Mihkelson sees Japan as the key partner for Estonia in the Asian region, but the country is also a member of the G7, a strategic partner of the European Union, and an ally of the USA, sharing our values of liberal democracy. The meetings in Tokyo will provide an opportunity to discuss developing the economic relations between Estonia and Japan, and exchange information on the security situation and recent developments around the world, including the topics of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and further support to Ukraine.
The parties will also discuss tensions in the Middle East and the situation in the Asian region. “The only way to ensure peace in Europe and to ground the increasing tensions in other parts of the world is by achieving Ukraine’s victory and Russia’s strategic defeat,” Mihkelson said.
The schedule of the visit includes meetings in the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Representation of the European Union, Embassy of Ukraine, and several thin tanks. Among others, Mihkelson will meet representatives of the Japan Institute of International Affairs, Sasakawa Peace Foundation, and the Japan Forum for Strategic Studies.
After the meetings in Tokyo, Mihkelson will join the delegation of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Riigikogu on its visit to the Republic of Korea and Taiwan at the end of the week. The Foreign Affairs Committee has been keeping its eye on the events in the Asian region and the purpose of the week-long visit is to get a better overview of the security situation in the region. In addition to Mihkelson, members of the Committee Ester Karuse, Eerik-Niiles Kross, Henn Põlluaas, and Luisa Rõivas will also take part in the visit.
Lauri Hussar said that Estonia and Ukraine were united by a sad cultural-historical fact that the communist regime had tried to rob our people of their national costumes and destroy our national self-consciousness. “This piece of history shows how cruel and criminal human behaviour can be. Today we are in a situation where Russia has aggressively attacked free Ukraine. It is the duty of Estonia to assist Ukraine in every way until Ukraine has won this war. We want both Estonians and Ukrainians to reach a time when we can happily wear our traditional clothes without fear of someone trying to rob them,” Lauri Hussar stated.
Hussar said that we must stand for the preservation of our national heritage, national colours, national clothes and national identity. “We are together in this fight, but also in the shared joy at the opening this colourful exhibition,” Hussar said.
Ruslan Stefanchuk thanked the people and the state of Estonia for their support. “We are a long way from Ukraine here today, but through this exhibition it is possible to experience our cultural heritage,” Stefanchuk said in his welcoming speech.
The exhibition “The Ukrainian Colours” presents authentic traditional garments from ten ethnographic regions of Ukraine. The folk costumes are from the beginning and middle of the last century.
In all regions of Ukraine, the embroidered shirt – vyshyvanka – has become an indispensable attribute of folk costume. This shirt is still a part of everyday dress in Ukraine and is often also worn by representatives of other ethnic groups.
The exhibition also includes porcelain dolls and traditional handmade motanka dolls in folk costumes from different regions of Ukraine, made by Ukrainian masters from the 20th century, as well as various embroideries and elements of folk costumes.
In total, the exhibition “The Ukrainian Colours” features exhibits from 13 oblasts of Ukraine. The objects come from the Ukrainian Museum of Estonia in Kohtla-Järve. The exhibition was created in cooperation with the Congress of Ukrainians of Estonia.
The exhibition will stay open until 22 November. The exhibition can be visited on working days from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Visitors need to present an identity document to gain entry to Toompea Castle.
Minister of Justice and Digital Affairs Liisa-Ly Pakosta replied to the interpellation concerning renting out prison places (No. 645), submitted by Members of the Riigikogu Rain Epler, Siim Pohlak, Rene Kokk, Evelin Poolamets, Arvo Aller, Kert Kingo, Varro Vooglaid, Anti Poolamets, Mart Helme, Helle-Moonika Helme and Martin Helme.
The interpellators wished to know more about the proposal submitted to the Government to start renting out vacant prison places in Estonia to other countries.
