ESTONIA

Mihkelson visits Lithuania-Belarus border with his counterparts

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
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NordenBladet —

Today, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Riigikogu (Parliament of Estonia) Marko Mihkelson will meet with his Latvian, Lithuanian and Polish counterparts in Vilnius to visit the Lithuania-Belarus border and get an overview of the situation there.

Mihkelson pointed out that the illegal migrants who had arrived at the Lithuanian border constituted a serious security risk, which was caused by Belarus’s attempt to give Lithuania a harsh lesson. “It is the first time for all Baltic States to experience such a situation. The aim of the hybrid attack targeted firstly at Lithuania, but actually against the whole Baltic allied space, is to persuade the international community to refrain from sanctions against the Belarusian regime and supporting the Belarusian civil society,” he said. “Such hybrid attacks sow insecurity and division, and are a serious threat to the security of states.”

“Estonia has stretched Lithuania a helping hand. It is important to continue strong cooperation and active exchange of information. We must show that there is an international unanimity to face the problem, to ensure the security of the region and to continue supporting the Belarusians’ aspirations for freedom,” Mihkelson added. “The visit is a clear sign of our solidarity with our southern neighbour. We condemn the activities of the Belarusian regime and do all we can to stop the hybrid attack,” he emphasised.

Mihkelson said that the Chairs of the Foreign Affairs Committees would also commemorate one-year anniversary of the beginning of the people’s revolution in Belarus by participating in the reception of the Belarus civil society on the invitation of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya.

There will also be meetings with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Gabrielius Landsbergis as well as Advisors to the Prime Minister of Lithuania Kęstutis Lančinskas and Galina Vaščenkaitė.

At 11.45 a.m., the Chairs of Foreign Affairs Committees will give a press conference at the Lithuanian Border Guard School in Medininkai.

Source: Parliament of Estonia

Estonia: Chairs of Foreign Affairs Committees: Nord Stream 2 will endanger security in Europe

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
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NordenBladet — The Chairs of the Foreign Affairs Committees of the parliaments of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Czech Republic, Ireland, Poland, Ukraine, the United Kingdom and the United States underline in their joint statement that the completion of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline will undermine the European gas market, endanger security, and threaten the already precarious sovereignty of Ukraine.

In the opinion of Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Riigikogu (Parliament of Estonia) Marko Mihkelson, the joint decision of the United States and Germany to give the green light to the completion of Nord Stream 2 could strain the security situation of the whole Europe. “The completion of the project will give Russia yet another tool to pressure and blackmail Ukraine as an important energy transit country. The parties involved have to understand that the only one to profit from the gas pipeline is Russia. It is a serious security crisis,” he added.

Mihkelson pointed out that the joint statement emphasised that it was necessary to make a collective commitment to increase support to the security and defence capabilities of Ukraine by delivering a road map for Ukraine’s path towards joining the NATO alliance, and to agree upon a European Union membership perspective for Ukraine. “We need to make a collective commitment to increase support to the security and defence capabilities of Ukraine in order to prevent a deepening of the current security crisis, exacerbated by the threats created by Nord Stream 2,” the Chairs of the Foreign Affairs Committees emphasise. They also call for commitments from NATO to strengthen deterrence, especially on the Eastern Flank from the Baltic Sea to the Black Sea.

The signatories consider Nord Stream 2 a geopolitical project geared towards expanding Russia’s influence on Europe by dominating the energy market. “The likely repercussion of the completion and operation of Nord Stream 2 is to undermine the development of a single, liberalized, and open European market by consolidating sources of supply in the Nord Stream 2 system and deterring investment in alternatives,” the joint statement says. “We expect a clear commitment from Germany to reduce dependency on gas imported from Russia and move towards green energy.”

It is also insisted that any further agreements on Nord Stream 2 necessitate consultations across the transatlantic family. “Countering malign Russian aggression is in all of NATO’s, all EU members, and our partners in Central and Eastern Europe vital national security interests,” the signatories emphasise.

