TALLINN - The European Union must talk frankly with Russia, Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Paet said at a meeting with visiting British MPs, Sep. 10.
"The European Union must continue a straightforward and frank dialogue with Russia on all topics," Paet was quoted as telling the delegation of British Liberal Democratic MPs.
The minister spoke about the need to agree about the mandate for a new partnership and cooperation agreement with Russia. Paet also touched upon the topic of the proposed EU-Russia visa facilitation agreement.
Speaking about Estonian-British relations, the minister and members of the delegation led by Malcolm Bruce, chairman of the House of Commons' committee on developent aid, stressed the importance of cooperation between the country groups in the two parliaments and shared the opinion that this cooperation could be more active and contacts more numerous.
Members of the British Liberal Democrat party wanted to know about Estonia's economy and tax system, as their party has been toying with the idea of reforming the British tax system along Estonian lines.
Memebrs of the visiting British parliamentary delegation are House of Commons members Annette Brooke, Lembit Opik (who has Estonian ancestry), John Leech and Stephen Williams, as well as Susan Thomas and Lord Dholakia from the House of Lords.
During a meeting with the Estonian parliament's deputy chairperson, Kristiina Ojuland, and members of the Foreign Affairs Committee including chairman Sven Mikser, the British parliamentarians wanted to know Estonia's opinion as regards the developments in Russia, and the proposed Nord Stream gas pipeline.
Also discussed were relations between the EU and Russia, Britain being the only European nation to rival Estonia for the title of Russia's least favourite country since the controversial murder of former Russian agent Alexander Litvinienko in London.