Pakosta confirmed that no negotiations had been opened with any country, including the United Kingdom. “On 26 September, the Cabinet of the Government of the Republic held a meeting at which the Ministry of Justice was authorised to hold preliminary consultations with various countries with a view to clarifying the more detailed circumstances of the rental option, the more detailed potential cost-effectiveness and the more detailed potential impact on Estonia’s economy and security on a country-by-country basis,” Pakosta said. She added that those pre-consultations did not in any way imply that the project would come to fruition, but they confirmed that they were currently exploring the possibilities of launching the project and what it would entail in more concrete terms.
“Our position is that not a single prisoner from a foreign country, if we start accepting prisoners from foreign countries at all, will be released to Estonia,” confirmed Pakosta.
Pakosta explained that, at that point, Estonia had held preliminary consultations with the Netherlands and Sweden. “The pre-consultations have been such that there has been a clarification of details at the level of officials of what could be considered in the first place. In the case of the Netherlands, we are also gaining experience of the fact that the Netherlands itself has rented out prison places and of what that has brought about and how they have organized that,” the minister said.
Pakosta justified the project in question: “I would like to work on finding a use for vacant prison places. This is an inevitability that must be addressed. We have a significant burden on the taxpayer to maintain empty prison buildings,” Pakosta noted.
“The aim is to find out the various details and circumstances, whether this project would be feasible in such a way that the safety of the Estonian people would be guaranteed, that safety would even increase and that it would also be economically viable. Not to mention that all other requirements will have to be met as well. Will this be worthwhile,” Pakosta said.
Minister of Social Protection Signe Riisalo replied to the interpellation concerning care reform (No. 649), Minister of Finance Jürgen Ligi replied to the interpellation concerning tax rises (No. 647) and Minister of the Interior Lauri Läänemets replied to the interpellations concerning the confiscation of the monument to Estonian soldier (No. 642) and the grant of international protection to men of mobilisation age who are Ukrainian nationals (No. 643).
Rain Epler took the floor during the open microphone.
In his speech to the plenary, Stefanchuk thanked Estonia for the support and assistance Estonia had given Ukraine over almost three years. “First, I would like to thank you for having always been by our side,” he said.
Stefanchuk stated that Estonia had been among the few countries that had given Ukraine its first weapons even before the full-scale invasion. “The Javelins you gave us stopped the enemy near Chernihiv and Kyiv in the winter of 2022. The decision to give us all the howitzers Estonia had strengthened our defences in the east and south. Your Mistral air defence systems made Ukraine’s skies safer, helped save the lives of many Ukrainians,” he said, adding that sanctions had slowed down Putin’s war machine and Estonia’s priceless humanitarian aid had made it possible for people in devastated cities to survive the cold weather. “Tens of thousands of women, children and elderly from Ukraine found temporary shelter, work and education in Estonia. Such things are not forgotten, they will be remembered for ever.”
Stefanchuk thanked the Riigikogu for the nine statements adopted in support of Ukraine, and for not letting the world forget the war launched against Ukraine. “I thank you for speaking so loudly about this, for being with us in this fight, for convincing partners and those who still hesitate,” he said.
According to the Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine needs swift, resolute and effective decisions: increasing of military support, and air defence systems that would finally enable to close the skies over Ukraine and protect its people. “We ask for your help in the abolishing of all restrictions imposed on Ukraine regarding the use of long-range missile systems to destroy military objects and targets on the territory of the Russian Federation, which are key to the aggression,” he said. We need fighter aircraft and relevant training for our pilots. Ukraine’s energy sector needs support. We ask for your continued leadership in discussing these issues with our partners. We are determined to end this war with our victory so that we can continue to live in peace.”
Stefanchuk also asked Estonia to support and help to implement Ukraine’s victory plan, which had been presented by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy last week. The first point of the five-point victory plan includes an urgent invitation to Ukraine to join NATO, the second point focuses on strengthening Ukraine’s defence capability, the third on deterring the aggressor, the fourth on strategic economic potential and the fifth point is intended to be implemented after the war. “Our army has real experience of modern warfare, they know how to use Western weaponry and are ready for effective cooperation with NATO partners,” he said.
