Chronology 2001
JANUARY
1.01.2001
Sweden assumes the Presidency of the European Union.
5.01.2001
The Estonian permanent representative at the International Atomic Energy Agency signs the convention for the safe disposal of spent fuel and radioactive waste.
11.01.2001
In his speech dealing with the foreign policy priorities of the new Congress, the Chairman of the United States Senate Foreign Relations Committee, North Carolina Senator Jesse Helms, expresses concrete support for the Baltic states’ accession to NATO in 2002.
15.01.2001
A memorial plaque is unveiled in the lobby of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to commemorate those Ministry employees who had, in the course or aftermath of World War II, been persecuted for doing their duty, or for their convictions. The keynote speaker at the ceremony is Foreign Minister Toomas Hendrik Ilves.
17.01.2001
An Estonian Honorary Consulate is opened in Ludwigsburg, Germany.
The consular domain of the Estonian Consulate in St. Petersburg is enlarged, so that in addition to the city of St. Petersburg and the Leningrad and Pskov oblasts, the consular domain now also encompasses the Republic of Kareliya and the Arkhangelsk, Vologda, Murmansk, and Novgorod oblasts.
18.01.2001
Foreign Minister Toomas Hendrik Ilves co-presents to the Riigikogu (Estonian Parliament) an overview of European integration.
The Prime Minister of the Czech Republic, Miloš Zeman, pays an official visit to Estonia. In the course of the visit, an Estonian-Czech business forum is held.
24.01.2001
Diplomatic relations are established between Estonia and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.
26.01.2001
President Lennart Meri attends the Davos Economic Forum in Switzerland.
FEBRUARY
1.02.2001
Foreign Minister Toomas Hendrik Ilves pays an official visit to Switzerland. In the course of the visit, the minister addresses the Zurich University European Institute on the subject “e-Estonia and European Integration”.
2 – 4.02.2001
Foreign Minister Toomas Hendrik Ilves and Defence Minister Jüri Luik attend an international security conference (Wehrkunde) in Munich.
4 – 6.02.2001
Foreign Minister Toomas Hendrik Ilves pays an official visit to Germany. In Berlin, at Humboldt University, he delivers a lecture entitled “Building a New Europe”, in which he presents his vision of the common future that awaits the nations of Europe.
6 – 8.02.2001
A NATO team, led by Deputy Secretary General Klaus-Peter Klaiber, visits Estonia. The delegation familiarises itself with the preparations Estonia is making for NATO accession, and assesses Estonia’s Annual National Program (ANP).
8 – 9.02.2001
Prime Minister Mart Laar attends the meeting of the heads of government of the Baltic Council of Ministers.
9.02.2001
Diplomatic relations are established between Estonia and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.
13.02.2001
Diplomatic relations are established between Estonia and the Republic of El Salvador.
14.02.2001
The Prime Minister of Belgium, Guy Verhofstadt, pays an official visit to Estonia.
16 – 17.02.2001
Estonian and Russian businessmen hold a round table discussion in Tallinn on the subject “Estonia and Russia – Neighbours and Partners”.
20.02.2001
The Estonian Government decides to send 1,485,000 EEK worth of humanitarian aid to the earthquake victims in India.
26.02.2001
The Estonian Embassy is opened in Ankara, capital of Turkey.
27.02.2001
The EU-Estonian Association Council holds its fourth session in Brussels. Under discussion are Estonian preparations for accession to the EU, Estonian and EU bilateral relations, and international matters of mutual interest.
28.02.2001
The Estonian Government approves “The Estonian Military Defence Strategy”.
MARCH
1.03.2001
The free trade agreement between Estonia and the Republic of Slovenia becomes effective.
The free trade agreement between Estonia and the Republic of Hungary becomes effective.
1 – 13.03.2001
President Lennart Meri pays a working visit to the People’s Republic of China.
6.03.2001
The Riigikogu approves of “The National Security Concept of the Republic of Estonia”.
13.03.2001
As a trilateral co-operative endeavour, Estonia, Great Britain, and Uzbekistan organize a seminar dealing with the WTO, in Tallinn, for the government officials of Uzbekistan.
19 – 21.03.2001
President Lennart Meri makes a speech at the ceremonial handing over of the Hermann Ehlers Academy award to Roman Herzog.
29.03 – 1.04.2001
Prime Minister Mart Laar pays an official visit to Malta. This is the first Estonian high-level official visit to the island nation.
30.03.2001
Meeting of the conference of accession to the EU at the ministerial level. The free movement of services and financial control chapter is provisionally closed.
APRIL
2.04.2001
Prime Minister Mart Laar visits Italy.
3.04.2001
Prime Minister Mart Laar is in Stockholm to attend a meeting of the Estonian, Latvian, Lithuanian, and Swedish prime ministers.
4.04.2001
As a joint effort of the Estonian and Swedish Foreign Ministries, the Northern Dimension Business Forum is held in Tallinn. The three main subjects on the agenda are energy, transport, and information technology. Environmental issues are also dealt with.
5.04.2001
The Foreign Minister of Austria pays an official visit to Estonia. A bilateral agreement on avoidance of double taxation and fiscal evasion.
6.04.2001
At the North Atlantic Council’s session in Brussels, Prime Minister Mart Laar gives an overview of how Estonia has been implementing its second NATO Annul National Plan (ANP) for the year 2000-2001.
9.04.2001
Foreign Minister Toomas Hendrik Ilves attends the EU foreign ministers’ Northern Dimension meeting in Luxembourg.
The chief accession negotiators of the six EU candidate countries (Estonia, Cyprus, Poland, Slovenia, Czech Republic, Hungary) meet in Tallinn. Under discussion are progress of the accession negotiations, and co-ordination of political positions to be taken at the Gothenburg European Council.
11.04.2001
The Estonian government appropriates 32,000 EEK to support the sending of Council of Europe experts to Chechnya, and 15,000 EEK to support Council of Europe activities in Yugoslavia.
Foreign Minister Toomas Hendrik Ilves pays an official visit to the Republic of Armenia. A bilateral agreement on avoidance of double taxation is signed.
12.04.2001
Prime Minister of Lithuania Rolandas Paksas pays an official visit to Estonia.
17.04.2001
An Estonian Honorary Consulate is opened in Cairo, in Egypt.
17 – 18.04.2001
The foreign minister of Spain Josep Piqué pays an official visit to Estonia. This is the first time that a Spanish foreign minister visits Estonia.
18 – 20.04.2001
The European Commission’s Enlargement Commissioner Günter Verheugen visits Estonia, and delivers a public lecture at Tartu University.
24 – 27.04.2001
The Chairman of the Riigikogu, Toomas Savi, pays an official visit to the Republic of Poland.
