respected Members of the Riigikogu, I would take a look at how Estonian accession to the European Union is progressing.
In the process of the accession talks we have already closed 19 chapters. While Sweden presided, we managed to close three chapters, and achieved an agreement with the European Union concerning the transition period of four chapters. These are:
we have till 2004 and 2007 to construct gasoline fume regeneration systems, depending upon the turnover of the filling stations and terminals;
we have until 2010 to renovate and construct sewer and sewage filtration systems;
we have until 2013 to renovate and construct drinking water supply and filtration systems;
we have until 16 July 2009 to work out and utilize new processes for dealing with oil shale ash produced by electrical plants.
Solutions were found for the Estonian requests which dealt with the utilizing of action plans in nitrate sensitive areas, the controlling of the flow of hazardous materials into surface water, and the utilizing of measures for the protection of ground-water, so that our requests could be met. In these cases, Estonia will enact preventive measures from the moment of accession.
At the moment, we are having intensive discussions with the European Union concerning various technical questions and exceptions with the aim of achieving agreements. We have reached a complicated phase in the negotiations, during which it is no longer possible to list the newly closed chapters after every session.
The enlargement strategy and negotiations roadmap approved at the Nice summit has created a definite and clear framework for carrying on the negotiations and concluding them successfully. We find it very essential, that at the Göteborg summit the EU made assurances that the accession negotiations could be concluded by the end of next year with those candidate countries who are ready for accession. Sticking to this schedule is very important for us. But the end of 2002 is just a little more than a year away, and solutions still have to be found for problems in complicated chapters. And we have to make relentless exerted efforts in the domestic policy field so as to achieve our established goals. I am glad to be able to say that by today new legislation dealing with treaties and non-treaty commitments, which caused extensive debates, has been ratified, as has been the new customs legislation. These two extensive pieces of legislation prove how persistently Estonia is developing its base of essential legislation.
In the interests of successfully concluding the negotiations, we are intensively preparing our additional position in the energy chapter, in which we specify our basic request -- to guarantee the continued development of the production of thermal electricity from oil shale after accession. Problems connected with developments in the oil shale sector, in the context of the ongoing accession negotiations being held with the European Union, have also been repeatedly dealt with by the Riigikogu European Affairs Committee. Among other things, the Committee has convened a round table consisting of oils shale enterprises and scientists. It is clear that the problems connected with the continued mining and utilization of oil shale, be it for the production of electricity or other uses, need to be dealt with in a special manner. 84% of the world’s oil shale mining is done in Estonia. The problems connected with oil shale cannot be solved just with the closing of the oil shale operations. Therefore, we have to be able to meet the challenges presented, so as to be able to find new and innovative, future oriented solutions for our unique situation. Within the framework of the accession negotiations we would like to find ways for the European Union to finance the research and development of the best possible technology for the oil shale industry and the certification of oil shale chemical products, and to obtain the EU’s recognition of the need for carrying out and financing oil shale research. I would also like to mention the fact that we have to achieve an agreement dealing with the organizing of our soon to be ready electrical market.
To summarize all this, we have to, together with the EU, find mutually satisfying solutions, which, among other things, would guarantee Estonia’s supply of electricity, would protect the environment, and would prevent upheavals in labour market. I would especially like to stress the social aspects -- keeping in mind the uniqueness of the oils shale question, we would like to get the EU’s recognition and support of the Government’s Ida-Virumaa labour program, which was adopted in April. This summer I had an opportunity to familiarize EU member states with my vision of the oil shale question.
On July 1 we presented to the EU additional requests concerning transition measures within the taxation chapter. We are, for instance, petitioning for a transition period for maintaining the lower taxation of electricity being sold to residents, which would last until 30 June 2005. This was done for social reasons, since the higher taxation of electricity would create hardships for the poorer segment of society, and would create the necessity of increasing welfare payments. Our goal, during the period that Belgium is the presiding country, is to achieve as many agreements in connection with as many problems as possible.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Riigikogu, which, in the form of the European Affairs Committee, and the initiatives of many permanent committees and individual Riigikogu Members, has proven to be a very active and constructive partner in the discussions dealing with Estonia’s accession matters.