In his speech, Stefanchuk also highlighted Estonia’s ability to lead and provide leadership, and noted that Estonia’s leadership was needed for strengthening Ukraine’s defence capability. He also underlined the importance of Estonia’s leadership in providing security guarantees, and added that without Estonia’s leadership, the reconstruction of Ukraine could not be imagined.
Stefanchuk pointed out before the Riigikogu that we could not change geography. “But I am convinced that you will agree that together we can change history in the future. We can do so that never again will Ukraine, Estonia or any other democratic country be left alone in such a fight,” he said. “In our veins flows freedom and the steadfast striving for freedom. And that is why we must stand together in the fight against the tyranny that is attacking our freedom, democracy and European values. And we will definitely win! Together we will win!” he said in his speech at the Riigikogu.
Hussar welcomed his Ukrainian counterpart and reaffirmed Estonia’s full support to Ukraine in its fight against Russia’s aggression. “A week ago, the Riigikogu adopted a Statement acknowledging the deportation of Crimean Tatars 80 years ago as genocide, but the horrors continue on Ukrainian soil, including in Crimea, also today. Estonia has been one of the major supporters of Ukraine in this war, as well as a steadfast supporter of Ukraine’s membership in the European Union and NATO, and Estonia’s support will continue until Ukraine wins this war, the horrors end and Ukraine is rebuilt,” Hussar said.
Stefanchuk gave the President of the Riigikogu an overview of Ukraine’s five-point victory plan, which was presented to the Ukrainian Parliament six days ago. According to Hussar, we support the victory plan, which will make it possible for Ukraine to take the initiative in the war and thus move towards a just peace. “The Riigikogu supports President Zelenskyy’s victory plan. We support the abolition of military restrictions in the fight against the aggressor,” he noted, and highlighted also Estonia’s aid for the reconstruction of Zhytomyr Oblast, the military aid given by Estonia to Ukraine, which this year had amounted to 100 million euros, or 0.25 per cent of GDP, as well as the activities of the Estonia-Ukraine Parliamentary Friendship Group of the Riigikogu.
Stefanchuk thanked the Riigikogu for all its political decisions and for all the nine Statements in support of Ukraine, in particular for the last Statement that recognised the deportation of Crimean Tatars as genocide. He also thanked the people of Estonia for the support they had given to Ukraine.
The meeting was also attended by Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Riigikogu Marko Mihkelson, Chairman of the Estonia-Ukraine Parliamentary Friendship Group Eerik-Niiles Kross as well as Deputy Chairmen of the Group Tanel Kiik and Urmas Reinsalu, and Ambassador of Estonia to Ukraine Annely Kolk.
Photos (Erik Peinar / Chancellery of the Riigikogu)
President of the Riigikogu Lauri Hussar, who spoke at the opening of the BA Session, said that when we think of the recent history of the Baltic States, we often understand each other almost without the need for words. “The cooperation of the Baltic States in the field of security and defence is one of the brightest examples of Baltic unity, and since the moment Russia started its full-scale aggression in Ukraine, the Baltic States have cooperated in security sector more closely than ever before,” the President of the Riigikogu pointed out.
“There is no doubt that in this war, which Russia has started, much more is at stake than the future of Ukraine. For Estonia, as well as for other border states, what is at stake is nothing less and nothing more than existential security interests,” he said, and underlined that Ukraine’s victory on Ukraine’s terms, and Russia’s loss is in the interests of the freedom of all of us, as Ukraine is fighting not only for its own freedom, but for the future of the whole Europe and for democratic values. According to Hussar, the support of the Baltic States to Ukraine has been tangible, visible and audible, and of a very significant size on a global scale, and it will continue as long as needed.
Hussar also highlighted the need to complete the construction of Rail Baltic. “For us, this is an infrastructure project of strategic importance that helps integrate the Baltic States into the European rail network. We also must not forget that Rail Baltic has a huge potential to increase military mobility in the Baltic region. With this in mind, it is important for the implementation of the project that sustainable solutions to the problems of financing the project are found both at the level of the Baltic States and the EU,” he said.