25.04.2001
The Estonian Chief Negotiator, Alar Streimann, gives the European Parliament’s External Affairs Commission an overview of how the Estonian EU accession talks are developing.
MAY
2.05.2001
Foreign Minister Toomas Hendrik Ilves and Foreign Minister of SwedenAnna Lindh meet in Nyköping, Sweden.
President of Malta Guido de Marco pays a state visit to Estonia. A bilateral agreement is signed for the elimination double taxation.
3.05.2001
Foreign Minister Toomas Hendrik Ilves addresses the Riigikogu concerning the main guidelines of Estonian foreign policy.
5.05.2001
Foreign Minister Toomas Hendrik Ilves attends a meeting of the foreign ministers of the EU member and candidate countries in Nyköping, Sweden.
7.05.2001
A separate web-page is opened in the Estonian Foreign Ministry’s home page for holding a public debate about the EU.
8.05.2001
An Estonian Honorary Consulate is opened in Neuchatel, Switzerland.
9.05.2001
Foreign Minister Toomas Hendrik Ilves pays a working visit to the Republic of Finland.
10.05.2001
An Estonian Honorary Consulate is opened in Bergen, Norway.
10 – 12.05.2001
Prime Minister Mart Laar attends the conference of the prime ministers of the NATO candidate countries in Bratislava, Slovak Republic.
11.05.2001
President of the Czech Republic Václav Havel holds a lecture at the conference at the Conference "Europe's New Democracies: Leadership and Responsibility" in Bratislava. Havel emphasises that the Baltic states should be invited at the NATO Prague summit to join the alliance.
Estonia accedes to the World Trade Organisation’s civil air transport agreement.
Foreign Minister Toomas Hendrik Ilves attends the 198th session of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg.
18 – 20.05.2001
President Lennart Meri pays a working visit to the Swiss Confederation. He delivers a lecture at St Gallen’s University, “The Roll of Small Nations in the European Cultural Space”; accepts the Max Schmidheiny Fund’s Freedom Award; and presents the inventor of the Minox photo camera, Estonian born Walter Zapp, with the Maarjamaa Cross IV Class.
21.05.2001
Foreign Minister Toomas Hendrik Ilves presents in London, on behalf of President Lennart Meri, the Cross of Terra Mariana (Second Class) to the European Commission’s former Vice-President Sir Leon Brittan.
22.05.2001
An Estonian Honorary Consulate is opened in Turku, Finland.
22 – 24. 05.2001
Helle Degn, commissioner of the Council of Baltic Sea States (CBSS) pays an official visit to Estonia.
23.05.2001
Foreign Minister Toomas Hendrik Ilves attends the meeting of the foreign ministers of the six EU candidate countries in Prague.
Prime Minister Mart Laar pays an official visit to Iceland.
24 – 26.05.2001
The President of the Republic of Ireland, Mary McAleese, pays a state visit to Estonia. The President delivers a public lecture, “The European Union: Ireland’s Experiences and Future Prospects”, at Tartu University.
26.05.2001
United States Senators Gordon Smith, Barbara Mikulski, Richard Durbin, and George Voinovich pay an official visit to Estonia. The senators get acquainted with Estonia’s defense capabilities.
28 – 29.05.2001
In Bratislava, Chairman of Riigikogu Toomas Savi takes part in the meeting of the President of the European Parliament with the speakers of the parliaments of the EU candidate countries.
28.05 – 1.06.2001
The delegation of the Council of Europe’s Advisory Committee of the Convention for the Protection of National Minorities pays its first visit to Estonia. The delegation’s assignment is to assess the report that Estonia had presented concerning its compliance with the 1999 Convention.
30.05.2001
Estonia and the Republic of Gambia establish diplomatic relations.
An Estonian Honorary Consulate is opened in Malmö, Sweden.
Foreign Minister Toomas Hendrik Ilves attends the meeting of the foreign ministers of the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council in Budapest. Under discussion are developments in Europe and the increasing of co-operation in the field of security in the Euro-Atlantic space.
30.05 – 1.06.2001
President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe Lord Russell-Johnston pays an official visit to Estonia.
31.05 – 1.06.2001
VII Baltic Council – the Baltic Assembly and the Baltic Council of Ministers hold a joint session in Riga, Republic of Latvia.
JUNE
1.06.2001
Meeting of the EU accession conference at the ministerial level takes place in Brussels. The environment chapter is provisionally closed.
4 – 7.06.2001
Foreign Minister Toomas Hendrik Ilves visits the United States. The minister delivers a lecture, “The Baltic Dimension in NATO Enlargement”, at the Institute of International and Strategic Relations in Washington.
7.06.2001
Foreign Minister Toomas Hendrik Ilves attends the annual meeting of the foreign ministers of the CBSS in Hamburg.
7 – 9.06.2001
Chairman Toomas Savi pays an official visit to Croatia.
12.06.2001
Subsequent meeting of the conference of accession to the EU at the ministerial level in Luxembourg.
14.06.2001
The director of the Foreign Ministry’s Policy Department presents Estonia’s application to accede to the United Nation’s Disarmament Convention to Deputy Secretary-General and Director-General of the Geneva Bureau Vladimir Petrovski.
An Estonian Honorary Consulate is opened in Luxembourg.
15.06.2001
United States President George W. Bush delivers a speech at Warsaw University in which he, among other things, brings forth NATO enlargement.
The EU-Estonian Association Committee meets in Tallinn for the fourth time.
15 – 16.06.2001
Prime Minister Mart Laar and Foreign Minister Toomas Hendrik Ilves attend the Gothenburg European Council.
16.06.2001
Dirk Lange, head of the Estonian task force of the European Commission’s Enlargement Directorate visits Estonia.
17 – 18.06.2001
European Commission President Romano Prodi visits Estonia for the first time.
19 – 22.06.2001
Within the framework of development co-operation, a seminar dealing with the WTO is held for Ukrainian government officials in Tallinn.
24.06.2001
The mutual agreement, between Estonia and Costa Rica, abolishing visa requirements between the two countries, becomes effective.
26.06.2001
Prime Minister Mart Laar attends a conference, organised by the Royal Belgian Institute of Foreign Relations in Brussels, dealing with the future of the EU.
JULY
1.07.2001
Belgium assumes the Presidency of the European Union.
Prime Minister Mart Laar attends the Salzburg Economic Forum.
2.07.2001
Meeting of the foreign ministers of the ten NATO candidate countries (Albania, Bulgaria, Estonia, Croatia, Lithuania, Latvia, Macedonia, Romania, Slovenia and Slovakia) in Tallinn. Bruce Jackson, president of the U.S. NATO Committee, participates as a special guest.
