Minister: Malta is an important partner for Estonia

TALLINN – A working meeting took place in Tallinn on Friday between Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna and Malta's Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tourism, Ian Borg.

The topics discussed were Russia's ongoing aggression in Ukraine, the geopolitical challenges facing Europe and the Baltic Sea region, and cooperation between Estonia and Malta, spokespeople for the Estonian Foreign Ministry said.

Discussing the situation in Ukraine, Tsahkna stressed the need for continued comprehensive support for Ukraine and for the creation of mechanisms to hold Russia accountable for its violations of international law.

He described the founding documents for the special tribunal on the crime of aggression, which were signed at the Council of Europe in June, as a landmark step in establishing international justice.

"The tribunal approved during Malta's presidency sends a clear message -- no crime must go unpunished," said Tsahkna. He also wished his Maltese counterpart great success for the next stage of the presidency.

The security situation in the Baltic Sea, where the activity of Russia's shadow fleet has increased, was also discussed.

"The aggressive behavior of the shadow fleet endangers the entire Baltic Sea region, including the environment and security of coastal states," the Estonian minister emphasized. "Therefore, it is extremely important to strengthen cooperation between the Baltic Sea countries and other European Union member states to find solutions to limit Russia's oil transit, as the revenues from it fund Russia's war machine," Tsahkna added.

At the end of the meeting, the strengthening of tourism cooperation was discussed. More than 11,000 Estonian tourists visit Malta every year, which creates a strong foundation for closer cooperation in the fields of culture and the economy.