Head of the Estonian delegation to the BA Timo Suslov said that in addition to the defence sector, the Baltic parliamentary cooperation would also continue in the developing of artificial intelligence, the prevention of major accidents, in economy, education, medicine, electricity and gas market, in the protection of environment and biodiversity, as well as in other areas. “We not only have to complete the construction of Rail Baltic, but we also have cooperate to make full use of the potential of the completed railway,” he noted.
Also, the cooperation assembly of the governments and the parliaments of the Baltic States the Baltic Council held its 30th meeting. The Council focused on regional security and foreign policy. President of the Baltic Assembly Andrius Kupčinskas and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Gabrielius Landsbergis, Minister of Justice of Latvia Inese Lībiņa-Egnere and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Estonia Margus Tsahkna participated in the Baltic Council.
At the end of the BA Session, the Resolution was adopted, the Final Document was signed, and the BA budget for the next year was adopted. Lithuania transferred the presidency of the Baltic Assembly to Latvia. New President of the BA Jānis Vucāns addressed the Assembly and outlined the priorities of Latvia’s presidency, which are a secure, prosperous and innovative Baltic region, an interconnected energy, transport and digital policy, and a protected, biodiverse and sustainable Baltic Sea.
The Baltic Assembly (Interparliamentary Assembly of the Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Latvia and the Republic of Lithuania) is a consultative cooperation organisation of the parliaments of the three Baltic States that discusses issues of mutual interest. The Head of the Estonian delegation to the BA is Timo Suslov, the Deputy Head is Enn Eesmaa, and members of the delegation are Arvo Aller, Karmen Joller, Meelis Kiili, Lauri Laats, Priit Lomp, Tiit Maran, Helir-Valdor Seeder, Riina Solman, Margit Sutrop and Peeter Tali.
“Moldova elects its new president on Sunday, and holds a referendum on accession to the European Union on the same day. Moldova has made significant progress and carried out reforms to join the EU, while Russia has attempted to interfere and influence the elections and the referendum through election fraud, cyber operations and information warfare,” member of the Estonian delegation to the OSCE PA Heljo Pikhof said.
Member of the delegation Kersti Sarapuu pointed out that the elections held on Sunday would probably have a great impact on the future geopolitical direction of Moldova. “It is our duty as observers to see that the elections are carried out legitimately and in accordance with the traditions of democracy. The outcome of both the elections and the referendum will undoubtedly be up to Moldovans to decide; the important thing is that the result should reflect the will of the people of Moldova,” Sarapuu said.
Nearly 40 parliamentarians from 15 national parliaments will observe the presidential election in Moldova within the framework of the OSCE PA election observation mission. In total, the international observation mission will have more than 300 observers in the country. The purpose of the mission is to make sure that the elections adhere to the democratic commitments contained in the OSCE’s 1990 Copenhagen Document.
Deploying of election observation missions has been an important part of OSCE’s activities since 1993. The OSCE PA has observed elections in Moldova since 1994.
For more information, please contact:
Heljo Pikhof +372 511 9637
Kersti Sarapuu +372 503 9113
Head of the Estonian Delegation to the Baltic Assembly (BA) Timo Suslov said that the BA session held in the year of the 35th anniversary of the Baltic Way would again remind the world how unity, peace and hope could defeat oppression and bring about lasting change. “In the light of the situation in Ukraine and Belarus, the Baltic States as free and democratic countries have a crucial role in promoting freedom, democracy, the rule of law and civil society also today. We must strengthen the defence cooperation between the Baltic States and with our partners in the Benelux and the Nordic Countries in order to respond to the security threats of conventional, cyber and hybrid war,” he added.