4.07.2001
A joint summer reunion is held by the Foreign Ministries of Estonia and Latvia in Kabli, Estonia
8 - 9.07.2001
Prime Minister Mart Laar attends the meeting of the heads of government of the Baltic Council of Ministers in Sigulda.
17-19.07.2001
Chairman Toomas Savi attends the meeting of the chairmen of the Parliaments of the Nordic and Baltic countries in Imatra.
19-20.07.2001
President of Switzerland Moritz Leuenberger pays an official visit to Estonia. During the visit he officially opens the Swiss Room at the Estonian National Library.
23-24.07.2001
The Foreign Minister of Poland Władyslaw Bartoszewski pays an official visit to Estonia.
28.07.2001
President of France Jacques Chirac on a state visit in Estonia. During the visit, a solution is found to the issue of the ownership of the former Estonian Embassy building in Paris.
29.07.2001
The agreement between Estonia and the Macao Special Administrative Region concerning the mutual abolishment of visa requirements becomes effective.
30.07.2001
The agreement between Estonia and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region concerning the mutual abolishment of visa requirements becomes effective.
AUGUST
6 - 7.08.2001
President of the United Nations General Assembly Harri Holkeri visits Estonia. The President delivers a lecture at the summer seminar of the Estonian UN Association.
13.08.2001
President Lennart Meri delivers an address, “Estonian Independence”, at the seminar “Estonia 1991-2001”, organised jointly by the Tuglas Society and the Paasikivi Society at Helsinki University.
15.08.2001
The Government decides to appropriate 500,000 EEK to the Estonian Red Cross for aiding flood victims in Poland.
18.08.2001
The agreement between Estonia and the Republic of Korea concerning the mutual abolishment of visa requirements becomes effective.
24-26.08.2001
United States Senator John McCain visits Estonia. He delivers a lecture that is dedicated to the first US Ambassador to Estonia, Robert Frasure.
25.08.2001
Celebration in Iceland of the 10th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations with Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.
25.08-03.09.2001
President Lennart Meri visits the Republic of France. The President officially opens the Estonian-French economic seminar “Estonia as an attractive investment environment”, and the art exhibition “Estonian painting in the 20th Century”.
26-29.08.2001
Prime Minister Mart Laar attends the Alpbach European Forum in Austria.
27-28.08.2001
The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Denmark Mogens Lykketoft pays an official visit to Estonia. The visit celebrated the 10th anniversary of the restoration of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
27.08.2001
Opening of the Honorary Consulate of Indonesia in Estonia.
29.08.2001
Foreign Minister Toomas Hendrik Ilves attends the meeting of the foreign ministers of the Nordic and Baltic countries in Helsinki.
30.08.-7.09.2001
An official Estonian delegation participates in the UN World Conference against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related phenomena in Durban, Republic of South Africa.
SEPTEMBER
3.09.2001
Diplomatic relations are established between Estonia and the Republic of Lebanon.
7.09.2001
A meeting of the chief negotiators of the six EU candidate countries is held in Portorozhy, Republic of Slovenia.
8 - 11.09.2001
A delegation of goodwill from the People’s Republic of China visits Estonia. The visit celebrates the 10th anniversary of the restoration of relations between the two countries.
9.09.2001
Foreign Minister Toomas Hendrik Ilves attends the meeting of the foreign ministers of the EU member and candidate countries in Genval, Belgium. The meeting concentrates on a debate about the future of the EU.
11.09.2001
Prime Minister of Spain José María Aznar visits Estonia.
13.09.2001
Official statement by the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Estonia supports the statement of the North Atlantic Council of September 12, condemning the terrorist attacks and regarding this as an action covered by Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty. Estonia as a candidate country associates itself with the message contained in the statement and offers to co-operate in the fight against terrorism in every possible way.
18.09.2001
Meeting of the presidents of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, and Finland in Tallinn. The heads of state express their high appreciation of the activities of Lennart Meri as Estonian President, and issue a declaration condemning the terrorist attacks against the United States.
The Government approves the Annual National Plan (ANP) 2001-2002 of the NATO Membership Action Plan (MAP).
20.09.2001
The Kingdom of the Netherlands opens its Embassy in Tallinn.
Estonia becomes the 34th member of the OSCE’s Declaration on International Investment and Multinational Enterprises.
22.09.2001
Estonia announces that it will align itself with the conclusions and action plan of the extraordinary European Council meeting of 21 September.
24.09.2001
The Government Security Commission approves the Estonian plan of measures to combat terrorism.
25.09.2001
The Estonian Ambassador to NATO hands over to NATO Deputy Secretary-General Günther Altenburg the Estonian Annual National Plan (ANP) 2001-2002 of the NATO Membership Action Plan (MAP).
26-29.09.2001
President Lennart Meri visits Berlin, and re-inaugurates the historical and thoroughly renovated Estonian Embassy building there.
27-28.09.2001
A seminar on development co-operation for the new donor countries is organised in Tallinn by the Estonian Foreign Ministry.
28.09.2001
Foreign Minister Toomas Hendrik Ilves attends a ministerial meeting in Helsinki dealing with co-operation between the Nordic and Baltic states.
OCTOBER
1-5.10.2001
Within the framework of development co-operation, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in co-operation with the Ministry of Transportation and Communications, organizes a seminar in Tallinn on information technology for Armenian government officials.
4.10.2001
A meeting of the foreign ministers of the 10 NATO candidate countries (Albania, Bulgaria, Estonia, Croatia, Lithuania, Latvia, Macedonia, Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia) is held in Slovenia. The ministers discuss the international security situation and express their complete solidarity with the United States and its NATO allies in the struggle against international terrorism.
5.10.2001
President Lennart Meri attends a meeting of the heads of state of the 10 NATO candidate countries in Sofia.
7.10.2001
An agreement between Estonia and Israel concerning the mutual abolishment of visa requirements becomes effective.
11.10.2001
Opening of the Honorary Consulate of the Republic of Estonia in Genoa, Italy.
11 – 12.10.2001
A festive seminar is held in Paris to celebrate the 10th anniversary of re-independence of the three Baltic states.
15.10.2001
Belgian Secretary of State in charge of EU affairs Anne-Marie Neyts-Uyttebroek visits Estonia.
16 – 19.10.2001
Foreign Minister Toomas Hendrik Ilves pays an official visit to Turkey. In the course of the visit, the minister delivers a lecture, “Security in a Changing World”, opens the Estonian Honorary Consulate in Istanbul, and signs the bilateral air transport agreement.
Prime Minister Mart Laar and Minister of Defence Jüri Luik pay a working visit to the United States. In the course of the visit, the prime minister meets with Vice- President Richard Cheney.
20.10.2001
Foreign Minister Toomas Hendrik Ilves attends a European conference in Brussels dealing with the fight against terrorism. The participating ministers discuss the various measures that have been implemented in different countries for countering terrorism, with special attention being paid to questions connected with the financing of terrorism and money laundering.
