Baltic, German formins discuss region's security situation

TALLINN - Foreign ministers of the three Baltic nations and Germany convened in Riga on Tuesday to review their collective relationship, the region's security situation, foreign policy struggles, and the European Union’s future.

The meeting also commemorated the quarter-century which has passed since the restoration of diplomatic relations between Germany and the three Baltic States, spokespeople for the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

Estonia was represented at the meeting by the country's special envoy to the EU, Matti Maasikas, who commented that co-operation between Germany and the Baltics is especially vital in contemporary EU matters. "The European Union is our common framework as well as our joint responsibility — we have to ensure together that the union is strong, able to evolve, and united," he emphasised. "For that the EU has to be trustworthy in citizens' eyes, able to solve crises, and carry out policies and goals.”

Maasikas asserted that Estonia prizes the positive relationship between the Baltic nations and Germany. He thanked German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier for the increasing contribution of Germany to the security of the Baltic Sea region, including to the Baltic air policing mission. "The Baltic Sea region is one of the priorities of the Baltic countries as well as Germany and I'm glad that we have contributed to its security together," he noted. At the meeting representatives of the four countries verified their willingness to fortify security co-operation and implement decisions made at NATO's Wales and Warsaw summits.

According to Maasikas, the meetings between Germany, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania which have occurred since 1994 have been productive. "Regular meetings help us to better plan our co-operation and retain consistency. Germany is our important partner, ally and friend," he said. In addition to Maasikas, Latvian Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevics, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Linas Linkevicius, and German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier participated in the meeting.