Estemb in Helsinki :: Events

President Niinistö to official visit to Estonia on 25 April

Fri, 20 Apr 2012 07:13:58 GMT

President Niinistö to official visit to Estonia on 25 April

President of the Republic Sauli Niinistö and his spouse will be travelling to Estonia on an official visit on Wednesday 25 April. President Niinistö will be having bilateral discussions with the President of Estonia, Toomas Hendrik Ilves, at the Presidential Palace in Kadriorg. He will also be meeting Ene Ergma, Speaker of the Estonian Parliament, and Prime Minister Andrus Ansip.

During the visit, President Niinistö will inaugurate a plant where the Finnish company Lappset will be manufacturing playground equipment in the municipality of Saku near Tallinn. The visit will conclude with a reception at the Finnish Embassy in Tallinn.

Prime Minister Katainen visits Estonia on 23 April

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 09:04:02 GMT

Prime Minister Katainen visits Estonia on 23 April

Prime Minister Jyrki Katainen is travelling to Estonia with a working visit on Monday, 23 of April. The Finnish premier is to meet with his Estonian counterpart, Andrus Ansip, as well as with President Toomas Hendrik Ilves in Tallinn.

Issues such as the strength of the euro currency and the EU’s financial framework for 2014-2020 feature on the two premiers’ discussion agenda. In addition, Katainen and Ansip are to talk about the future of the EU, transport and energy issues and bilateral relations.

The world premiere of the opera based on the international hit novel by Sofi Oksanen

Fri, 20 Apr 2012 06:49:40 GMT

The world premiere of the opera based on the international hit novel by Sofi Oksanen

On April 20, the Finnish National Opera will be giving the world premiere of the opera The Purge, based on the international hit novel by Sofi Oksanen. Composed by Jüri Reinvere, it is an exploration of recent Estonian history.

Sofi Oksanen’s Purge is one of the most widely read Finnish novels of all time. It has been or is being translated into 43 languages. The novel has also won several prizes, beginning with the Finlandia Prize and including the Nordic Council Literature Prize and the Prix Femina Étranger in France.

Purge traces the stories of individuals in parallel with the fate of a nation. Aliide, a young woman, meets Zara, a young woman who has escaped from pimps. This encounter leads to an unveiling of Aliide’s past and also the history of Estonia from the 1930s onwards. Aliide and her sister were in love with the same man, and this led to a tragedy. On the national level, the tragedy was the Soviet occupation and the disappearances of people purged from society.

“Purge has been received with shock in Estonia on many levels, because people there are accustomed to talk about the past in a certain way,” says composer Jüri Reinvere, who was born in Tallinn in 1971. He adapted the libretto for the opera himself, changing the focus somewhat from that of the novel. “I emphasise Estonians coming to terms with the past. I claim that the past can only become the past when we have faced it eye to eye.”

Jüri Reinvere graduated as a composer from the Sibelius Academy. His output contains many settings of his own poems. He frequently makes use of tape effects and natural sounds in his works. Purge is Reinvere’s first opera. It is modern in style, yet he himself considers it a traditional opera. “I was not trying to break any records in experimentation,” he says. “The libretto is merciless, exposing the weaknesses and pettiness of the human individual,” says Tiina Puumalainen, director of the opera production. “On the other hand, it also highlights how difficult it is to make the right choices.”

The story moves back and forth in time, covering a period from the 1930s to the present day. The set, designed by Teppo Järvinen, draws on Soviet propaganda and modern popular movements. The opera offers both grand events that fill the stage and intimate moments. The main character in the opera is such a demanding role that is divided between two singers: young Aliide will be played by Helena Juntunen / Tove Åman, while old Aliide will be played by Johanna Rusanen-Kartano / Heli Veskus. The third major female role is Zara, the young woman escaping a life of prostitution. This role will be played by Niina Keitel / Melis Jaatinen.

The performances will be conducted by Estonian conductor Paul Mägi. The world premiere will take place on 20 April 2012. There will be ten performances in all, the last one being on 25 May 2012.