23.10.2001
The co-operation agreement between Estonia and the International Organisation for Migration becomes effective. The aim of the accord is to develop and increase mutual co-operation, and to enable the implementation of various programs in Estonia dealing with migration.
Estonian delegation meets with senior NATO officials in Brussels to discuss Estonia’s third Annual National Plan (ANP) within the NATO Membership Action Plan (MAP).
24.10.2001
Diplomatic relations are established between the Republic of Estonia and the Republic of Mauritius.
25.10.2001
Address by the Minister of Foreign Affairs Toomas Hendrik Ilves to the Riigikogu on the main guidelines of Estonia’s foreign policy.
26.10.2001
Meeting of the conference of accession to the EU on the deputy level. Justice and home affairs chapter is discussed.
30-31.10.2001
Prime Minister of the Netherlands Wim Kok on an official visit in Estonia.
31.10.2001
Diplomatic relations are established between the Republic of Estonia and the Republic of Kenya.
31.10-02.11.2001
International conference "Estonia and the European Union: Estonia on its way to the changing Europe" in Tallinn.
NOVEMBER
05-06.11.2001
His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales on an official visit in Estonia.
06-07.11.2001
President Arnold Rüütel attends the Conference on Combating Terrorism in Warsaw.
07.11.2001
109th session of the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers in Strasbourg.
09-14.11.2001
Estonian delegation attends the Fourth Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organisation in Doha, Qatar.
10-13.11.2001
Prime Minister Mart Laar on an official visit in Portugal. Agreement on the readmission of persons is signed.
13.11.2001
The European Commission publishes its regular report on the candidate countries’ progress towards accession.
13-14.11.2001
Minister of Foreign Affairs Toomas Hendrik Ilves on an official visit in the Republic of Latvia. During the visit the minister holds a lecture "Estonia, Latvia and the emerging Europe".
14.11.2001
Estonian Ambassador to the United States submits to the Secretary General of the Organisation of American States Cesar Gaviria Trujillo Estonian application to obtain the status of a permanent observer of the organisation.
15.11.2001
Opening of the Embassy of Ireland in Tallinn.
16.11.2001
Statement by the Minister of Foreign Affairs Toomas Hendrik Ilves at the United Nations General Assembly 56th Session General Debate in New York.
16-17.11.2001
Chairman of the Riigikogu Toomas Savi attends the conference of the chairmen of parliaments of the EU member and candidate countries in Stockholm.
20-21.11.2001
President Arnold Rüütel on a state visit to the Republic of Finland. The first foreign visit of President Rüütel.
20.11.2001
Minister of Foreign Affairs Toomas Hendrik Ilves and Minister of Defence Jüri Luik attend the meeting of the foreign and defence ministers of the EU member and candidate countries and NATO members not belonging to the EU, in Brussels.
22.11.2001
Honorary Consulate General of Estonia opened in Barcelona, Spain.
23.11.2001
Meeting of the foreign ministers of the six EU candidate countries (Estonia, Cyprus, Poland, Slovenia, Czech Republic and Hungary) on Cyprus.
23.11.2001
The Permanent Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs signs the European Convention on Cybercrime.
27.11.2001
5th session of the Estonia-EFTA joint committee in Tallinn. Issues related to Estonia-EFTA free trade agreement discussed.
27.11.2001
Minister of Foreign Affairs Toomas Hendrik Ilvese addresses the European Forum ("Europäisches Forum"), arranged by ZDF (Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen) in Berlin.
28.11.2001
Meeting of the conference of accession to the EU at the ministerial level. Competition policy chapter is provisionally closed.
29.11.2001
NATO Secretary-General Lord George Robertson on a visit in Estonia. At his meetings, Robertson stresses the importance of homework in the preparations to NATO accession.
DECEMBER
03-04.12.2001
Minister of Foreign Affairs Toomas Hendrik Ilves in Bucharest at the 9th Ministerial Council of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).
03-06.12.2001
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs arranges in Tallinn within the framework of development co-operation a seminar on WTO for the government officials of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.
03.12.2001
Colloquium "The Baltic States and the European Union" at the National Assembly of the Republic of France.
04-06.12.2001
Chairman of the Riigikogu Toomas Savi in Brussels at the meeting of the President of the European Parliament with the chairmen of the parliaments of the EU candidate countries.
06.12.2001
Opening of the Embassy of Turkey in Tallinn.
06.12.2001
Director General of the Directorate General of Enlargement of the European Commission Eneko Landaburu on a visit in Estonia.
07.12.2001
Minister of Foreign Affairs Toomas Hendrik Ilves at the meeting of foreign ministers of the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council in Brussels.
07-09.12.2001
Chairman of the Riigikogu Toomas Savi attends an international conference of chairmen of parliaments in Milan.
10.12.2001
Minister of Foreign Affairs Toomas Hendrik Ilves attends the meeting of the Partnership Council of the USA-Baltic Charter in Washington. Issues related to combating terrorism and to NATO enlargement are discussed, as well as bilateral relations, regional and global issues.
10-14.12.2001
Ministry of Foreign affairs in co-operation with the Ministry of Transport and Communications arranges in Tallinn a seminar on information and communication technology for specialists from the Ukraine.
11.12.2001
The Government assigns 170,000 EEK to the fund created by the OSCE for the withdrawal of the troops and arms of the Russian Federation from Moldova.
11.12.2001
The Government decides to assign 265,000 EEK in support of the co-operation project of the schools from Petseri (Russia), Räpina and Värska, arranged by the non-profit organisation Peipsi Centre for Transborder Co-operation.
12.12.2001
Meeting of the accession conference to the EU on the ministerial level in Brussels.
13.12.2001
Minister of Foreign Affairs Toomas Hendrik Ilves and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of France Hubert Védrine sign an agreement in Paris, according to which France will compensate Estonia for the loss of its former embassy building in Paris.
13.12.2001
The OSCE Permanent Council decided not to extend the mandate of the OSCE Mission to Estonia.
13-14.12.2001
Conference "Economic and business environment of trade in services in the Baltic countries" arranged by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in Tallinn.
14-15.12.2001
Prime Minister Mart Laar and Minister of Foreign Affairs Toomas Hendrik Ilves at the Laeken European Council in Belgium.
17-19.12.2001
Minister of Foreign Affairs Toomas Hendrik Ilves attends a seminar arranged by the Finnish Institute of International Affairs in Helsinki.
27.12.2001
The Mission of Estonia to the United Nations submits to the UN Counter-Terrorism Committee a report on implementing the UN Security Council Resolution 1373 on measures to counter terrorism.
31.12.2001
The Mission of the OSCE to Estonia terminates its activities in Estonia.