The meeting of the parliamentarians will begin tonight at 7 p.m. with an award ceremony at the Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania, where the Baltic Assembly prizes will be presented. This year’s Baltic Assembly Prize in Literature was awarded to Estonian author and poet Rein Raud for his novel The Plague Train. The Baltic Assembly Prize in the Arts was awarded to the Latvian film director Dāvis Sīmanis for his film Maria’s Silence, and the BA Prize in Science went to the Lithuanian researcher Limas Kupčinskas for his outstanding contribution to fundamental and clinical research and innovation in the field of digestive and liver diseases. The Prize consists of a monetary prize, a certificate and a statuette.
The medals of the Baltic Assembly will also be presented at the award ceremony. The BA medals are awarded to outstanding persons for upholding the unity and cooperation of the Baltic States. The medals will be awarded to President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, Secretary General of NATO Jens Stoltenberg, Member of the Saeima (Parliament) of Latvia Raimonds Bergmanis, Professor of Family Medicine and Vice Dean of Medical Faculty of the University of Tartu Ruth Kalda, Director of the Academic Library of the University of Latvia Venta Kocere, writer and translator Margus Konnula, Deputy Chief of State Fire and Rescue Service of Latvia lvars Nakurts, founder of Chamber Orchestra ME and Baltic Piano Orchestra, producer Toivo Tuberik, Member of the Lithuanian Delegation to the Baltic Assembly Romualdas Vaitkus.
The Baltic Assembly Session will be officially opened tomorrow at 10 a.m. in the Seimas of Lithuania. The opening session will be chaired by President of the Baltic Assembly Andrius Kupčinskas (Lithuania) and Vice-Presidents of the BA Jānis Vucāns (Latvia) and Timo Suslov (Estonia). Speaker of the Seimas of Lithuania Viktorija Čmilytė-Nielsen, Speaker of the Saeima of Latvia Daiga Mieriņa President of the Riigikogu of Estonia Lauri Hussar will deliver the opening addresses of the Session.
The 30th Baltic Council, chaired by President of the Baltic Assembly Andrius Kupčinskas and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania, Chair of the Cooperation Council of the Baltic Council of Ministers Gabrielius Landsbergis, will focus on regional security and foreign policy. Minister of Justice of Latvia Inese Lībiņa-Egnere and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Estonia Margus Tsahkna will also address the Baltic Council. The sitting of the Council will end with signing of the Joint Statement of the 30th Baltic Council.
The press conference of the Baltic Assembly and the Baltic Council starts at 1 p.m., and it will be streamed online.
In the afternoon, the Session will continue with the discussion “Regional Artificial Intelligence: The Role of the Baltic States in AI Development”. The Session will also feature a discussion on current and future cooperation among the Baltic States, followed by addresses by foreign delegations and guests. The Session will conclude with the adoption of the Resolution and Final Document, and the election of the President, Vice Presidents, and Chairs and Vice Chairs of the Committees for 2025. Lithuania will transfer the presidency of the Baltic Assembly and the Baltic Council of Ministers to Latvia.
The Baltic Assembly (Interparliamentary Assembly of the Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Latvia and the Republic of Lithuania) is a consultative cooperation organisation of the parliaments of the three Baltic States that discusses issues of mutual interest. The Head of the Estonian delegation to the BA is Timo Suslov, the Deputy Head is Enn Eesmaa, and members of the delegation are Arvo Aller, Karmen Joller, Meelis Kiili, Lauri Laats, Priit Lomp, Tiit Maran, Helir-Valdor Seeder, Riina Solman, Margit Sutrop and Peeter Tali.
At the final vote, 83 members of the Riigikogu supported the adoption of the Statement of the Riigikogu “On Recognising the Mass Deportation of Crimean Tatars in 1944 as an Act of Genocide” (521 AE). The Statement was submitted by 54 members of the Riigikogu.