There have also been some developments in the context of the Europe Agreement. The new regime regulating the trade in processed agricultural products went into effect on 1 September 2001. I believe that this will have the same kind of effect as did the liberalization of the trading regulations, which was enacted 1 July 2000. It is not difficult to prove the positive effect this had, especially on the Estonian milk industry. The overall export of agricultural products increased during the first half of this year, when compared with the same period last year, by 61.6%. For instance, the export of cheese to the European Union increased from seven tons during the first half of last year, to 1195 tons during the same period this year. The export of powdered milk increased five times. The European Union, constituting 26.8% of the market, is now the biggest export market for Estonian agricultural products.
It has taken somewhat longer to obtain freer trading conditions for seafood products -- the appropriate agreement will probably be enacted at the beginning of the new year. At the same time, negotiations are continuing concerning the further liberalization of the trade in agricultural products.
The agricultural aid program, SAPARD, which is so essential for Estonia, was enacted in July, and by now, payments have already been made. 79 projects have been approved, which will be receiving a total of 59 million kroons from SAPARD. Applications are still being accepted within the framework of the second phase of the SAPARD program. At any rate, the enactment of this program shows that the European Union is providing noteworthy support to the vitality of Estonian agriculture. Estonian self esteem should be increased by the knowledge that Estonia was the second candidate country where the SAPARD system received the European Commission’s accreditation, and the first country where actual payments were made to those for whom this fairly complicated institution was created -- the farmers and the food processing industry.
In two weeks the European Commission should release a report concerning the preparations candidate countries are making prior to accession. The big efforts that Estonia has made during the previous year will no doubt be positively noted. At the same time it is quite clear that the spheres in which we have not made as much progress, as quickly as we would have liked, are just as obvious to the outside observer. In this context I should mention unemployment, uneven regional development, the complicated reorganization of the oil shale industry. Our ability to adopt contemporary European standards is continually proven by our removal of pirated goods from the market, and by the improvement of our food products, our electrical system, our customs control system, our financial controls system, and our environment.
And now, a very essential topic, in connection with which I see the Riigikogu playing irreplaceable role. Today’s candidate countries, tomorrow’s EU members, are expected to ever more actively participate in the process of conceptualizing Europe’s distant future. At the foreign ministers’ unofficial meeting in Genval on September 9, I stressed how important it is how important it is to include candidate countries in these discussions on an equal basis with member states. After all, we are talking about the organizing of a common environment for all European nations five, ten, fifteen years from now. For Estonia’s proposals to be as meaningful and substantial as possible, it is necessary for not only academic circles, but also the Members of the Riigikogu, and non-governmental organizations to participate in the formulating of Estonia’s proposals and concepts. The Riigikogu fractions already participated in the first European Union discussions concerning our common future. A good opportunity for Riigikogu Members to think about these matters and to contribute their thoughts will arise soon at the subsequent conference “Estonia and the European Union”.
The public support for Estonia’s accession to the European Union has, compared with the intermediate low point, somewhat increased. But matters dealing with the European Union have to be ever more persistently explained to the general public, since people’s interest towards the EU is growing as the accession negotiations are drawing to a close and the moment of accession itself is drawing nearer. At the same time, we should start paying more attention not to questions directly connected with accession, but with rather with the next phase – Estonia’s possibilities for development, and how to achieve these goals as an EU member state. Firstly, the European Union is not a solidified union of nations, but rather, a contemporary community of European nations which is undergoing a constant process of dynamic development. Secondly, in the European Union member states are not given anything “on a platter”. Instead, there are opportunities for development, the utilization of which is very dependent upon the capabilities of the member states themselves.
In conclusion I would like to reassert the fact that changes in the international atmosphere have not changed Estonia’s foreign policy priorities. Quite the opposite. The appropriateness of these goals has actually been confirmed. Estonia’s place and status in the international arena is clearer and more concrete than ever before. We are constantly gaining new partners, and the opportunities for international co-operation are increasing. But the year 2002 will be quite stressful for Estonia in the foreign policy arena. Due to our foreign policy goals and endeavors, we are continually being focused upon by many countries and organizations. This is something that we have to constantly keep in mind when making domestic and foreign policy decisions.
Thank you for your attention.
Honorable Mr. Chairman, respected Members of the Riigikogu!