 

Estonia: Chairs of Foreign Affairs Committees condemn politically motivated human trafficking

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
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NordenBladet — Chairs of the Foreign Affairs Committees of the Parliaments of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Czech Republic, Poland, France, Ukraine, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Belgium, United States, Germany and United Kingdom made a joint statement in support of Lithuania in connection with the politically motivated migration pressure.

With the statement, the Chairs of Foreign Affairs Committees express strong transatlantic solidarity with Lithuania.

“We, the Chairs of our respective national parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committees, condemn unequivocally the use of trafficked migrants by the illegal Lukashenka regime to undermine neighbouring states. Using the most vulnerable as leverage in a political dispute is shameful and draws comparison with the act of air piracy we witnessed in May.

The attempt to push migrants over the border of Lithuania is a criminal and inhuman act aimed at undermining the solidarity and support of the Lithuanian people towards those in Belarus who crave liberty and reject the stolen elections of last year. This is a new and pernicious assault on a European Union member state and NATO ally. It should be met with solidarity and a national, European and transatlantic response.

We call for a ban on flights to Belarus suspected of being used for state-organised people trafficking.

We call for sanctions on those involved in this state-organised people trafficking across international borders and the Lukashenka regime that controls it.

We call for a joint commitment to end the people trafficking across the EU borders, including support to Frontex, Border Management and Visa Instrument, European Asylum Support Office and other national and international agencies that can support Lithuania or other states targeted by this unconventional attack by the Lukashenka regime.

We call for joint EU and NATO statements directed to the governments of Iraq, Turkey, and any other state used by the Lukashenka regime in the abuse and instrumentalization of migrants, to end the practice and defend the dignity of those whose rights are being violated.”

The statement is open for further signatures. Current signatories:

Sen Pavel Fischer, Chair, Czech Republic

Ondřej Veselý MP, Chair, Czech Republic

Marko Míhkelson, Chair, Estonia

Sen Christian Cambon, Chair, France

Jean-Louis Bourlanges MP, Chair, France

Norbert Röttgen MdB, Chair, Germany

Charlie Flanagan TD, Chair, Ireland

Rihards Kols, Chair, Latvia

Žygimantas Pavilionis, Chair, Lithuania

Sen Bogdan Klich, Chair, Poland

Marek Kuchcinski MP, Chair, Poland

Oleksandr Merezhko, Chair, Ukraine

Tom Tugendhat MP, Chair, United Kingdom

Sen Bob Menendez, Chair, United States

 

 

Estonia: Ratas to his Baltic counterparts: only cooperation on all levels will take us forward

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
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NordenBladet — At the meeting with the Latvian and Lithuanian Speakers in Riga today, President of the Riigikogu (Parliament of Estonia) Jüri Ratas underlined the importance of the cooperation between the Baltic States in all fields of life.

“The world today is not as we used to know it a year ago,” Ratas said. “We are still fighting the COVID-19 pandemic and its socio-economic implications. There are many unresolved conflicts escalating in our neighbourhood, and some problems have already reached our borders.”

Ratas emphasised that difficult times should not pull us apart, but they should bring us closer to each other. “A real bond is forged in times of hardships and trials. I believe that together we will be able to find the best solutions,” Ratas told his Baltic counterparts. “Times like this call for a united stand, commitment and joint efforts.”

Ratas recalled that the pandemic had demonstrated the need to cooperate constantly and to coordinate decisions even more actively than before. He remarked that the “Baltic bubble” was a good example of the flexibility of travel regulations and a valuable lesson for the future.

The President of the Riigikogu admitted that the importance of boarder guard cooperation was increasing. “The refugee situation in Lithuania demonstrates to Latvia and Estonia the need to be actively vigilant,” Ratas noted. “Let us show that solidarity with Lithuania is practical – Estonia has decided to contribute to managing the Lithuanian refugee crisis with two teams and technical support through the Frontex.”

Ratas said that the security issues had always been one of the top items on the Baltic cooperation agenda, and it would have to be so in the future as well. “Keeping up the level of defence expenses, the trans-Atlantic cooperation and the enhanced forward presence of the allies in the region are vital for all of us.”