In the Statement, the Riigikogu strongly condemns the extermination and the mass deportation of Crimean Tatars from their homeland on the Crimean Peninsula to the territories of Central Asia, which was planned and carried out by the totalitarian Soviet regime in March 1944. Around 200,000 Crimean Tatars were deported. Tens of thousands of them perished. The entire nation lost their homeland and was subjected to brutal Russification for decades. The prohibition to return to homeland was lifted only in November 1989.
The Statement underlines that in Crimea, which was occupied in 2014, the Russian Federation is continuing the policy of genocide pursued by the Soviet Union against the Crimean Tatars, with the aim of destroying the identity and erasing the historical and cultural heritage of the Crimean Tatars.
In the Statement, the Riigikogu condemns the continuation of the policy of genocide against Crimean Tatars through systematic detention, torture, kidnapping and the prohibition to learn and use their native language. The Riigikogu also calls on the international community to show solidarity with the Crimean Tatars and to continue to condemn the occupation and annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation.
The Riigikogu also requests the unconditional restoration of Ukraine’s national sovereignty over the territory occupied by the Russian Federation during the armed aggression that began in 2014, and underlines that Crimea is an integral part of Ukraine.
This is the nineth Statement that the Riigikogu has issued since the beginning of 2022 to condemn Russia’s actions and to express support to Ukraine. The Riigikogu has also adopted one Communication.
In the Statements, the Riigikogu has recognised the actions committed by the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation in the military aggression against Ukraine as an act of genocide against the Ukrainian nation, and has declared Russia a terrorist regime and the Russian Federation a state sponsor of terrorism, whose actions must be confronted together. The Riigikogu has supported Ukraine’s wish to become a member of NATO, requested holding to account individually those involved in planning, preparation, launching and committing the crime of aggression against Ukraine, and called on establishing for this a special international tribunal under the auspices of the UN. In February, the plenary of the Riigikogu adopted a Statement in which it condemned the deliberate and systematic deportation of Ukrainian children by Russia in violation of international law, and demanded the release of such children and the ensuring of their safe return to Ukraine.
The Head of the delegation of the Riigikogu Maris Lauri points out in her speech that digital public services increase transparency, accessibility, and inclusiveness of political processes; however, it is important to ground the risks and educate the citizens. She refers to information war as an almost integral part of our lives.
“We need to improve our media and information literacy, grasp the importance of cyber hygiene, recognise the threats, false information, and acts of manipulation. Fake news often exploits existing social disparities, intensifying polarisation and increasing instability between communities,” Lauri says, adding that disinformation cannot be ignored or tolerated, but it should also not stand in the way of creating an accessible and engaging public sector and digital space.
Today, the Estonian parliamentarians take part in the work of the Twelve Plus Group, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary. The Twelve Plus Group is made up of the European countries, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. On Sunday, the Nordic and Baltic countries (NB8) will meet at Estonia’s initiative, discussing ways to help the Ukrainian children who have been deported to Russia to return home.
All the statutory bodies of the IPU will meet at the Assembly, including the Governing Council, the standing committees, the Committee on Human Rights and Democracy, and the Committee on Middle East Questions, as well as the Forum of Women Parliamentarians, and the Forum of Young Parliamentarians.
The standing committees will present reports on their work to the Assembly. The plenary will adopt a resolution on the topic of the extraordinary debate, as well as a resolution of the Committee on Human Rights and Democracy, which focuses on the impact of the AI on democracy, human rights, and rule of law. The Assembly will also adopt the outcome document of the General Debate.
Hundreds of MPs from parliaments across the world will attend the Assembly. The Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union will be held in Geneva, Switzerland, on 13–16 October 2023. Estonia is represented by the Vice-President of the Riigikogu Toomas Kivimägi, President of the Estonian Interparliamentary Union Group Maris Lauri, and Vice-Presidents Helle-Moonika Helme, Helmen Kütt, and Peeter Tali.
The Inter-Parliamentary Union is the oldest and largest global organisation of national parliaments. It was founded in 1889 and has 180 member states from the entire world. Estonia was a member of the Union between 1921–1940 and restored its membership after regaining its independence in 1991.