Jüri Reinvere

Purge

Conductor Paul Mägi

Director Tiina Puumalainen

Set designer Teppo Järvinen

Costume designer Marjaana Mutanen

Lighting designer Timo Alhanen

Choreographer Osku Heiskanen

Young Aliide Helena Juntunen / Tove Åman

Old Aliide Johanna Rusanen-Kartano / Heli Veskus

Zara Niina Keitel / Melis Jaatinen

Martin Jaakko Kortekangas / Arto Hosio

Hans Tuomas Katajala / Andres Köster

Pavel Juha Riihimäki / Jyrki Anttila

Lavrent Koit Soasepp / Hannu Forsberg

Ingel Hanna Rantala / Eeva-Maria Kopp

World premiere 20 April 2012

Other performances 24 April, 3, 5, 8, 12, 15, 19, 23 and 25 May 2012

Estonia to Bring Number of Honorary Consuls in Finland to Eight, Also Prepared to Welcome Finnish Diplomat at Embassy in Georgia

Fri, 30 Mar 2012 13:24:22 GMT

At his meeting in Helsinki today with Finnish Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja, Foreign Minister Urmas Paet said that by working together, Estonia and Finland can increase their countries’ representation and also cut costs. “A good example of this is the exchange programme for Estonian and Finnish diplomats. Next we will be welcoming a Finnish diplomat to our embassy in Georgia; last year an Estonian diplomat worked at the Finnish Embassy in Zambia,” said Paet. “In addition, joint Estonian-Finnish visits with business delegations provide good opportunities for introducing the region and developing trade relations. One good example is the recent joint visit to Indonesia,” he added.

Paet stated that two new Estonian honorary consuls will begin working in Finland in 2012 – in Rovaniemi and Kuopio – which will bring the total number of honorary consuls to eight. “Addressing the needs of Estonian and Finnish citizens is made much easier by the legal aid agreement concluded last year, which allows for documents from both countries’ population registers to be recognised without an apostille,” he added.

Foreign Minister Paet said that Estonia is also interested in carrying out joint development co-operation projects with Finland, for example in Afghanistan. “Estonia will continue to help with the construction of Afghanistan using development co-operation and humanitarian aid resources, and joint projects with Finland would make this aid even more effective,” said Paet. “Potential co-operation projects could be related to increasing women’s rights or business training for young people,” he added.

Paet said that co-operation with Finland could also be intensified in the cyber defence field.

During their meeting, Paet gave Tuomioja an overview of developments in connection with the construction of Rail Baltic. “Decisions have been made regarding the route and administrative structure, now Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania must co-ordinate starting the thematic plan, which will provide the basis for technical projects,” said Paet. “Intense preparatory work will help us to use the European Union funds as efficiently as possible,” he added.

Foreign ministers Paet and Tuomioja also spoke about the situations in Iran and Syria as well as developments in Russia.

SOPKESPERSON’S OFFICE
+372 637 76543
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Estonian Minister of Foreign Affairs Urmas Paet to visit Finland on 30 March

Tue, 27 Mar 2012 06:36:16 GMT

Estonian Minister of Foreign Affairs Urmas Paet to visit Finland on 30 March

Estonian Minister of Foreign Affairs Urmas Paet will pay a working visit to Finland on 30 March. Minister Urmas Paet will meet with Finnish Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja in Helsinki. They will discuss Estonia and Finland’s bilateral relations and opportunities to develop regional co-operation. The ministers will also address current EU topics, such as Eastern Partnership. They will also discuss recent developments in Russia, Iran and Syria.
During his visit Foreign Minister Urmas Paet also has meetings scheduled with Finland’s new president Sauli Niinistö and Finnish Minister for European Affairs and Foreign Trade Alexander Stubb.

Exhibit by Kristi Kongi Opening Today in Estonian Embassy in Helsinki

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 10:45:53 GMT

Exhibit by Kristi Kongi Opening Today in Estonian Embassy in Helsinki

Today, 9 February, an exhibit of paintings by Kristi Kongi entitled “You are my meow” is being opened at the Estonian Embassy in Helsinki.

The subject of the exhibit is women and being a woman. For the figures in the paintings - often for the author herself - various different roles have been created, most of which are fictional. These roles are born from strange and sometimes negative experiences that undergo a transformation towards positivity.