1.01.2001
Sweden assumes the Presidency of the European Union.
5.01.2001
The Estonian permanent representative at the International Atomic Energy Agency signs the convention for the safe disposal of spent fuel and radioactive waste.
11.01.2001
In his speech dealing with the foreign policy priorities of the new Congress, the Chairman of the United States Senate Foreign Relations Committee, North Carolina Senator Jesse Helms, expresses concrete support for the Baltic states’ accession to NATO in 2002.
15.01.2001
A memorial plaque is unveiled in the lobby of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to commemorate those Ministry employees who had, in the course or aftermath of World War II, been persecuted for doing their duty, or for their convictions. The keynote speaker at the ceremony is Foreign Minister Toomas Hendrik Ilves.
17.01.2001
An Estonian Honorary Consulate is opened in Ludwigsburg, Germany.
The consular domain of the Estonian Consulate in St. Petersburg is enlarged, so that in addition to the city of St. Petersburg and the Leningrad and Pskov oblasts, the consular domain now also encompasses the Republic of Kareliya and the Arkhangelsk, Vologda, Murmansk, and Novgorod oblasts.
18.01.2001
Foreign Minister Toomas Hendrik Ilves co-presents to the Riigikogu (Estonian Parliament) an overview of European integration.
The Prime Minister of the Czech Republic, Miloš Zeman, pays an official visit to Estonia. In the course of the visit, an Estonian-Czech business forum is held.
24.01.2001
Diplomatic relations are established between Estonia and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.
26.01.2001
President Lennart Meri attends the Davos Economic Forum in Switzerland.
FEBRUARY
1.02.2001
Foreign Minister Toomas Hendrik Ilves pays an official visit to Switzerland. In the course of the visit, the minister addresses the Zurich University European Institute on the subject “e-Estonia and European Integration”.
2 – 4.02.2001
Foreign Minister Toomas Hendrik Ilves and Defence Minister Jüri Luik attend an international security conference (Wehrkunde) in Munich.
4 – 6.02.2001
Foreign Minister Toomas Hendrik Ilves pays an official visit to Germany. In Berlin, at Humboldt University, he delivers a lecture entitled “Building a New Europe”, in which he presents his vision of the common future that awaits the nations of Europe.
6 – 8.02.2001
A NATO team, led by Deputy Secretary General Klaus-Peter Klaiber, visits Estonia. The delegation familiarises itself with the preparations Estonia is making for NATO accession, and assesses Estonia’s Annual National Program (ANP).
8 – 9.02.2001
Prime Minister Mart Laar attends the meeting of the heads of government of the Baltic Council of Ministers.
9.02.2001
Diplomatic relations are established between Estonia and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.
13.02.2001
Diplomatic relations are established between Estonia and the Republic of El Salvador.
14.02.2001
The Prime Minister of Belgium, Guy Verhofstadt, pays an official visit to Estonia.
16 – 17.02.2001
Estonian and Russian businessmen hold a round table discussion in Tallinn on the subject “Estonia and Russia – Neighbours and Partners”.
20.02.2001
The Estonian Government decides to send 1,485,000 EEK worth of humanitarian aid to the earthquake victims in India.
26.02.2001
The Estonian Embassy is opened in Ankara, capital of Turkey.
27.02.2001
The EU-Estonian Association Council holds its fourth session in Brussels. Under discussion are Estonian preparations for accession to the EU, Estonian and EU bilateral relations, and international matters of mutual interest.
28.02.2001
The Estonian Government approves “The Estonian Military Defence Strategy”.
MARCH
1.03.2001
The free trade agreement between Estonia and the Republic of Slovenia becomes effective.
The free trade agreement between Estonia and the Republic of Hungary becomes effective.
1 – 13.03.2001
President Lennart Meri pays a working visit to the People’s Republic of China.
6.03.2001
The Riigikogu approves of “The National Security Concept of the Republic of Estonia”.
13.03.2001
As a trilateral co-operative endeavour, Estonia, Great Britain, and Uzbekistan organize a seminar dealing with the WTO, in Tallinn, for the government officials of Uzbekistan.
19 – 21.03.2001
President Lennart Meri makes a speech at the ceremonial handing over of the Hermann Ehlers Academy award to Roman Herzog.
29.03 – 1.04.2001
Prime Minister Mart Laar pays an official visit to Malta. This is the first Estonian high-level official visit to the island nation.
30.03.2001
Meeting of the conference of accession to the EU at the ministerial level. The free movement of services and financial control chapter is provisionally closed.
APRIL
2.04.2001
Prime Minister Mart Laar visits Italy.
3.04.2001
Prime Minister Mart Laar is in Stockholm to attend a meeting of the Estonian, Latvian, Lithuanian, and Swedish prime ministers.
4.04.2001
As a joint effort of the Estonian and Swedish Foreign Ministries, the Northern Dimension Business Forum is held in Tallinn. The three main subjects on the agenda are energy, transport, and information technology. Environmental issues are also dealt with.
5.04.2001
The Foreign Minister of Austria pays an official visit to Estonia. A bilateral agreement on avoidance of double taxation and fiscal evasion.
6.04.2001
At the North Atlantic Council’s session in Brussels, Prime Minister Mart Laar gives an overview of how Estonia has been implementing its second NATO Annul National Plan (ANP) for the year 2000-2001.
9.04.2001
Foreign Minister Toomas Hendrik Ilves attends the EU foreign ministers’ Northern Dimension meeting in Luxembourg.
The chief accession negotiators of the six EU candidate countries (Estonia, Cyprus, Poland, Slovenia, Czech Republic, Hungary) meet in Tallinn. Under discussion are progress of the accession negotiations, and co-ordination of political positions to be taken at the Gothenburg European Council.
11.04.2001
The Estonian government appropriates 32,000 EEK to support the sending of Council of Europe experts to Chechnya, and 15,000 EEK to support Council of Europe activities in Yugoslavia.
Foreign Minister Toomas Hendrik Ilves pays an official visit to the Republic of Armenia. A bilateral agreement on avoidance of double taxation is signed.
12.04.2001
Prime Minister of Lithuania Rolandas Paksas pays an official visit to Estonia.
17.04.2001
An Estonian Honorary Consulate is opened in Cairo, in Egypt.
17 – 18.04.2001
The foreign minister of Spain Josep Piqué pays an official visit to Estonia. This is the first time that a Spanish foreign minister visits Estonia.
18 – 20.04.2001
The European Commission’s Enlargement Commissioner Günter Verheugen visits Estonia, and delivers a public lecture at Tartu University.
24 – 27.04.2001
The Chairman of the Riigikogu, Toomas Savi, pays an official visit to the Republic of Poland.
