Estonian president: Rules-based world order important for small states

TALLINN - At a meeting with Armenian President Vahagn Khachaturyan on Monday, Estonian President Alar Karis said that for small states in a complicated geopolitical environment, the rules based international order and internal democratic strength are of primary importance.

The Estonian head of state noted that in the past couple of years, important reforms have been implemented in Armenia and the state has decisively promoted European values, democracy and the rule of law.

"The European Union inspired Estonia on its path of reforms and this experience can prove useful for implementing reforms in Armenia, too," Karis said, affirming that Estonia remains committed to comprehensively supporting Armenia.

The Estonian president welcomed Armenia clearly expressing its readiness for closer cooperation with the European Union. An extensive partnership agreement between the European Union and the Armenian republic and the Eastern Partnership cooperation framework provide an opportunity to gradually strengthen relations between Armenia and the European Union.

"It is a good opportunity to promote our bilateral cooperation, for example, in e-governance, innovation, technology, education and culture," Karis said.

The Estonian head of state and his Armenian counterpart also discussed the situation in the South Caucasus.

"We wish to see the South Caucasus being a peaceful and stable region, which is a necessary precondition for a successful and wealthy future of Armenia," Karis said, and expressed hope that tensions would be resolved in the course of negotiations and not through violent conflict. He said that it is important to achieve a comprehensive and sustainable peace with the support of the international community.

"In Estonia's opinion, the European Union is a good impartial intermediary," he noted, adding that Estonia also supports the EU's Armenia-Azerbaijan border-monitoring mission.

The heads of state also discussed at the meeting the situation in Ukraine.

"Russia's attack against Ukraine is illegal, unprovoked, immoral and unjustifiable," Karis said. "It is in our shared interest that Ukraine should win the war and that the rules and norms based world order should prevail. We all need to do our best to support Ukraine."

In the course of the Armenian president's visit, Estonia and Armenia are planning to sign two cooperation memoranda expanding bilateral cooperation in the areas of technology and the environment.