In Kristi Kongi's works the viewer finds the irony of beauty, honesty, love, sexuality, hope, dream, sadness, insecurity, betrayal, and deception. Although this is fiction, the project is still autobiographical because the main character is the artist herself, as a little girl and as a young woman. The artist thinks there's nothing more beautiful than when somebody says to you, "You are my meow."

Kristi Kongi was born in 1985 in Tallinn, Estonia. She graduated from the Tartu Art School in 2008 and from the Estonian Academy of Art in 2011 with a master's degree in painting. In 2007 the artist studied in Finland for a year (at the Lahti University of Applied Sciences). In addition to numerous solo and group exhibits in Estonia, Kongi's works have also been exhibited in Lithuania and Finland.

In 2011 Kristi Kongi earned the Young Artist Award, presented annually by the Young Art Union.

Her exhibit at the Estonian Embassy in Helsinki will remain open until 31 March and guests are welcome to come view it by registering ahead of time with the embassy secretary by calling +358 9 622 02 60.

Additional information on the artist: www.kristikongi.com

Additional information:Liisa Ojaveer, Estonian Embassy, cultural counsellor
Email: Liisa.Ojaveer@mfa.ee; Tel: +358 9 622 02 60

Finnish President Tarja Halonen to Come to Estonia for Working Visit

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 15:08:19 GMT

Finnish President Tarja Halonen to Come to Estonia for Working Visit

Finnish President Tarja Halonen will be in Estonia on Monday, 30 January. Tarja Halonen, who is nearing the end of her term as head of state, will meet with President Toomas Hendrik Ilves, who will host a lunch in her honour. The Finnish president also has plans to meet with Riigikogu Speaker Ene Ergma.

Topics to be discussed at the meetings are Estonia-Finland bilateral relations and European Union subjects such as the situation in the euro zone, matters related to economic and financial policy, and the EU’s next financial perspective. Regional co-operation, including co-operation in the energy and transport sectors and in the Baltic Sea region in general, will also be discussed. International topics will include developments in the Middle East and Northern Africa.

Foreign Minister Urmas Paet and Finnish Minister of European Affairs and Foreign Trade Alexander Stubb Going to Indonesia on a Joint Visit

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 09:20:39 GMT

Foreign Minister Urmas Paet and Finnish Minister of European Affairs and Foreign Trade Alexander Stubb Going to Indonesia on a Joint Visit

23.01.2012

From 24-26 January, Foreign Minister Urmas Paet will be on a joint visit to Indonesia with Finnish Minister of European Affairs and Foreign Trade Alexander Stubb. The ministers will be accompanied by a 36-member delegation of Estonian and Finnish entrepreneurs.

Foreign Minister Paet stated that this is Estonia’s first high-level visit to Indonesia. “The goal of the visit is to promote the business opportunities of Estonian entrepreneurs, create ties with Indonesia, which has the biggest economy in south-eastern Asia and is a member of the G-20, and also enliven Estonia’s foreign policy towards South-East Asia,” he said. “The joint visit will also definitely help to strengthen the unified image of the European Union countries of the Baltic Sea region,” he added.

Within the framework of the visit there are meetings scheduled with Foreign Minister of Indonesia Marty Natalegawa, Minister of Economic Affairs Hatta Rajasa, Minister of Trade Gita Wirjawani, Minister of Communication and Informatics Tifatul Sembiring, Minister of Health Endang Rahayu Sedyaningsih, and Minister of Defence Purnomo Yusgiantoro.

The delegation of Estonian entrepreneurs includes representatives of companies that work in logistics, chemical production, information technology, software development, security services, and paper and wood panel production.

Both ministers will also participate in an Estonia-Finland-Indonesia business seminar.

SPOKESPERSON’S OFFICE
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pressitalitus@mfa.ee

Estonia and Finland sign agreement simplifying state procedures for citizens

Tue, 13 Dec 2011 09:39:51 GMT

Estonia and Finland sign agreement simplifying state procedures for citizens

Turku, 12 December 2011 – Estonian prime minister Andrus Ansip and his Finnish counterpart Jyrki Katainen signed an agreement today nullifying the requirement to get documents issued by the two countries’ population registers legalised.