25.04.2001
The Estonian Chief Negotiator, Alar Streimann, gives the European Parliament’s External Affairs Commission an overview of how the Estonian EU accession talks are developing.
MAY
2.05.2001
Foreign Minister Toomas Hendrik Ilves and Foreign Minister of SwedenAnna Lindh meet in Nyköping, Sweden.
President of Malta Guido de Marco pays a state visit to Estonia. A bilateral agreement is signed for the elimination double taxation.
3.05.2001
Foreign Minister Toomas Hendrik Ilves addresses the Riigikogu concerning the main guidelines of Estonian foreign policy.
5.05.2001
Foreign Minister Toomas Hendrik Ilves attends a meeting of the foreign ministers of the EU member and candidate countries in Nyköping, Sweden.
7.05.2001
A separate web-page is opened in the Estonian Foreign Ministry’s home page for holding a public debate about the EU.
8.05.2001
An Estonian Honorary Consulate is opened in Neuchatel, Switzerland.
9.05.2001
Foreign Minister Toomas Hendrik Ilves pays a working visit to the Republic of Finland.
10.05.2001
An Estonian Honorary Consulate is opened in Bergen, Norway.
10 – 12.05.2001
Prime Minister Mart Laar attends the conference of the prime ministers of the NATO candidate countries in Bratislava, Slovak Republic.
11.05.2001
President of the Czech Republic Václav Havel holds a lecture at the conference at the Conference "Europe's New Democracies: Leadership and Responsibility" in Bratislava. Havel emphasises that the Baltic states should be invited at the NATO Prague summit to join the alliance.
Estonia accedes to the World Trade Organisation’s civil air transport agreement.
Foreign Minister Toomas Hendrik Ilves attends the 198th session of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg.
18 – 20.05.2001
President Lennart Meri pays a working visit to the Swiss Confederation. He delivers a lecture at St Gallen’s University, “The Roll of Small Nations in the European Cultural Space”; accepts the Max Schmidheiny Fund’s Freedom Award; and presents the inventor of the Minox photo camera, Estonian born Walter Zapp, with the Maarjamaa Cross IV Class.
21.05.2001
Foreign Minister Toomas Hendrik Ilves presents in London, on behalf of President Lennart Meri, the Cross of Terra Mariana (Second Class) to the European Commission’s former Vice-President Sir Leon Brittan.
22.05.2001
An Estonian Honorary Consulate is opened in Turku, Finland.
22 – 24. 05.2001
Helle Degn, commissioner of the Council of Baltic Sea States (CBSS) pays an official visit to Estonia.
23.05.2001
Foreign Minister Toomas Hendrik Ilves attends the meeting of the foreign ministers of the six EU candidate countries in Prague.
Prime Minister Mart Laar pays an official visit to Iceland.
24 – 26.05.2001
The President of the Republic of Ireland, Mary McAleese, pays a state visit to Estonia. The President delivers a public lecture, “The European Union: Ireland’s Experiences and Future Prospects”, at Tartu University.
26.05.2001
United States Senators Gordon Smith, Barbara Mikulski, Richard Durbin, and George Voinovich pay an official visit to Estonia. The senators get acquainted with Estonia’s defense capabilities.
28 – 29.05.2001
In Bratislava, Chairman of Riigikogu Toomas Savi takes part in the meeting of the President of the European Parliament with the speakers of the parliaments of the EU candidate countries.
28.05 – 1.06.2001
The delegation of the Council of Europe’s Advisory Committee of the Convention for the Protection of National Minorities pays its first visit to Estonia. The delegation’s assignment is to assess the report that Estonia had presented concerning its compliance with the 1999 Convention.
30.05.2001
Estonia and the Republic of Gambia establish diplomatic relations.
An Estonian Honorary Consulate is opened in Malmö, Sweden.
Foreign Minister Toomas Hendrik Ilves attends the meeting of the foreign ministers of the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council in Budapest. Under discussion are developments in Europe and the increasing of co-operation in the field of security in the Euro-Atlantic space.
30.05 – 1.06.2001
President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe Lord Russell-Johnston pays an official visit to Estonia.
31.05 – 1.06.2001
VII Baltic Council – the Baltic Assembly and the Baltic Council of Ministers hold a joint session in Riga, Republic of Latvia.
JUNE
1.06.2001
Meeting of the EU accession conference at the ministerial level takes place in Brussels. The environment chapter is provisionally closed.
4 – 7.06.2001
Foreign Minister Toomas Hendrik Ilves visits the United States. The minister delivers a lecture, “The Baltic Dimension in NATO Enlargement”, at the Institute of International and Strategic Relations in Washington.
7.06.2001
Foreign Minister Toomas Hendrik Ilves attends the annual meeting of the foreign ministers of the CBSS in Hamburg.
7 – 9.06.2001
Chairman Toomas Savi pays an official visit to Croatia.
12.06.2001
Subsequent meeting of the conference of accession to the EU at the ministerial level in Luxembourg.
14.06.2001
The director of the Foreign Ministry’s Policy Department presents Estonia’s application to accede to the United Nation’s Disarmament Convention to Deputy Secretary-General and Director-General of the Geneva Bureau Vladimir Petrovski.
An Estonian Honorary Consulate is opened in Luxembourg.
15.06.2001
United States President George W. Bush delivers a speech at Warsaw University in which he, among other things, brings forth NATO enlargement.
The EU-Estonian Association Committee meets in Tallinn for the fourth time.
15 – 16.06.2001
Prime Minister Mart Laar and Foreign Minister Toomas Hendrik Ilves attend the Gothenburg European Council.
16.06.2001
Dirk Lange, head of the Estonian task force of the European Commission’s Enlargement Directorate visits Estonia.
17 – 18.06.2001
European Commission President Romano Prodi visits Estonia for the first time.
19 – 22.06.2001
Within the framework of development co-operation, a seminar dealing with the WTO is held for Ukrainian government officials in Tallinn.
24.06.2001
The mutual agreement, between Estonia and Costa Rica, abolishing visa requirements between the two countries, becomes effective.
26.06.2001
Prime Minister Mart Laar attends a conference, organised by the Royal Belgian Institute of Foreign Relations in Brussels, dealing with the future of the EU.
JULY
1.07.2001
Belgium assumes the Presidency of the European Union.
Prime Minister Mart Laar attends the Salzburg Economic Forum.
2.07.2001
Meeting of the foreign ministers of the ten NATO candidate countries (Albania, Bulgaria, Estonia, Croatia, Lithuania, Latvia, Macedonia, Romania, Slovenia and Slovakia) in Tallinn. Bruce Jackson, president of the U.S. NATO Committee, participates as a special guest.
