Remarks by Undersecretary Mart Laanemäe of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at the 5th joint session of the Baltic Assembly and the Nordic Council
29 April 2005 in Pärnu
"The Strengthening of Democracy and Civil Society
in the Framework of Estonian Development Co-operation
and Trans-boundary Co-operation"
Honoured Chairman,
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen!
I am pleased to greet you all here in springtime Pärnu! It is my hope that the occurrence of this meeting in Estonia is one in a series of advancing steps in the accomplished co-operation of the Baltic and Nordic countries.
History has taught the Estonians that practical co-operation with neighbour countries is self-evident in the interests of our economic well-being and national security. As a borderland of today’s European Union, Estonia particularly clearly cognises the need to create a zone of social and economic well-being and stability as well as the need to strengthen it in the close vicinity of the Union’s outer boundaries. It goes without saying that Europe’s security and wealth depends among other things on the stability of the countries immediately encompassing the European Union. On the eastern frontier of the Union the security and wealth of the whole region relies on the supporting of the development of the democratic community, the functioning market economy and the vital civil society of Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova and the South-Caucasian countries.
Since regaining its independence Estonia has achieved remarkable success within the social, political as well as economic sphere. We have been successful and earned international recognition primarily through our economic reforms, the employment of information technology, integration into international organizations and the development of an overall democratic social structure, and these very areas offer useful knowledge to other countries carrying out similar reforms at this moment.
To the best of its ability Estonia has striven to share its experience regarding trans-boundary co-operation and development co-operation. In the trans-boundary co-operation significant partners are Finland, Latvia and Russia, while the circle of target countries is far wider with regard to development co-operation. The positive experience received in the course of projects organized by Estonia has quickly spread and the round of those turning to us has grown, and so has the number of subject matters. Our partners have highly appreciated Estonia’s neutral approach and open-minded attitude in carrying out the projects. Good mutual understanding has certainly been spurred by the fact that Estonia is familiar with the role of aid receiver and therefore we are better fit to understand our partners’ situation.
Who is responsible for what? In Estonia, trans-boundary co-operation is handled by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, while the Ministry of Foreign Affairs cures the development co-operation.
One characteristic feature in Estonia’s activities I would like to draw attention to is the bringing of co-operation partners to Estonia, if possible, either for training or organizing conferences. We hold the position that one’s own eye sees the best – visiting Estonia they get a direct basis for comparison and an opportunity to see the practical functioning of what has been learned.
In the development co-operation Estonia has centred on the countries of East and South-East Europe and South Caucasus. The greatest efforts have so far been directed first of all at Ukraine and Georgia. Ukraine has declared its euro-integration ambitions, but is confronted with essential domestic and foreign policy choices. A closer co-operation with Ukraine depends on the accomplishment of true reforms in a country to which Estonia as a European Union member expresses universal support.
With regard to Georgia I am pleased to notice that it has expressed a clear intent to recover, and this political will should be fully supported. On his visit to Estonia last fall, Georgia’s president Mikhail Saakashvili delivered two clear and vital messages. Firstly, Georgia wants to enter the path of democratic European values. Secondly, Georgia considers as its role model what has been recently achieved by Estonia. A more active support to Georgia offers a concrete opportunity to contribute to the development and stabilization of the entire region. Despite of modest means, for example training of Georgian officials took place last year in the field of developing the information community and training related to the environment, integration into the European Union as well as taxation and finance policy. Also noteworthy is the co-operation and assistance between the defence ministries of Estonia and Georgia.
And now a few words about Moldova and Belarus. Co-operation between Estonia and Moldova has tightened and will hopefully continue to do so. It is particularly pleasing to note that here the role of intergovernmental organizations is perceptible. The situation in Belarus gives cause for concern, but in conformity with other member states of the European Union, Estonia is nevertheless not supporting the isolation of Belarus. While interacting with Belarus, a pragmatic and selective approach is preferable both regarding fields of action and the level of contacts, using the fostering of democracy and human rights and freedoms as a yardstick. Here I would like to greet the initiative of the Open Estonian Fund to tighten relations between non-governmental organizations of Estonia and Belarus.
Ladies and Gentlemen!
Co-operation can be advanced on different levels. We can find many good examples of partnership between representatives of ministries, local self-governments and the enterprise sector, but certainly we cannot omit the non-governmental organizations. The role of the NGOs in the trans-boundary co-operation and the development co-operation is of utmost importance, and particularly when supported by the NGOs of the partner state. For the representatives of the so-called third sector it is as a rule considerably easier than for state institutions to accomplish a functioning working relation with the NGOs of the partner state. At the same time the NGOs are successful and efficient also for instance in organizing training for civil servants. To the state of Estonia the NGOs are valuable partners in shaping policies, elaborating and carrying out concrete projects as well as in the wider presentation of the subject matter to the Estonian population. In order to assemble NGOs with an interest in the development co-operation issue a separate network – the Development Co-operation Round Table – has been established.