This will simplify everyday procedures for citizens of both nations in their dealings with the state, making it both quicker and cheaper. Based on the agreement, extracts from the population registers of Estonia and Finland that are issued in English will now be recognised without an accompanying apostille and translation. Until now, all documents sought to be used in the other country have had to be translated and certified in accordance with the Hague convention – i.e. with an apostille. Such certification costs €11 in Finland and €26.80 in Estonia, with the additional costs of translation.

The agreement means that this formality has been waived for population register extracts, which set out a person’s birth, death, marriage and family status and which to date have accounted for as much as 90% of all document turnover. Since 1 January 2011, apostilles in Estonia have been issued by notaries. 2176 were issued for use in Finland in 2010, with a further 1660 issued so far this year. As such, the requirement being dropped will save Estonians around €35,000.

The agreement also establishes the principles of applying for the document, according to which the competent agencies (in this case the Estonian Population Register and the central agency of the Finnish Population Register) must submit applications through a diplomatic or consular representation. The documents will be issued free of charge. Individuals applying for the document are subject to the ordinary procedure, which requires them to pay a state fee in order to do so.

7462 separate instances of consular services being extended to Estonian citizens were recorded at the Estonian embassy in Helsinki in 2009; the same figure for 2010 was 8653, while for the first 10 months of 2011 alone it had risen to 11,116. Such services include applying for passports, registering births and certifying marital and family status. Legal assistance memoranda containing similar agreements have been signed by Estonia with Latvia, Lithuania and Russia.

Photos from the signing of the agreement are available online at

http://valitsus.ee/UserFiles/valitsus/et/uudised/pildi-ja-video-album/peaminister/Ansip_Katainen_12.12.2011_1.jpg

President of Estonia to visit Finland

Wed, 12 Oct 2011 09:23:48 GMT

President of Estonia to visit Finland

President of Estonia Toomas Hendrik Ilves will make a working visit to Finland on 17 October 2011.

President of the Republic of Finland Tarja Halonen will hold bilateral discussions with President Ilves and host a luncheon at the Presidential Palace. President Ilves will also visit the Finnish Parliament and meet Prime Minister Jyrki Katainen and Minister for Foreign Affairs Erkki Tuomioja.

President Ilves commenced his second term as the President of Estonia on 10 October 2011. During his first term he made a state visit to Finland in spring 2007 as well as several working visits.

Opera gala of the international music day 1 October in Estonian House, Kattilahalli, Suvilahti in Helsinki

Fri, 09 Sep 2011 11:40:49 GMT

Opera gala of the international music day 1 October in Estonian House, Kattilahalli, Suvilahti in Helsinki

The Estonian House in Finland in cooperation with the Estonian National Opera celebrates the international music day with a grand opera gala on 1 October in the Estonian House in Helsinki, in Kattilahalli in Suvilahti that seats one thousand spectators. The gala concert is also the anniversary concert of the Estonian House which marks its first year this autumn. In addition to the Estonian boys’ choir, young talented singers perform whose successful studies and career have taken them far from home.

Katrin Targo, Elina Volkmane (Latvia), Alexander Schulz (Germany) and Valmar Saar perform extracts from the work of Bizet, Puccini, Mozart, Wagner, Händel, Saint-Saens, Gounod, Leoncavallo, Strauss. The conductor is Jüri Alperten and the host of the evening Mart Mikk. The symphony orchestra of the National Opera performs as well. Altogether 120 performers will step up to the stage in Kattilahalli.

The concert offers an overview of the repertoire of next seasons at the Estonian National Opera. Opera galas always present the best pieces in the field within a short period of time. This year’s gala is especially exciting for the viewers and performers, as it enables to hear young talented singers who are not yet members of the National Opera. This is thus a unique opportunity to witness the start of their successful career.

Director of the National Opera Mart Mikk takes people along to an exciting adventure into the magic world of opera, and introduces the next season. As not all Finnish opera friends are able to visit the theatre as often as they would like, we bring Estonian high culture to them.

