Yesterday, Foreign Minister Jürgen Ligi met with Iceland's President, Prime Minister, Foreign Minister and Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee in Reykjavik. Foreign Ministers of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Iceland signed a joint declaration reaffirming good relations and dedication to cooperation.
Foreign Ministers of the Baltic countries were invited to Reykjavik by their Icelandic colleague Lilja Alfreðsdóttir to celebrate together the 25th anniversary of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania restoring independence and establishing diplomatic relations with Iceland.
“We are very grateful for Iceland’s bravery in 1991 to be the first country to recognize the pursuit of three small states to restore their place among free countries. Iceland was the icebreaker in the wake of which it was much easier to move forward,” Foreign Minister Ligi noted during the meeting with his colleagues. “The freedom of a small nation should not be taken for granted, as not everyone else does,” he added.
During lunch, Foreign Ministers discussed regional security, migration crisis, the situation in Syria and Russia’s aggression in Ukraine. Ministers reaffirmed the importance of non-recognition policy of the annexation of Crimea.
Foreign Minister Ligi also participated with his colleagues from Latvia, Lithuania and Iceland in a discussion on Nordic-Baltic cooperation at the Nordic House. The event was organised by the Icelandic Presidency of the Council of the Baltic Sea States.
Photos: https://www.flickr.com/photos/estonian-foreign-ministry/sets/72157671038576534
Additional information:
Maria Belovas
Communication Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
(+372) 516 0043
[email protected]
www.vm.ee