Barely half a year has passed since our last foreign policy discussion, but in that period, the international political and security environment has changed very drastically. The terrorist attacks which struck the United States on September 11 have forced the whole world to focus its attention upon the danger from which no state or individual is totally protected. As a result of international decisiveness, we have seen the creation of a uniquely extensive coalition of nations, which are doing everything in their power to ensure that people would not have to live in the fear of the havoc that terrorism sows. It is Estonia’s duty to be a contributing part of this coalition. The necessity of fighting against terrorism, and the participation in this struggle, are concrete reasons for Estonia to be an integral part of the Euro-Atlantic security sphere. Presuming, that as a future ally, we have the right to expect aid in a crisis situation, we have to be ready to fulfill our role in the structure, which ensures our common security. Therefore, on the one hand, we have to increase our military readiness, and on the other hand, we have to continue fulfilling our international obligations like the ever more stringent securing of our borders, the prevention of international financial crimes, and the increasing of our internal security so as to prevent terrorist and other organized crime activities.
The basic guidelines upon which Estonian foreign policy is based have not changed. The process of joining the European Union and NATO will be undergoing its decisive phase next year. I am convinced that the changes that have taken place in the international scene will not hinder the enlargement of neither NATO nor the European Union. Although international co-operation presently, due to the terrorist acts which were perpetrated against the United States, is understandably focused upon matters dealing with the fight against terrorism, ever more attention is being paid to the various strategic aspects of international co-operation, which must eventually reduce the threat of terrorism and help to eliminate the causes of terrorism. It must be noted that Estonia’s foreign policy endeavors fit into this context very well and are future oriented.
Therefore, in today’s address, I would like to primarily deal with our national security matters through the spectrum of Estonia’s foreign policy activities. Naturally, I will also give you an overview of the various developments, which have taken place in our on-going joining process with the EU and NATO.
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Firstly, Estonia and international security.
The situation in Estonia is calm. Matters related to Estonia’s security have been thoroughly discussed at Government sessions after the terrorist acts which occurred in the United States, and the US, with its allies, initiated anti-terrorist activities. We concluded that the Estonian administration is capable of ensuring our national security. We find, that in the present situation, it is necessary for the Governmental National Security Commission to regularly come together every fortnight. The Government has approved various foreign policy moves, which make it easier for Estonia to fulfill its role in the international fight against terrorism. Also, the National Defence Council has advised the new President about the readiness of the structures which ensure our national security.
The Government’s basic national security concept, which was approved by you on March 6, states, among other things, that: “Security related changes around the world have brought with them so-called new security risks as defined in NATO’s strategic concept, such as the proliferation of chemical weapons and weapons of mass destruction, organized crime, floods of those seeking refuge from crises and catastrophes, and so forth. States and international organizations have already had to strengthen their capacity to react to such crises (and battle such dangers), and will have to further bolster that capacity. Closely tied to this phenomenon is another development: international law is extending its influence to new spheres and is being interpreted in new ways. There is a growing need for co-operation of the closest kind and on various level.”
And I will also quote from the same source: “In the struggle against international crime and terrorism it is important not only to develop the national legal basis and promote co-operation between government agencies but also to develop international co-operation. Terrorism, terrorist organizations and extremist groups are not characteristic to Estonia. Still, terrorism as a potentially destabilizing factor in society must not be ignored.”
Therefore, we can say that the conceptual basis for the international and domestic activities connected with the struggle against terrorism already exists in Estonia. But the positions expressed in principle in the national security concept, must now be enacted with greater persistence than ever before. And I believe that the Government of the Republic of Estonia has already succeeded in doing this on several planes.
The risks, such as organized crime, money laundering, drug trafficking, corruption, the illegal migration of people, have now acquired a special significance even in the conventional security sense. This was demonstrated by the terrorist acts in the United States, and by the information concerning the activities of the network of terrorist organizations and the system for financing them. The fight against these phenomena requires even more intense co-operation than before. This is a sphere of activity in which all countries can make a contribution, regardless of size and economic resources. Of primary importance is the exchanging of information, which is essential in the fight against both terrorism and its financial sources.
International organizations also have a large role to play. United Nations Security Council resolutions, for instance, help to give banks a legal basis for investigating accounts suspected of being involved with illegal monetary transactions and money laundering.
I presented these conclusions to my colleagues at the recent NATO candidate countries’ foreign ministers’ conference in Bled, Slovenia. I stressed the fact that this kind of co-operation is possible and necessary also within the V10 framework, since this group of countries is actually a part of the international community of nations. Co-operation can be productive only if it whelms all nations who have joined the anti-terrorist coalition, and the exchange of information encompasses all of them.