4.07.2001
A joint summer reunion is held by the Foreign Ministries of Estonia and Latvia in Kabli, Estonia
8 - 9.07.2001
Prime Minister Mart Laar attends the meeting of the heads of government of the Baltic Council of Ministers in Sigulda.
17-19.07.2001
Chairman Toomas Savi attends the meeting of the chairmen of the Parliaments of the Nordic and Baltic countries in Imatra.
19-20.07.2001
President of Switzerland Moritz Leuenberger pays an official visit to Estonia. During the visit he officially opens the Swiss Room at the Estonian National Library.
23-24.07.2001
The Foreign Minister of Poland Władyslaw Bartoszewski pays an official visit to Estonia.
28.07.2001
President of France Jacques Chirac on a state visit in Estonia. During the visit, a solution is found to the issue of the ownership of the former Estonian Embassy building in Paris.
29.07.2001
The agreement between Estonia and the Macao Special Administrative Region concerning the mutual abolishment of visa requirements becomes effective.
30.07.2001
The agreement between Estonia and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region concerning the mutual abolishment of visa requirements becomes effective.
AUGUST
6 - 7.08.2001
President of the United Nations General Assembly Harri Holkeri visits Estonia. The President delivers a lecture at the summer seminar of the Estonian UN Association.
13.08.2001
President Lennart Meri delivers an address, “Estonian Independence”, at the seminar “Estonia 1991-2001”, organised jointly by the Tuglas Society and the Paasikivi Society at Helsinki University.
15.08.2001
The Government decides to appropriate 500,000 EEK to the Estonian Red Cross for aiding flood victims in Poland.
18.08.2001
The agreement between Estonia and the Republic of Korea concerning the mutual abolishment of visa requirements becomes effective.
24-26.08.2001
United States Senator John McCain visits Estonia. He delivers a lecture that is dedicated to the first US Ambassador to Estonia, Robert Frasure.
25.08.2001
Celebration in Iceland of the 10th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations with Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.
25.08-03.09.2001
President Lennart Meri visits the Republic of France. The President officially opens the Estonian-French economic seminar “Estonia as an attractive investment environment”, and the art exhibition “Estonian painting in the 20th Century”.
26-29.08.2001
Prime Minister Mart Laar attends the Alpbach European Forum in Austria.
27-28.08.2001
The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Denmark Mogens Lykketoft pays an official visit to Estonia. The visit celebrated the 10th anniversary of the restoration of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
27.08.2001
Opening of the Honorary Consulate of Indonesia in Estonia.
29.08.2001
Foreign Minister Toomas Hendrik Ilves attends the meeting of the foreign ministers of the Nordic and Baltic countries in Helsinki.
30.08.-7.09.2001
An official Estonian delegation participates in the UN World Conference against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related phenomena in Durban, Republic of South Africa.
SEPTEMBER
3.09.2001
Diplomatic relations are established between Estonia and the Republic of Lebanon.
7.09.2001
A meeting of the chief negotiators of the six EU candidate countries is held in Portorozhy, Republic of Slovenia.
8 - 11.09.2001
A delegation of goodwill from the People’s Republic of China visits Estonia. The visit celebrates the 10th anniversary of the restoration of relations between the two countries.
9.09.2001
Foreign Minister Toomas Hendrik Ilves attends the meeting of the foreign ministers of the EU member and candidate countries in Genval, Belgium. The meeting concentrates on a debate about the future of the EU.
11.09.2001
Prime Minister of Spain José María Aznar visits Estonia.
13.09.2001
Official statement by the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Estonia supports the statement of the North Atlantic Council of September 12, condemning the terrorist attacks and regarding this as an action covered by Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty. Estonia as a candidate country associates itself with the message contained in the statement and offers to co-operate in the fight against terrorism in every possible way.
18.09.2001
Meeting of the presidents of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, and Finland in Tallinn. The heads of state express their high appreciation of the activities of Lennart Meri as Estonian President, and issue a declaration condemning the terrorist attacks against the United States.
The Government approves the Annual National Plan (ANP) 2001-2002 of the NATO Membership Action Plan (MAP).
20.09.2001
The Kingdom of the Netherlands opens its Embassy in Tallinn.
Estonia becomes the 34th member of the OSCE’s Declaration on International Investment and Multinational Enterprises.
22.09.2001
Estonia announces that it will align itself with the conclusions and action plan of the extraordinary European Council meeting of 21 September.
24.09.2001
The Government Security Commission approves the Estonian plan of measures to combat terrorism.
25.09.2001
The Estonian Ambassador to NATO hands over to NATO Deputy Secretary-General Günther Altenburg the Estonian Annual National Plan (ANP) 2001-2002 of the NATO Membership Action Plan (MAP).
26-29.09.2001
President Lennart Meri visits Berlin, and re-inaugurates the historical and thoroughly renovated Estonian Embassy building there.
27-28.09.2001
A seminar on development co-operation for the new donor countries is organised in Tallinn by the Estonian Foreign Ministry.
28.09.2001
Foreign Minister Toomas Hendrik Ilves attends a ministerial meeting in Helsinki dealing with co-operation between the Nordic and Baltic states.
OCTOBER
1-5.10.2001
Within the framework of development co-operation, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in co-operation with the Ministry of Transportation and Communications, organizes a seminar in Tallinn on information technology for Armenian government officials.
4.10.2001
A meeting of the foreign ministers of the 10 NATO candidate countries (Albania, Bulgaria, Estonia, Croatia, Lithuania, Latvia, Macedonia, Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia) is held in Slovenia. The ministers discuss the international security situation and express their complete solidarity with the United States and its NATO allies in the struggle against international terrorism.
5.10.2001
President Lennart Meri attends a meeting of the heads of state of the 10 NATO candidate countries in Sofia.
7.10.2001
An agreement between Estonia and Israel concerning the mutual abolishment of visa requirements becomes effective.
11.10.2001
Opening of the Honorary Consulate of the Republic of Estonia in Genoa, Italy.
11 – 12.10.2001
A festive seminar is held in Paris to celebrate the 10th anniversary of re-independence of the three Baltic states.
15.10.2001
Belgian Secretary of State in charge of EU affairs Anne-Marie Neyts-Uyttebroek visits Estonia.
16 – 19.10.2001
Foreign Minister Toomas Hendrik Ilves pays an official visit to Turkey. In the course of the visit, the minister delivers a lecture, “Security in a Changing World”, opens the Estonian Honorary Consulate in Istanbul, and signs the bilateral air transport agreement.
Prime Minister Mart Laar and Minister of Defence Jüri Luik pay a working visit to the United States. In the course of the visit, the prime minister meets with Vice- President Richard Cheney.
20.10.2001
Foreign Minister Toomas Hendrik Ilves attends a European conference in Brussels dealing with the fight against terrorism. The participating ministers discuss the various measures that have been implemented in different countries for countering terrorism, with special attention being paid to questions connected with the financing of terrorism and money laundering.