We hope that the European Union Neighbourhood Policy (and its financing instrument) will increase opportunities even more for the invitation of NGOs to active work in the trans-boundary co-operation and the development co-operation.
Let me mention a few projects as a concrete example of co-operation with NGOs for the development of democracy and civil society. Last fall the Estonian Nature Protection Society carried out the project “The institutional counselling of the Georgian Ministry of Environment and the strengthening of non-governmental organizations regarding environmental protection”, in the course of which Georgian civil servants and representatives of the third sector were trained in Estonia. The Estonian Nature Foundation has for years supported the Kola Lapps in Russia, in Murmansk; in 2004 the project “The development of the capability of the Kola Lapps organizations” was accomplished. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Estonia in conjunction with the British Embassy in Moldova supports the creation of a European integration department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Moldova. The Estonian Rescue Board is helpful in developing the civil protection capability in Armenia and many Ukrainian civil servants have visited Estonian ministries and acquainted themselves with our reform experience. The Estonian Women’s Training Centre recently presented Estonia’s reform experience to Georgian non-governmental organizations, to officials of ministries and other state institutions and to members of parliament regarding the developing of enterprise, implementation of employment measures, principles of the professional qualification system, as well as in the field of promoting civic initiatives and participation in the democratic process.
Our experience may prove particularly valuable in the sector of information and communication technology, but also within the e-governance. Estonia has in this area been relatively successful in employing new technologies and carrying out extensive changes. The E-Governance Academy, a foundation created in 2002 for the sharing of this very experience, has so far trained almost 300 officials or third sector representatives from 26 different countries. In Estonia you may find non-governmental organizations equally successful in trans-boundary co-operation and in development co-operation. The purpose of the activities of the Peipsi Centre for Trans-boundary Cooperation is to support the sustainable development of the Lake Peipsi region and the trans-boundary co-operation through the environment protection and the strengthening of NGOs and in this area they have accomplished many resulting projects. At the same time they have also been actively working on the boundary between Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan, fostering good manners in the administration of joint local waters.
I hope that the examples presented evoked many interesting ideas and that the close co-operation between the Baltic countries and the Nordic countries will in the years to come help to find new opportunities for the further development of democracy and for the strengthening of the civil society in our closer surroundings.
Thank you for your attention!
"The Strengthening of Democracy and Civil Society
in the Framework of Estonian Development Co-operation
and Trans-boundary Co-operation"
Honoured Chairman,
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen!
I am pleased to greet you all here in springtime Pärnu! It is my hope that the occurrence of this meeting in Estonia is one in a series of advancing steps in the accomplished co-operation of the Baltic and Nordic countries.
History has taught the Estonians that practical co-operation with neighbour countries is self-evident in the interests of our economic well-being and national security. As a borderland of today’s European Union, Estonia particularly clearly cognises the need to create a zone of social and economic well-being and stability as well as the need to strengthen it in the close vicinity of the Union’s outer boundaries. It goes without saying that Europe’s security and wealth depends among other things on the stability of the countries immediately encompassing the European Union. On the eastern frontier of the Union the security and wealth of the whole region relies on the supporting of the development of the democratic community, the functioning market economy and the vital civil society of Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova and the South-Caucasian countries.
Since regaining its independence Estonia has achieved remarkable success within the social, political as well as economic sphere. We have been successful and earned international recognition primarily through our economic reforms, the employment of information technology, integration into international organizations and the development of an overall democratic social structure, and these very areas offer useful knowledge to other countries carrying out similar reforms at this moment.
To the best of its ability Estonia has striven to share its experience regarding trans-boundary co-operation and development co-operation. In the trans-boundary co-operation significant partners are Finland, Latvia and Russia, while the circle of target countries is far wider with regard to development co-operation. The positive experience received in the course of projects organized by Estonia has quickly spread and the round of those turning to us has grown, and so has the number of subject matters. Our partners have highly appreciated Estonia’s neutral approach and open-minded attitude in carrying out the projects. Good mutual understanding has certainly been spurred by the fact that Estonia is familiar with the role of aid receiver and therefore we are better fit to understand our partners’ situation.
Who is responsible for what? In Estonia, trans-boundary co-operation is handled by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, while the Ministry of Foreign Affairs cures the development co-operation.
One characteristic feature in Estonia’s activities I would like to draw attention to is the bringing of co-operation partners to Estonia, if possible, either for training or organizing conferences. We hold the position that one’s own eye sees the best – visiting Estonia they get a direct basis for comparison and an opportunity to see the practical functioning of what has been learned.
In the development co-operation Estonia has centred on the countries of East and South-East Europe and South Caucasus. The greatest efforts have so far been directed first of all at Ukraine and Georgia. Ukraine has declared its euro-integration ambitions, but is confronted with essential domestic and foreign policy choices. A closer co-operation with Ukraine depends on the accomplishment of true reforms in a country to which Estonia as a European Union member expresses universal support.