More information:
Grete Ahtola
Head of the Estonian Institute in Finland
Viro-instituutti Suomessa
www.viro-instituutti.fi/oopperagaala
www.facebook.com/viroinstituutti
Estonian House – Viro-keskus,
Sörnäisten rantatie 22, 00540 Helsinki
Tel. +358 9 669805
Tel. +358 50 4385331

info@viro-instituutti.fi

Exhibition by Ivi and Jüri Arrak at the Estonian Embassy in Helsinki

Tue, 06 Sep 2011 08:30:15 GMT

Exhibition by Ivi and Jüri Arrak at the Estonian Embassy in Helsinki

On Wednesday, 7 September at 3pm, a joint exhibition of graphic art and paintings by Ivi and Jüri Arrak will open at the Estonian Embassy in Helsinki. The exhibition features works by the husband and wife artists from 1973-2010.

Highlights include the vanguard of Jüri Arrak’s graphic art, including his most famous print, ”Mängud puu ümber” (Games Around the Tree, 1976) and his latest, the lithograph, ”Mängud inimestega” (Games with People). Ivi Arrak will exhibit a triptych consisting of horizontal and vertical landscapes the artist herself terms a “sensual terrain journey”.

Jüri Arrak (born on 24 October 1936 in Tallinn) is an Estonian artist known for his paintings, graphic art, metal art and films. He is a 1966 graduate of the metal and jewellery art department of what is now the Estonian Academy of Arts. He made his first foray into painting and graphic art already as a student. He has been an independent artist and member of the Artists Union since 1969.

Jüri Arrak’s narrative world involves the use of paradox, and his paintings witness the recurring use of a cipher-like main character who is given a new meaning each time. Arrak makes use of archetypes, and alters and parodies mythic interpretations that are considered sacrosanct, offering up new visions ("Europe lahkumine",1975;"Jüri’s battle with the dragon”, 1979; "Bearers", 1980; "People with objects", 1985, Estonian Art Investment Fund). The imaginative powers of this artist conjure up unexpected visions imbued with suggestive powers (Circus, 1977, Art Museum of Estonia; City of Towers, “Hornblower, 1980; “On the Steps of the Wall, 1981, Art Museum of Estonia, Wolf with Golden Staff, 1983; Piper, 1985, private collection Tallinn. Jüri Arrak is a winner of the Kristjan Raud prize for art (1990) and the Republic of Estonia’s Order of the White Star second class (2000).

Ivi Arrak has studied art since 1992 under the tutelage of husband Jüri Arrak. She has had numerous solo exhibitions along with, in 2009, a joint exhibition with Jüri Arrak, entitled “Woman and Man” at Viinistu Art Museum, which was also on display at the Pärnu Contemporary Art Museum and, in 2010, the exhibition “Paintings and Books” in St. John’s Church in Tallinn in conjunction with Ruth Alas.

In July 2011, Ivi and Jüri Arrak co-exhibited in Bulgaria with Finnish ceramic artist Elina Sorainen and Hungarian painter Andras Szögi.

Ivi and Jüri Arrak’s exhibition at the Estonian Embassy in Helsinki will run through 30 November. It can be visited by registering in advance with the Embassy secretary at +358 9 622 02 60 or by arrangement with cultural attaché Liisa Ojaveer.

For more information about the exhibition, contact Liisa Ojaveer
Cultural Councellor of the Estonian Embassy
Liisa.Ojaveer@mfa.ee
Telephone: +358 9 622 02 60

President Ilves to present his book Omalla äänellä in Helsinki

Fri, 02 Sep 2011 12:17:03 GMT

President Ilves to present his book Omalla äänellä in Helsinki

On Tuesday, 6 September, the Estonian Head of State, Toomas Hendrik Ilves, will present his collection of essays, articles and speeches, entitled Omalla äänellä, in the Embassy of the Republic of Estonia and the Akateeminen Kirjakauppa bookstore in Helsinki.

At 14:00, the presentation of Omalla äänellä will take place for invited guests and journalists in the Estonian Embassy, where the book’s editor, Iivi Anna Masso, and the long-term cultural editor of the Helsingin Sanomat newspaper, Saska Saarikoski, will be discussing the book with President Ilves.

At 18:00, President Ilves will present Omalla äänellä and meet the public in Akateeminen Kirjakauppa, Finland’s largest bookstore (Keskuskatu 1/Pohjoisesplanadi 39). The writer and politician Lasse Lehtinen will be discussing the book here with the President.