Ratas believes that Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania have to show unity in their messages and have to also convince the other member states of the European Union that the sanctions against Lukashenka’s regime will need to remain in place until the situation normalizes in Belarus. The aim is that all political prisoners be released immediately and violence against protesters be stopped at once. “The Eastern Partnership countries need our full support both bilaterally and in multilateral cooperation,” Ratas underlined, and added that support could also be practical, for example, the Eastern Partnership had the need for additional vaccines.

Ratas thinks that the mutual cooperation between the Baltic parliaments is functioning excellently within the framework of the Baltic Assembly, which at present is presided by Lithuania and which also celebrates its 30th anniversary this year. He expressed hope that, although the pandemic restrictions had disturbed the normal work of committees, they would all be able to participate in the session to be held in Vilnius this November.

 

 

Estonia: Jüri Ratas discussed defence issues and digital cooperation with Spanish Prime Minister

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
-

NordenBladet — The discussions at the meeting of President of the Riigikogu (Parliament of Estonia) Jüri Ratas and Prime Minister of Spain Pedro Sánchez focused on strengthening of bilateral relations, defence cooperation in NATO and developing of digital services.

Ratas noted that although already 100 years had passed from the establishing of diplomatic relations between Estonia and Spain, the contacts between them had noticeably improved during recent years.

The President of the Riigikogu thanked Spain for their contribution to the NATO’s Baltic Air Policing and to the Enhanced Forward Presence of NATO allies in the Baltic States. He expressed hope that Spain would deploy its fighters again in Ämari Air Base in the coming years.

Ratas assured the Prime Minister of Spain that the Baltic States were not only consumers of the security provided by NATO, but also contributed to it themselves. “As the members of NATO, we share the principle of 360-degree approach to security and make our contribution in the missions in the South,” Ratas said.

At the meeting, Ratas made a proposal that Estonia and Spain could more actively promote cooperation in developing the digital society. “Both Estonia and Spain have already made great efforts to develop a wide variety of public digital services, but partnerships in this domain would definitely accelerate the growth,” Ratas emphasised. In his opinion, the recent COVID-19 crisis has demonstrated people’s need for digital skills and secure and reliable communication lines.

Member of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Riigikogu Indrek Saar and Chair of the Estonia-Spain Parliamentary Friendship Group Vilja Toomast also participated in the meeting with the Prime Minister of Spain Pedro Sánchez. They underlined the importance of parliamentary cooperation in different fields.

 

 

Estonia: OSCE Parliamentary Assembly expressed support to Ukraine

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
-

NordenBladet — The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly held its Annual Session in Vienna, Austria. At the Session, three questions of urgency were adopted, the activities of the Assembly during the last year were discussed and a new President was elected.

Head of the Estonian delegation Mati Raidma said that the adoption of the resolution condemning the destabilizing military build-up by the Russian Federation near Ukraine and in temporarily occupied Crimea was a strong statement in support of Ukraine.

“It is good that support was expressed to regional security and Ukraine’s efforts to restore its territorial integrity in internationally recognised borders,” Raidma said. According to him, the sharpness of discussions is illustrated by the fact that the delegation of the Russian Federation did not accept the decision and left the OSCE PA session in Vienna after it was voted on.

Two more urgency items were adopted at the Session. On the initiative of the Netherlands, the resolution “The general approach to dissent in Belarus” was adopted, and the USA initiated the item “Addressing the Rise in Hate, Intolerance, Violence and Discrimination across the OSCE Region”.

At the Annual Session, Deputy Head of the Swedish delegation Margareta Cederfelt was elected the President of the Assembly.

The Annual Session, which was held in hybrid format from 30 June to 6 July, was also attended by members of the Estonian delegation Heljo Pikhof and Marko Šorin.

The aim of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly is to increase the involvement of its member countries in resolving European political and security issues and to strengthen the responsibility and influence of members of parliament.