Of major importance in the struggle against terrorism are international legal instruments, which create a basis for co-operation between nations. Estonia has already joined twelve international conventions, which are directly or indirectly meant for promoting the fight against terrorism. Plus, Estonia has signed the international convention for preventing terrorist bombings, the convention for blocking the financing of terrorism, the convention banning illegal activities which endanger maritime travel, and the international convention against kidnapping. The first two were sent this month by the Government to the Riigikogu for ratification, the last two having been sent to the Riigikogu already at an earlier date. Also, the Riigikogu is presently debating the joining of the International Criminal Court Statute.
By joining the UN and European Council conventions, nations take upon themselves, in a general sense, responsibilities in the struggle against terrorism. Measures are adopted to prevent money laundering (countries are obligated to legally define so-called money laundering crimes) and the financing of terrorism, and illegally earned profits are confiscated. The conventions obligate countries to share essential information concerning terrorism, to co-operate with each other in criminal matters, and to extradite criminals.
As a result of joining the aforementioned conventions, some changes had to be made to Estonian laws. A law was passed to prevent money laundering. The criminal code, the code dealing with the breaking of administrative laws, the code of criminal procedure, and other parts of the nation’s legal system had to be amended. By now, Estonian laws are in conformity with international laws, and no changes or amendments will have to be made after the beforementioned conventions against bombing terrorism and the financing of terrorism are ratified.
The following UN Security Council resolutions also deal with the fight against terrorism: 1269 (adopted in 1999), 1076 (1996), 1333 (2000), 1368 (2001), 1373 (2001).
The Foreign Ministry has drafted a law dealing with international sanctions, which would establish a more precise legal basis for enacting measures necessary for the adoption of international sanctions, thereby making it easier for Estonia to fulfill its international obligations.
Till this law is passed, UN Security Council decisions will have to be dealt with as if they were the Estonian Republic’s international commitments.
Article 3 of the Republic of Estonia’s constitution stipulates that the generally recognized principles and norms of international law are an inseparable part of the Estonian legal system.
The general principles of international law, as a basis for the aforementioned international legal system, are listed in article 38 subparagraph 1 of the statutes of the International Court of Justice, and are therefore binding for the Republic of Estonia, which recognizes the obligatory jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice.
In the case of the United Nations, both the General Assembly and the Security Council are political institutions, which, among other things, adopt resolutions dealing with the adaptation of the general principles of international law. On the basis of article 25 of the UN statutes, decisions made by the Security Council are binding for all UN member states.
And now a few words about the European Union’s common anti-terrorist measures and their enlargement to Estonia.
The European Union’s joint anti-terrorist measures were adopted at the European Council’s extraordinary session on September 21 with corollaries and a plan of action. Estonia decided to also adopt these documents, as result of which, the EU plans will enlarge to Estonia, to the extent that is possible in the case of an EU associated country. Five days ago, we had a discussion concerning anti-terrorist measures at the expanded European Conference, which this time, extraordinarily, also encompassed Russia, Ukraine, and Moldova. For Estonia, as a responsible state which shares common values, it is useful to also adopt, within our means, all anti-terrorist measures which have been approved by the EU. In addition to supporting the European Council’s decisions, the Government of Estonia, already on 18 September 2001, decided to join all anti-Taleban actions adopted by the European Union within the framework of a common foreign and security policy, thereby, practically, also enacting the UN Security Council’s resolution nr. 1333 (2000).
The European Council decided to support the United States in every way, and by co-operating with the United States, to help establish as extensive global coalition for the fight against terrorism. Concrete anti-terrorist activities will lead to the formulation of a common EU arrest warrant, enhanced police co-operation, the development of agreements concerning international law, the increasing of aviation security. The EU is activating its role and function in the worldwide arena by developing a Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP), and by making the European Security and Defence Policy functional as quickly as possible. And the European Union of course has a major role in the influencing of international economic development with the concrete steps taken by the European Central Bank and other banks, which help to regulate the situation which has developed in the world’s monetary markets. The EU also greeted OPEC’s decision to continue supplying oil.