In Omalla äänellä, which was published by the Finnish publishing house WSOY, President Ilves talks about Estonia returning to the map of Europe and global policies, including the close ties between Finland and Estonia, and he also discusses life, philosophy, literature and music.

The book consists of the President’s speeches and essays and also includes an interview with the President by the compiler of the book, Iivi Anna Masso, which sheds light on the development of his political views and provides other background information.

President Ilves will also meet the Finnish Head of State, Tarja Halonen, in Helsinki on 6 September.

More information about the book is available at: http://bit.ly/npiJec

More information about the book:
Iivi Anna Masso
Editor of Omalla äänellä
E-mail iivi@icds.ee
Tel: +372 53881491.

Additional information:
Maarika Saarna-Siimann
Press Secretary
Estonian Embassy in Helsinki
Maarika.Siimann@mfa.ee
+358 9 622 0260

Foreign Minister Urmas Paet met Ukrainian Foreign Minister Konstantin Grishchenko at the Nordic-Baltic 8 meeting in Helsinki

Tue, 30 Aug 2011 08:53:53 GMT

Foreign Minister Urmas Paet met Ukrainian Foreign Minister Konstantin Grishchenko at the Nordic-Baltic 8 meeting in Helsinki

30.08.2011

Foreign Minister Urmas Paet met Ukrainian Foreign Minister Konstantin Grishchenko last night at the Nordic-Baltic 8 meeting in Helsinki to discuss the latest developments in Ukraine as well as Ukraine's cooperation with the European Union.

Paet stressed that Estonia supports a fast track to closer integration between Ukraine and the European Union, but said in order for that to happen Ukraine will have to carry out the necessary reforms. "All of Ukraine's internal developments, including adherence to the principles of the rule of law play a significant role,“ said Paet. The Foreign Minister added that the trial of former prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko must be independent and transparent and likewise take place in accordance with the rule of law.

Paet expressed hope that the negotiations toward an Association Agreement with free trade provisions between the European Union and Ukraine will be completed by the summit taking place in December. "Visa talks must also make vigorous progress so that it would be possible to establish visa free travel between the European Union and Ukraine, considering that citizens of EU countries have been able to travel to Ukraine visa-free for several years already,“ said Paet.

SPOKESPERSON'S OFFICE
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521 6821
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Toomas Hendrik Ilves secured a second five-year term as Estonian President

Mon, 29 Aug 2011 11:51:42 GMT

Incumbent President Toomas Hendrik Ilves secured a second five-year term as the country's head of state in the first round of presidential vote by the parliament on Monday, 29th of August. Ilves was supported by 73 deputies in the 101-seat chamber at the extraordinary session of the Riigikogu. The rival candidate, MEP Indrek Tarand, collected 25 votes. Two ballots were declared invalid. All 101 MPs took part in the vote. The president is elected in parliament if any one candidate secures the votes of at least two-thirds, or 68, Riigikogu members.

Toomas Hendrik Ilves was born in Stockholm on Dec. 26, 1953. He is married to Evelin Ilves. Toomas Hendrik Ilves has three children: Luukas Kristjan, born in 1987, Juulia Kristiine (1992) and Kadri Keiu (2003).

Ilves grew up in the United States and was educated as a psychologist, attending and receiving degrees from Columbia University and the University of Pennsylvania and then working in academic positions.

Before being elected president Ilves was member of the European Parliament from 2004 onwards. He was member of the Estonian parliament from 2002-2004, minister of foreign affairs from 1999-2002, chairman of the supervisory board of the North Atlantic Institute in 1998, foreign minister from 1996-1998, Estonia's ambassador to the United States, Canada and Mexico from 1993-1996, head of the Estonian desk of Radio Free Europe from 1988-1993, and analyst and researcher with the institute of RFE in Munich from 1984-1988.

Ilves was elected president of Estonia for the first time by an electoral college on Sept. 23, 2006 and was sworn in on Oct. 9 the same year.

Foreign Minister Urmas Paet to discuss future of Nordic-Baltic relations with colleagues

Mon, 29 Aug 2011 10:35:49 GMT

Foreign Minister Urmas Paet to discuss future of Nordic-Baltic relations with colleagues

29.08.2011

Today and tomorrow, on 29 and 30 August, Foreign Minister Urmas Paet will take part in the Nordic-Baltic 8 (NB8) foreign ministers' meeting in Helsinki.