With regard to Georgia I am pleased to notice that it has expressed a clear intent to recover, and this political will should be fully supported. On his visit to Estonia last fall, Georgia’s president Mikhail Saakashvili delivered two clear and vital messages. Firstly, Georgia wants to enter the path of democratic European values. Secondly, Georgia considers as its role model what has been recently achieved by Estonia. A more active support to Georgia offers a concrete opportunity to contribute to the development and stabilization of the entire region. Despite of modest means, for example training of Georgian officials took place last year in the field of developing the information community and training related to the environment, integration into the European Union as well as taxation and finance policy. Also noteworthy is the co-operation and assistance between the defence ministries of Estonia and Georgia.
And now a few words about Moldova and Belarus. Co-operation between Estonia and Moldova has tightened and will hopefully continue to do so. It is particularly pleasing to note that here the role of intergovernmental organizations is perceptible. The situation in Belarus gives cause for concern, but in conformity with other member states of the European Union, Estonia is nevertheless not supporting the isolation of Belarus. While interacting with Belarus, a pragmatic and selective approach is preferable both regarding fields of action and the level of contacts, using the fostering of democracy and human rights and freedoms as a yardstick. Here I would like to greet the initiative of the Open Estonian Fund to tighten relations between non-governmental organizations of Estonia and Belarus.
Ladies and Gentlemen!
Co-operation can be advanced on different levels. We can find many good examples of partnership between representatives of ministries, local self-governments and the enterprise sector, but certainly we cannot omit the non-governmental organizations. The role of the NGOs in the trans-boundary co-operation and the development co-operation is of utmost importance, and particularly when supported by the NGOs of the partner state. For the representatives of the so-called third sector it is as a rule considerably easier than for state institutions to accomplish a functioning working relation with the NGOs of the partner state. At the same time the NGOs are successful and efficient also for instance in organizing training for civil servants. To the state of Estonia the NGOs are valuable partners in shaping policies, elaborating and carrying out concrete projects as well as in the wider presentation of the subject matter to the Estonian population. In order to assemble NGOs with an interest in the development co-operation issue a separate network – the Development Co-operation Round Table – has been established.
We hope that the European Union Neighbourhood Policy (and its financing instrument) will increase opportunities even more for the invitation of NGOs to active work in the trans-boundary co-operation and the development co-operation.
Let me mention a few projects as a concrete example of co-operation with NGOs for the development of democracy and civil society. Last fall the Estonian Nature Protection Society carried out the project “The institutional counselling of the Georgian Ministry of Environment and the strengthening of non-governmental organizations regarding environmental protection”, in the course of which Georgian civil servants and representatives of the third sector were trained in Estonia. The Estonian Nature Foundation has for years supported the Kola Lapps in Russia, in Murmansk; in 2004 the project “The development of the capability of the Kola Lapps organizations” was accomplished. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Estonia in conjunction with the British Embassy in Moldova supports the creation of a European integration department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Moldova. The Estonian Rescue Board is helpful in developing the civil protection capability in Armenia and many Ukrainian civil servants have visited Estonian ministries and acquainted themselves with our reform experience. The Estonian Women’s Training Centre recently presented Estonia’s reform experience to Georgian non-governmental organizations, to officials of ministries and other state institutions and to members of parliament regarding the developing of enterprise, implementation of employment measures, principles of the professional qualification system, as well as in the field of promoting civic initiatives and participation in the democratic process.
Our experience may prove particularly valuable in the sector of information and communication technology, but also within the e-governance. Estonia has in this area been relatively successful in employing new technologies and carrying out extensive changes. The E-Governance Academy, a foundation created in 2002 for the sharing of this very experience, has so far trained almost 300 officials or third sector representatives from 26 different countries. In Estonia you may find non-governmental organizations equally successful in trans-boundary co-operation and in development co-operation. The purpose of the activities of the Peipsi Centre for Trans-boundary Cooperation is to support the sustainable development of the Lake Peipsi region and the trans-boundary co-operation through the environment protection and the strengthening of NGOs and in this area they have accomplished many resulting projects. At the same time they have also been actively working on the boundary between Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan, fostering good manners in the administration of joint local waters.
I hope that the examples presented evoked many interesting ideas and that the close co-operation between the Baltic countries and the Nordic countries will in the years to come help to find new opportunities for the further development of democracy and for the strengthening of the civil society in our closer surroundings.
Thank you for your attention!
© Estonian Foreign Ministry
- Islandi väljak 1
- 15049 Tallinn
- TEL (+372) 6 377 000
- General Info: vminfo@vm.ee
- Documents: post@vm.ee
- For consular and visa-related information:: konsul@vm.ee