By participating in the activities agreed upon in the European Council, Estonia will, first of all, be intensifying co-operation with the United States and the European Union, and with various security structures. Based upon decisions made by the EU, the EU legal acquis will in the near future be expanded by the anti-terrorism measures. The most important one will be the European common arrest and search warrant system, which is presently being drafted. Of major significance will also be the measures for obstructing the financing of terrorism, and the list of terrorists and terrorist organizations identified in Europe. The importance of the domestic policy sphere and matters dealing with the justice system are noticeably increasing in the European Union. The adoption of this future acquis will definitely help to increase Estonia’s security in a major way.
The Estonian Government has made a thorough evaluation of what could be our realistic contribution, at this moment, to the common fight against terrorism. In the Governmental National Security Commission it has been agreed upon what the appropriately timely activities of the various government agencies should be, which in itself is helping to deter the dangers posed by terrorism. We have naturally kept our closest partner states informed about these steps that we have taken. Since all these assigned activities fit into the regular functional framework of the of the government agencies, it has not been necessary to grant any special authority to any one or any agency. But this program encompasses a great many agencies, with the Governmental Crisis Commission helping to coordinate their various activities.
The Government has also dealt with the Estonian, Latvian, and Lithuanian joint anti-terrorist measures program, of which an informative overview was presented to the American Government. As you know, on October 10, Estonia signed a co-operation treaty with Europol, the European Union agency dealing with law enforcement. This treaty with Europol will help to increase the exchange of information and enhance the co-operation between police forces in their fight against various kinds of international crime, including terrorism.
I cannot overlook another very important field of activity, which plays an irreplaceable role in the fight against terrorism. This is the control of exports. We know that there are fanatical groups in the world who, to achieve their aims, are willing to kill, irrespective of the means. When making their killing plans, they are not guided by generally accepted moral codes, and the only limits are set by practical and technical problems. We know that if given the opportunity, they would, without a moment’s hesitation, be willing to use chemical, biological, or nuclear weapons. We also know that there have been cases where the technology necessary for making a weapon of mass destruction has changed hands. The terrorist acts of September 11 prove that the intensive fight against this kind of trade must be relentlessly continued.
Our various government agencies are doing their best to ensure that strategic goods are not illegally shipped or traded in Estonia. Within the framework of an international co-operative effort, an effective export control system is functioning in Estonia. The establishment of this system was started in 1994 at the instigation of the Foreign Ministry. A governmental interagency commission has been established, coordinated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and consisting of representatives of the Ministries of Defence and Finance, the criminal police, the Security Police Board, and the customs service.
The Estonian export control system has received international recognition. One proof of this is the fact that Estonia, along with NATO member countries, has been placed in the United States high technology infotechnology export trustworthiness table’s highest group.
But no system is perfect, and something can always be improved upon. Several extensive projects have been established, in the framework of which, customs agents and the officials of other agencies having investigative authority are given additional training in the field of export control and are supplied with specialized equipment. On a global scale, it would be most important to intensify international co-operation and the exchange of information. The further development of the Estonian export control system is beginning to be hindered by the fact that we do not belong to the appropriate international organizations. Therefore, Estonia has applied to join the Wassenaar Agreement, which we will hopefully be able to join in the near future
International co-operation in the field of export control helps nations with common values to achieve the established aims -- to promote the legitimate trade of high technology goods and to prevent sensitive goods and technologies from ending up in the hands of unsuitable end users.
Estonia can also make its contribution by helping to relieve the suffering of crises victims with humanitarian aid. Our resources for doing this cannot of course be compared with those of the great powers, but we can nevertheless do some concrete things to help others.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will very soon make a proposal to the Government of the Republic of Estonia to assist, by making use of the resources in the 2001 annual budget earmarked for development aid, Afghanistan residents and refugees through the Estonian Red Cross in accordance with the appeal issued by the International Red Cross Federation.
Presently, the Estonian Rescue Board is participating in a co-operative effort with the Swedish Rescue Agency, by preparing humanitarian aid meant for the crisis area, in the course of which, Estonia is making its contribution to the preparation and logistics of the shipping vehicles which the Swedes have placed at the disposal of the UN World Food Programme.
The Estonian representative, Rescue Board Chairman Mati Raidma, is participating in a three month mission in Turkmenistan, as one half of the two member UN Office for Coordinating Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) Disaster and Coordinating team (UNDAC).