 

 

Estonia: President of the Riigikogu discussed development of digital services and tourism with Foreign Minister of Switzerland

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
-

NordenBladet — President of the Riigikogu (Parliament of Estonia) Jüri Ratas and Head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs of the Swiss Confederation Ignazio Cassis spoke of bilateral cooperation in digital developing of public services and establishing of direct contacts in the promotion of business and tourism at their meeting today.

“Estonia and Switzerland are close partners, and it is important to maintain our close connections and to deepen cooperation in economy, culture and tourism,” the President of the Riigikogu said.

Ratas and Cassis admitted that the direct flights between Tallinn and Zürich, which had started last month, contributed to the development of bilateral relations. “It provides our people with a much-needed connection, and it will help both tourism and business to expand their market,” Ratas said. He added that good flight connection was also important to the more than a thousand Estonians living and working in Switzerland who have close relations with Estonia.

At the meeting, Ratas recalled his recent visit to Switzerland that had been a part of the celebrations of 100 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Both at the visit and at today’s meeting, the digital development of public services was discussed. “Estonia and Switzerland seem to have many promising beginnings of cooperation in this field,” Ratas said, and expressed hope that both the governments and the start-up companies in both countries could find ways to do more together.

The Swiss Minister of Foreign Affairs saw the possibility to learn from Estonia’s experience in digitalisation of data and providing the e-services of digital governance as the next step in bilateral relations. The President of the Riigikogu gave his guest an overview of the public digital services of Estonia and also spoke of e-elections and the attitudes of people in using the digital services. The need to ensure cyber security and protection of personal data were discussed as well. Chairman of the Estonia-Switzerland Parliamentary Friendship Group Anti Poolamets, who participated in the meeting, highlighted the cyber security aspects of digitalisation and the need to add it to school curriculum as an elective course.

Experiences of overcoming the COVID-19 pandemic were shared, and the organisation of the daily work of the governments and parliaments and the holding of referendums was compared in the two countries.

Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Riigikogu Marko Mihkelson and Deputy Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee Mihhail Lotman also met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Switzerland. They discussed the international policy work of parliaments, Estonia’s participation in international peacekeeping missions and Estonia’s Presidency in the UN Security Council. Mihkelson underlined the importance of rules-based world order in international relations and close cooperation of democratic countries in defending it.

 

 

Estonia: President of the Riigikogu discussed Baltic cooperation and energy security with Prime Minister of Lithuania

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
-

NordenBladet — President of the Riigikogu (Parliament of Estonia) Jüri Ratas and Prime Minister of Lithuania Ingrida Šimonytė discussed strengthening of bilateral relations, cooperation in international relations and the issues relating to energy security of the region at their meeting today.  

“The relations between Estonia and Lithuania are close. Lithuania is our strategic and like-minded partner bilaterally, regionally, in the European Union and in the work of other international organizations,” Ratas said. “Our parliaments cooperate very closely in the Baltic Assembly.”

Speaking of synchronisation of electrical grids, Ratas said that energy security and the synchronisation of Baltic electricity grids was a strategic project for the whole region. “We must continue our efforts to complete all necessary infrastructure as soon as possible, and synchronize the electricity grids with the EU by 2025,” Ratas said. He added that energy cooperation in offshore projects also offered new possibilities. “This will let us better connect our energy markets and provide more flexibility for the entire electricity system,” he underlined.

Regarding defence cooperation, Ratas highlighted common development of defence capabilities, joint procurements and investments into improving the military mobility infrastructure. “The defence forces of the Baltic states are actively working on common defence capability development,” he emphasised. “Such cooperation has a great potential to meaningfully improve the defence and deterrence posture of our region.” Ratas said that he was glad that Lithuania already hosted a U.S. battalion, because a credible and persistent U.S. military presence strengthened the deterrence also in other Baltic countries.

Step by step completion of the objects of Rail Baltic was highlighted as a project that was important for the development of the two countries and the whole region.

The situation of the COVID-10 spread, vaccination, and the issues relating to border crossing and corona restrictions between countries were also discussed at the meeting. Besides that, the increasing influx of immigrants to Lithuania via Belarus was spoken about. Ratas pointed out that, in this light, coordinated border control and crisis management were becoming more important.