The foreign ministers from eight coiuntries will discuss the NB8 cooperation report and the European Union's Eastern Partnership, also touching on important international topics, including the situation in North Africa, the Middle East and the Western Balkans.

On the evening of 30 August, the foreign ministers of Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway and Sweden will meet Ukrainian colleague Konstantin Grištšenko to discuss the latest developments in Ukraine and that country's integration with the European Union.

Paet will also participate in a seminar dedicated to the 20th anniversary of the NB8, titled "Nordic and Baltic states - the next 20 years", in which the future of Nordic-Baltic relations will be examined

SPOKESPERSON'S OFFICE
+372 637 7654
+372 521 6821
pressitalitus@mfa.ee
www.vm.ee

Estonia and Finland support Russia's accession to the World Trade Organization

Tue, 23 Aug 2011 11:30:45 GMT

Estonia and Finland support Russia's accession to the World Trade Organization

22.08.2011

Foreign Minister Urmas Paet and Finland’s Minister for Europe and Foreign Trade Alexander Stubb discussed further enlargement of the European Union, the state of the world’s economy and Russia’s accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO).

Paet said Estonia and Finland shared the same objectives in European Union affairs and that their positions largely overlapped. “Together with Finland, we are contributing to the development of the Baltic Sea strategy and the digital market. We also consider it important that the EU’s internal market function better as a whole,“ Paet added.

Stubb and Paet also discussed the world economy and developments related to the aid package for Greece. Paet stressed the importance of all member states contributing to keep the Eurozone’s debt crisis from deepening and widening. “To avoid further deepening of the crisis, strict financial and structural reforms must be carried out,” said Foreign Minister Paet.

The officials noted Estonia and Finland’s shared interests in foreign trade issues. “Estonia and Finland support Russia’s accession to the WTO as soon as possible. Russia’s joining the WTO will give the business community greater sense of security in doing business,” he said.

On the topic of further enlargement of the EU, Stubb and Paet said they agreed that the EU must support and assist European countries that have chosen the path of democracy and closer relations with the Community. “The next country to join the EU after Croatia could be Iceland. But further enlargement should take place in the Western Balkans, so accession talks with Serbia should begin,“ said Paet.

Minister Stubb also addressed a conference of the heads of Estonian foreign representations.

Foreign Ministers Paet and Tuomioja: Estonia and Finland Mourn Together With Norway

Sat, 23 Jul 2011 09:11:51 GMT

During their meeting in Tallinn today, Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Paet and Finnish Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja expressed profound condolences to the people of Norway over yesterday’s tragic events. “This is a tragedy for Norway as well as all of Norway’s friends. Estonia and Finland are mourning together with Norwegian society,” said Paet and Tuomioja.

Paet stated that Estonia is feeling the pain of yesterday’s events along with Norway. “The murder of at least 90 people at the youth camp and in Oslo is a shocking and brutal crime that has deeply affected Estonian society as well,” he said.

Paet and Tuomioja expressed condolences to the loved ones of those killed in Norway. “The explosion in Oslo and the shooting of people at the youth camp on the island of Utøya are grave crimes for which there is no justification,” the foreign ministers said.

During their meeting in Tallinn Paet and Tuomioja also talked about the development of Estonia-Finland relations. Among the areas in which Estonia would like to develop co-operation with Finland are the defence and security policy sectors, including cyber security. “The Estonian Embassy is the NATO contact embassy in Helsinki for 2011-2012,” Paet stated. “Finland has also contributed to the creation of the Estonian Centre of Eastern Partnership, and the members of our defence forces work together in the Nordic Battle Group,” said Paet, naming examples of Estonia and Finland’s joint activities. Finland is one of Estonia’s most important trade partners and Estonia is the most important target market of Finland’s tourism economy.

Paert said that Estonia is prepared to offer Finland a chance to share embassy space in Minsk. Estonia represents Finland for the issuing of Schengen visas in Minsk and Pskov. The foreign ministers also discussed Estonia-Finland co-operation in education and research, environmental protection, and the cultural sector.