As a response to the United States enquiry, which was made through NATO’s Euro-Atlantic Disaster Response Coordination Centre, Estonia communicated its readiness to add to the list of useable resources an Estonian rescue unit, which includes a medical team, a rescue team, and a logistics group.
II
Respected members of the Riigikogu,
And now, as promised, an overview of the developments in NATO’s enlargement process.
For the first time, during the history of NATO’s existence, the North Atlantic Treaty’s article 5, which stipulates that an attack against one ally is an attack against all of them, has been applied. Originally, NATO was a union of nations formed purely for defensive and security reasons. But after the Cold War, NATO acquired new functions -- helping to solve crises outside of NATO territory. Now, within the framework of anti-terrorist activities, NATO’s sphere of activities has become even broader. This is a vivid example of how NATO is developing in response to changing conditions and dealing with new security risks. The operations in Kosovo and Macedonia also prove that NATO is successfully adapting to new challenges.
From the NATO enlargement point of view, the European visit of United States President George W. Bush, in June, was very important: in Brussels, there was a session of the NATO Council, a so-called mini-summit, attended by the member nations’ heads of government. Practically all member countries expressed support for enlargement, and several heads of government concretely mentioned the inviting of the Baltic states to join.
President Bush presented a noteworthy address in Warsaw -- the capital of a former Eastern Bloc country and present NATO member. He stated that NATO’s enlargement will be larger rather than smaller, and will encompass democratic countries between the Baltic and Black seas, who are able to meet the membership criteria. The same decisiveness was shown by Bush in the address which he sent to the October 5 conference of the heads of state of the NATO candidate countries (V10). President Bush’s form stand has encouraged other member countries to also react positively to the prospect of the Baltic states also becoming members. During the last half a year, several countries have joined our traditional supporting nations. At this point I would also like you to recall what was said when French president Chirac visited Estonia in a summer. In his address in Sofia, NATO’s Secretary General stressed that the terrorist attacks in the United States have not closed NATO’s doors or derailed enlargement. The prime minister’s and defence minister’s recent meeting with the vice-president of the United States reconfirmed that which had been stated earlier.
As you know, there are presently already19 member countries in NATO, who make decisions only on the basis of a consensus. The candidate countries’ suitability for membership is also determined by the countries’ ability work together constructively. In July, there was a meeting, in Tallinn, of the candidate countries’, the so-called Vilnius group’s (V10) foreign ministers, where it was decided to strengthen co-operation not only at the summit level, but also between the resident ambassadors in the NATO capitals. The V10 heads of state conference in Sofia confirmed the solidarity of the candidate countries with the Allies’ fight against the threat of worldwide terrorism, with each candidate country supporting the effort in accordance with their individual resources. Functioning together gives the process an additional value and prevents non-productive “beauty contests” between the candidate countries. As a result of this pragmatic and positive attitude, Croatia was welcomed into the Vilnius process.
If anyone even assumed, or perhaps even hoped, that in connection with the September 11 events NATO enlargement is no longer relevant for the democratic world, then, as we very well know, they were mistaken. In a little over a year, at the Prague summit, accession invitations will be presented to those countries which have been able to prove their desire and capability to function as democratic just societies and their determination to develop their national defence capability. Up until now, more general discussions have been held in NATO, and the naming of names will probably not take place until next year, after the results of the third cycle of the Membership Action Plans have become apparent.
At the end of September, we presented to NATO our third Annual National Plan. This encompasses the experiences of the previous years and our own analyses, plus evaluations done by NATO and member countries. The first responses from NATO member states and from NATO headquarters are encouraging. The ANPs of the Baltic states are regarded as being ambitious, but at the same time, realistic. So as to preserve this realism, our civilian and military specialists have analyzed the human and monetary resources necessary for achieving the established goals and have made adjustments to some intermediate period plans. The resulting decisions are more in tune with our resources and requirements.
The developing of national security, as you very well know, requires appropriate legislation. This year, some essential steps have been taken in this sphere: the Riigikogu has adopted the principles upon which the Republic of Estonia’s national security policy is based -- the national security concept, which is also the basis for the national defence strategy. These basic documents are essential signposts which our government agencies use as guides for executing Government policies. But this legislative basis needs to be enlarged -- on the agenda is new legislation regulating peacetime national security and new legislation regulating the national defence force. It is essential that this legislation be brought up to date, so as to be able to regulate our defence capabilities and at the same time increase civilian control over our defence force.