23.10.2001
The co-operation agreement between Estonia and the International Organisation for Migration becomes effective. The aim of the accord is to develop and increase mutual co-operation, and to enable the implementation of various programs in Estonia dealing with migration.
Estonian delegation meets with senior NATO officials in Brussels to discuss Estonia’s third Annual National Plan (ANP) within the NATO Membership Action Plan (MAP).
24.10.2001
Diplomatic relations are established between the Republic of Estonia and the Republic of Mauritius.
25.10.2001
Address by the Minister of Foreign Affairs Toomas Hendrik Ilves to the Riigikogu on the main guidelines of Estonia’s foreign policy.
26.10.2001
Meeting of the conference of accession to the EU on the deputy level. Justice and home affairs chapter is discussed.
30-31.10.2001
Prime Minister of the Netherlands Wim Kok on an official visit in Estonia.
31.10.2001
Diplomatic relations are established between the Republic of Estonia and the Republic of Kenya.
31.10-02.11.2001
International conference "Estonia and the European Union: Estonia on its way to the changing Europe" in Tallinn.
NOVEMBER
05-06.11.2001
His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales on an official visit in Estonia.
06-07.11.2001
President Arnold Rüütel attends the Conference on Combating Terrorism in Warsaw.
07.11.2001
109th session of the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers in Strasbourg.
09-14.11.2001
Estonian delegation attends the Fourth Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organisation in Doha, Qatar.
10-13.11.2001
Prime Minister Mart Laar on an official visit in Portugal. Agreement on the readmission of persons is signed.
13.11.2001
The European Commission publishes its regular report on the candidate countries’ progress towards accession.
13-14.11.2001
Minister of Foreign Affairs Toomas Hendrik Ilves on an official visit in the Republic of Latvia. During the visit the minister holds a lecture "Estonia, Latvia and the emerging Europe".
14.11.2001
Estonian Ambassador to the United States submits to the Secretary General of the Organisation of American States Cesar Gaviria Trujillo Estonian application to obtain the status of a permanent observer of the organisation.
15.11.2001
Opening of the Embassy of Ireland in Tallinn.
16.11.2001
Statement by the Minister of Foreign Affairs Toomas Hendrik Ilves at the United Nations General Assembly 56th Session General Debate in New York.
16-17.11.2001
Chairman of the Riigikogu Toomas Savi attends the conference of the chairmen of parliaments of the EU member and candidate countries in Stockholm.
20-21.11.2001
President Arnold Rüütel on a state visit to the Republic of Finland. The first foreign visit of President Rüütel.
20.11.2001
Minister of Foreign Affairs Toomas Hendrik Ilves and Minister of Defence Jüri Luik attend the meeting of the foreign and defence ministers of the EU member and candidate countries and NATO members not belonging to the EU, in Brussels.
22.11.2001
Honorary Consulate General of Estonia opened in Barcelona, Spain.
23.11.2001
Meeting of the foreign ministers of the six EU candidate countries (Estonia, Cyprus, Poland, Slovenia, Czech Republic and Hungary) on Cyprus.
23.11.2001
The Permanent Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs signs the European Convention on Cybercrime.
27.11.2001
5th session of the Estonia-EFTA joint committee in Tallinn. Issues related to Estonia-EFTA free trade agreement discussed.
27.11.2001
Minister of Foreign Affairs Toomas Hendrik Ilvese addresses the European Forum ("Europäisches Forum"), arranged by ZDF (Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen) in Berlin.
28.11.2001
Meeting of the conference of accession to the EU at the ministerial level. Competition policy chapter is provisionally closed.
29.11.2001
NATO Secretary-General Lord George Robertson on a visit in Estonia. At his meetings, Robertson stresses the importance of homework in the preparations to NATO accession.
DECEMBER
03-04.12.2001
Minister of Foreign Affairs Toomas Hendrik Ilves in Bucharest at the 9th Ministerial Council of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).
03-06.12.2001
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs arranges in Tallinn within the framework of development co-operation a seminar on WTO for the government officials of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.
03.12.2001
Colloquium "The Baltic States and the European Union" at the National Assembly of the Republic of France.
04-06.12.2001
Chairman of the Riigikogu Toomas Savi in Brussels at the meeting of the President of the European Parliament with the chairmen of the parliaments of the EU candidate countries.
06.12.2001
Opening of the Embassy of Turkey in Tallinn.
06.12.2001
Director General of the Directorate General of Enlargement of the European Commission Eneko Landaburu on a visit in Estonia.
07.12.2001
Minister of Foreign Affairs Toomas Hendrik Ilves at the meeting of foreign ministers of the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council in Brussels.
07-09.12.2001
Chairman of the Riigikogu Toomas Savi attends an international conference of chairmen of parliaments in Milan.
10.12.2001
Minister of Foreign Affairs Toomas Hendrik Ilves attends the meeting of the Partnership Council of the USA-Baltic Charter in Washington. Issues related to combating terrorism and to NATO enlargement are discussed, as well as bilateral relations, regional and global issues.
10-14.12.2001
Ministry of Foreign affairs in co-operation with the Ministry of Transport and Communications arranges in Tallinn a seminar on information and communication technology for specialists from the Ukraine.
11.12.2001
The Government assigns 170,000 EEK to the fund created by the OSCE for the withdrawal of the troops and arms of the Russian Federation from Moldova.
11.12.2001
The Government decides to assign 265,000 EEK in support of the co-operation project of the schools from Petseri (Russia), Räpina and Värska, arranged by the non-profit organisation Peipsi Centre for Transborder Co-operation.
12.12.2001
Meeting of the accession conference to the EU on the ministerial level in Brussels.
13.12.2001
Minister of Foreign Affairs Toomas Hendrik Ilves and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of France Hubert Védrine sign an agreement in Paris, according to which France will compensate Estonia for the loss of its former embassy building in Paris.
13.12.2001
The OSCE Permanent Council decided not to extend the mandate of the OSCE Mission to Estonia.
13-14.12.2001
Conference "Economic and business environment of trade in services in the Baltic countries" arranged by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in Tallinn.
14-15.12.2001
Prime Minister Mart Laar and Minister of Foreign Affairs Toomas Hendrik Ilves at the Laeken European Council in Belgium.
17-19.12.2001
Minister of Foreign Affairs Toomas Hendrik Ilves attends a seminar arranged by the Finnish Institute of International Affairs in Helsinki.
27.12.2001
The Mission of Estonia to the United Nations submits to the UN Counter-Terrorism Committee a report on implementing the UN Security Council Resolution 1373 on measures to counter terrorism.
31.12.2001
The Mission of the OSCE to Estonia terminates its activities in Estonia.
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