In talking about Nordic-Baltic co-operation, Paet noted that Estonia and Finland’s co-operation is made special by the fact that the 20th anniversary of the restoration of Estonia’s independence will be celebrated together in August. “For example, on 30 August a foreign ministers’ conference dedicated to the relations of the Nordic and Baltic nations will take place in Helsinki,” Paet stated.

This year Estonia is the leader of Baltic co-operation and Finland the head of co-operation among the Nordic and Baltic countries (NB8). “The topics that are most important to us are security, energy, and matters related to the economy and environment,” said Foreign Minister Paet.

International developments discussed by the Estonian and Finnish foreign ministers included the situation in Northern Africa and the Middle East as well as the transfer of responsibility for security from the international community to the Afghan authorities.

SPOKESPERSON’S OFFICE
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pressitalitus@mfa.ee

Finnish Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja Coming to Estonia For Working Visit

Thu, 21 Jul 2011 11:40:30 GMT

Finnish Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja Coming to Estonia For Working Visit

On Saturday, 23 July, Foreign Minister Urmas Paet will meet with Finnish Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja, who will be in Estonia for a working visit.

During their meeting the foreign ministers will discuss Estonia-Finland relations as well as opportunities for co-operation and current foreign political topics. This will be Tuomioja’s first working visit to Estonia as foreign minister in the new government.

On Friday, 22 July, Finnish Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja will take part in a celebration in Tõrva dedicated to his grandmother Hella Wuolijoki (1886-1954).

Estonian and Finnish prime ministers reaffirm very good mutual relations

Wed, 29 Jun 2011 06:03:20 GMT

Estonian and Finnish prime ministers reaffirm very good mutual relations

Tallinn, Stenbock House, 27 June 2011 – Estonian head of government Andrus Ansip and freshly elected Finnish Prime Minister Jyrki Katainen, who visited Estonia today, reaffirmed the extremely close relations between the countries and emphasized that Estonia and Finland shared similar views on European Union affairs.

At the meeting with his Finnish counterpart, Ansip said that back in the Soviet era, Finland was synonymous with the free world for Estonians – Finnish television and personal friendships were a vital link to the West.

Ansip also said Finland served as a valuable source of assistance for Estonia in building government structures and civic society and developing a modern business culture. Ansip expressed the conviction that the new Finnish Prime Minister is a great friend of Estonia and that Katainen will bring a good knowledge of Estonian affairs to his new post.

Katainen acknowledged the efforts made by Estonia that resulted in gaining membership of the Eurozone.

“I truly admire the people of Estonia. The crisis meant many difficult decisions. Responsible decisions have been made in Estonia and your public finances are among Europe’s most exemplary,” said the Finnish Prime Minister.

Discussing the recent meeting of the European Council, Ansip said that Estonia and Finland’s views coincide. Among other European Union issues, the internal market was also discussed. Ansip said both Estonia and Finland were interested in developing the digital single market further.

With regard to energy topics, the energy security of the Baltic Sea region was also on the agenda, along with the diversification of energy links and sources. Prime Minister Ansip cited as an example the establishment of a second Estlink cable between Estonia and Finland, which is very important from an energy security standpoint.

And as to the Afghanistan mission, which also was addressed at the meeting, Ansip said that the recent announcement by US President Barack Obama regarding a drawdown of troops was a reflection that the security situation in Afghanistan is improving.

“Estonia’s position is that our defence forces will be in Afghanistan for as long as necessary and as long as they are welcome there. Estonia started the mission together with its allies and we must also complete the mission together,” said Ansip.

Finnish PM Katainen also confirmed his continued commitment to the international security assistance force (ISAF) in Afghanistan.

The first visits for a freshly elected Finnish prime minister are traditionally to Sweden and Estonia. Katainen, who was appointed to the post last week by Finland’s Eduskunta, visited Sweden in the morning, with meetings with Estonian Prime Minister Ansip, the President of the Republic Toomas Hendrik Ilves and Minister of Defence Mart Laar in the afternoon.

Photographs of the meeting: http://valitsus.ee/et/uudised/pildialbum#1132-1

Video of the prime ministers’ press conference: http://valitsus.ee/et/uudised/videod/Erakorraline+pressikonverents#2232