The Eastern Partnership, which both parties regarded geopolitically important, was discussed as well. “We have to support our Eastern partners also when times are challenging,” Ratas said. “It will be more important than ever to find ways to support the Eastern Partnership countries in their process of building up sustainable societies, and their civil societies.”

The meeting was also attended by Chairman of the National Defence Committee of the Riigikogu Enn Eesmaa and Deputy Chairman of the Estonia-Lithuania Parliamentary Friendship Group Aivar Sõerd, who emphasised the importance of parliamentary cooperation.

 

 

Estonia: Riigikogu delegation takes part in the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Annual Session in Vienna

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
-

NordenBladet — The Estonian delegation is taking part in the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Annual Session in Vienna, Austria. The Session takes place in a hybrid format from today until next Tuesday, and focuses on international cooperation during the global crisis, and the role of the parliaments in all this. The Riigikogu is represented by Mati Raidma, Heljo Pikhof, and Marko Šorin.

The Head of Delegation Mati Raidma explained that this year the OSCE PA Annual Session is taking place in a situation where most of the frozen conflicts have flared up and escalated into armed conflicts.

“We observe the freshly erupted situation in Belarus and still need to resolve the issue of Ukrainian territorial integrity. Estonia’s active participation in the work of the Parliamentary Assembly thus adds a much needed contribution to balancing the security situation in the region,” Raidma said. The Head of the Delegation is taking part in the work of the Committee on Political Affairs and Security, and will attend the meeting of the Standing Committee.

Member of the delegation Heljo Pikhof admitted that the COVID-19 pandemic has had an impact on everyone’s life one way or another, and has tested the resilience of societies.

“No country was fully ready for these trials which have lasted for a year and a half now, and this has eroded the people’s trust in democratic institutions. In the OSCE PA General Committee on Democracy, Human Rights and Humanitarian Questions we will today discuss ways of rebuilding this trust and improving the protection of human rights,” Pikhof said.

Member of the delegation Marko Šorin will take part in the work of the General Committee on Economic Affairs, Science, Technology and Environment on Thursday, to discuss increasing the role of parliaments in the post-pandemic world.

The Annual Session will elect the President of the Assembly, Vice-Presidents and leaders of committees. At the plenary sitting next Tuesday, reports will be heard about the activities of the Assembly in observing elections and in ad hoc committees, and about the work of the special representatives.

The Annual Session is streamed on the Facebook page and Youtube channel of the Assembly.

The main aim of OSCE is to involve its participating states closer into resolving European political and security issues in order to enhance civilian control over military questions and to increase the responsibility and influence of members of parliament.

 

Estonia: President of the Riigikogu Jüri Ratas: Estonia’s persistence starts from our homes and our cooperation

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
-

NordenBladet — President of the Riigikogu Jüri Ratas said in his video address on the occasion of the Victory Day that Estonia’s persistence relied on our friends and allies, but started from our homes and our cooperation.

Ratas recalled that, once again, the time had come to fly our blue-black-and-white flag. “With each decorative national flag, we celebrate our freedom,” Ratas said. “In this way, we carry on the unity of our ancestors, under which they fought bravely for our independence. We also create certainty that we will be able to defend, uphold and take forward together the timeless value we have inherited, our own Estonia.”

Ratas emphasised that the free, steadfast and successful Estonia would last until we cared for each other day by day, we noticed, spoke to and helped each other, and did not fill our daily lives with indifference, shiftlessness and violence. He believes it is important to continue committed and purposeful work so that it would be better to live in Estonia, and not to take today or tomorrow for granted.

“During these holidays, this means time and again doing everything to make sure that no life in our country is in danger. We all should be able to consider the consequences of our actions. As well as to notice what others are doing,” the President of the Riigikogu underlined. Please, let us take care of ourselves, our close ones and others, so that the holidays would pass safely and the freedom of our Estonia lasted for ever! Happy Victory Day and happy midsummer!”

The video recording of the can be viewed on the Riigikogu YouTube channel.

 

 

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