The public image of our defence force and the other national defence structures has recently improved. I believe that one reason for this is the preparatory work that is being done for joining NATO, which is helping to explain and enhance the authority of the national defence system in the public eye. This in turn is helping to maintain the Estonian public’s support for the concept of joining NATO.
III
And thirdly, respected Members of the Riigikogu, I would take a look at how Estonian accession to the European Union is progressing.
In the process of the accession talks we have already closed 19 chapters. While Sweden presided, we managed to close three chapters, and achieved an agreement with the European Union concerning the transition period of four chapters. These are:
we have till 2004 and 2007 to construct gasoline fume regeneration systems, depending upon the turnover of the filling stations and terminals;
we have until 2010 to renovate and construct sewer and sewage filtration systems;
we have until 2013 to renovate and construct drinking water supply and filtration systems;
we have until 16 July 2009 to work out and utilize new processes for dealing with oil shale ash produced by electrical plants.
Solutions were found for the Estonian requests which dealt with the utilizing of action plans in nitrate sensitive areas, the controlling of the flow of hazardous materials into surface water, and the utilizing of measures for the protection of ground-water, so that our requests could be met. In these cases, Estonia will enact preventive measures from the moment of accession.
At the moment, we are having intensive discussions with the European Union concerning various technical questions and exceptions with the aim of achieving agreements. We have reached a complicated phase in the negotiations, during which it is no longer possible to list the newly closed chapters after every session.
The enlargement strategy and negotiations roadmap approved at the Nice summit has created a definite and clear framework for carrying on the negotiations and concluding them successfully. We find it very essential, that at the Göteborg summit the EU made assurances that the accession negotiations could be concluded by the end of next year with those candidate countries who are ready for accession. Sticking to this schedule is very important for us. But the end of 2002 is just a little more than a year away, and solutions still have to be found for problems in complicated chapters. And we have to make relentless exerted efforts in the domestic policy field so as to achieve our established goals. I am glad to be able to say that by today new legislation dealing with treaties and non-treaty commitments, which caused extensive debates, has been ratified, as has been the new customs legislation. These two extensive pieces of legislation prove how persistently Estonia is developing its base of essential legislation.
In the interests of successfully concluding the negotiations, we are intensively preparing our additional position in the energy chapter, in which we specify our basic request -- to guarantee the continued development of the production of thermal electricity from oil shale after accession. Problems connected with developments in the oil shale sector, in the context of the ongoing accession negotiations being held with the European Union, have also been repeatedly dealt with by the Riigikogu European Affairs Committee. Among other things, the Committee has convened a round table consisting of oils shale enterprises and scientists. It is clear that the problems connected with the continued mining and utilization of oil shale, be it for the production of electricity or other uses, need to be dealt with in a special manner. 84% of the world’s oil shale mining is done in Estonia. The problems connected with oil shale cannot be solved just with the closing of the oil shale operations. Therefore, we have to be able to meet the challenges presented, so as to be able to find new and innovative, future oriented solutions for our unique situation. Within the framework of the accession negotiations we would like to find ways for the European Union to finance the research and development of the best possible technology for the oil shale industry and the certification of oil shale chemical products, and to obtain the EU’s recognition of the need for carrying out and financing oil shale research. I would also like to mention the fact that we have to achieve an agreement dealing with the organizing of our soon to be ready electrical market.
To summarize all this, we have to, together with the EU, find mutually satisfying solutions, which, among other things, would guarantee Estonia’s supply of electricity, would protect the environment, and would prevent upheavals in labour market. I would especially like to stress the social aspects -- keeping in mind the uniqueness of the oils shale question, we would like to get the EU’s recognition and support of the Government’s Ida-Virumaa labour program, which was adopted in April. This summer I had an opportunity to familiarize EU member states with my vision of the oil shale question.
On July 1 we presented to the EU additional requests concerning transition measures within the taxation chapter. We are, for instance, petitioning for a transition period for maintaining the lower taxation of electricity being sold to residents, which would last until 30 June 2005. This was done for social reasons, since the higher taxation of electricity would create hardships for the poorer segment of society, and would create the necessity of increasing welfare payments. Our goal, during the period that Belgium is the presiding country, is to achieve as many agreements in connection with as many problems as possible.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Riigikogu, which, in the form of the European Affairs Committee, and the initiatives of many permanent committees and individual Riigikogu Members, has proven to be a very active and constructive partner in the discussions dealing with Estonia’s accession matters.
There have also been some developments in the context of the Europe Agreement. The new regime regulating the trade in processed agricultural products went into effect on 1 September 2001. I believe that this will have the same kind of effect as did the liberalization of the trading regulations, which was enacted 1 July 2000. It is not difficult to prove the positive effect this had, especially on the Estonian milk industry. The overall export of agricultural products increased during the first half of this year, when compared with the same period last year, by 61.6%. For instance, the export of cheese to the European Union increased from seven tons during the first half of last year, to 1195 tons during the same period this year. The export of powdered milk increased five times. The European Union, constituting 26.8% of the market, is now the biggest export market for Estonian agricultural products.
It has taken somewhat longer to obtain freer trading conditions for seafood products -- the appropriate agreement will probably be enacted at the beginning of the new year. At the same time, negotiations are continuing concerning the further liberalization of the trade in agricultural products.
The agricultural aid program, SAPARD, which is so essential for Estonia, was enacted in July, and by now, payments have already been made. 79 projects have been approved, which will be receiving a total of 59 million kroons from SAPARD. Applications are still being accepted within the framework of the second phase of the SAPARD program. At any rate, the enactment of this program shows that the European Union is providing noteworthy support to the vitality of Estonian agriculture. Estonian self esteem should be increased by the knowledge that Estonia was the second candidate country where the SAPARD system received the European Commission’s accreditation, and the first country where actual payments were made to those for whom this fairly complicated institution was created -- the farmers and the food processing industry.
In two weeks the European Commission should release a report concerning the preparations candidate countries are making prior to accession. The big efforts that Estonia has made during the previous year will no doubt be positively noted. At the same time it is quite clear that the spheres in which we have not made as much progress, as quickly as we would have liked, are just as obvious to the outside observer. In this context I should mention unemployment, uneven regional development, the complicated reorganization of the oil shale industry. Our ability to adopt contemporary European standards is continually proven by our removal of pirated goods from the market, and by the improvement of our food products, our electrical system, our customs control system, our financial controls system, and our environment.
And now, a very essential topic, in connection with which I see the Riigikogu playing irreplaceable role. Today’s candidate countries, tomorrow’s EU members, are expected to ever more actively participate in the process of conceptualizing Europe’s distant future. At the foreign ministers’ unofficial meeting in Genval on September 9, I stressed how important it is how important it is to include candidate countries in these discussions on an equal basis with member states. After all, we are talking about the organizing of a common environment for all European nations five, ten, fifteen years from now. For Estonia’s proposals to be as meaningful and substantial as possible, it is necessary for not only academic circles, but also the Members of the Riigikogu, and non-governmental organizations to participate in the formulating of Estonia’s proposals and concepts. The Riigikogu fractions already participated in the first European Union discussions concerning our common future. A good opportunity for Riigikogu Members to think about these matters and to contribute their thoughts will arise soon at the subsequent conference “Estonia and the European Union”.
The public support for Estonia’s accession to the European Union has, compared with the intermediate low point, somewhat increased. But matters dealing with the European Union have to be ever more persistently explained to the general public, since people’s interest towards the EU is growing as the accession negotiations are drawing to a close and the moment of accession itself is drawing nearer. At the same time, we should start paying more attention not to questions directly connected with accession, but with rather with the next phase – Estonia’s possibilities for development, and how to achieve these goals as an EU member state. Firstly, the European Union is not a solidified union of nations, but rather, a contemporary community of European nations which is undergoing a constant process of dynamic development. Secondly, in the European Union member states are not given anything “on a platter”. Instead, there are opportunities for development, the utilization of which is very dependent upon the capabilities of the member states themselves.
In conclusion I would like to reassert the fact that changes in the international atmosphere have not changed Estonia’s foreign policy priorities. Quite the opposite. The appropriateness of these goals has actually been confirmed. Estonia’s place and status in the international arena is clearer and more concrete than ever before. We are constantly gaining new partners, and the opportunities for international co-operation are increasing. But the year 2002 will be quite stressful for Estonia in the foreign policy arena. Due to our foreign policy goals and endeavors, we are continually being focused upon by many countries and organizations. This is something that we have to constantly keep in mind when making domestic and foreign policy decisions.
Thank you for your attention.
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