Estonia fairs well in UN General Assembly

TALLINN- During his time in the opening week of the 64th UN General Assemblyin New York, Foreign Minister Urmas Paet met with his colleagues from the UN,European Union, NATO, and the Baltic and Nordic countries to address a greatmany current international topics that are important to Estonia both inco-operation with its partners in international organizations and in bilateralrelations. Subjects discussed in the meetings were preparations for concludingthe Copenhagenclimate agreement, the prevention of the spread of nuclear weapons, NATOco-operation, European security, preparations for the new NATO strategicconcept, and Nordic-Baltic co-operation.

Foreign Minister Urmas Paet participated in a meeting of the European Unionforeign ministers with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and in thehigh-level conference on climate change that took place within the framework ofthe General Assembly.

During bilateral meetings held within the framework of the UN GeneralAssembly, Paet concluded economic agreements with Azerbaijan,Korea, Morocco, Serbiaand Vietnam."Bilateral economic agreements allow Estonian entrepreneurs to feel more secureand provide opportunities for doing business on foreign markets," assertedForeign Minister Paet. "We are satisfied that Estonian businessmen are becomingmore and more active in their communication with the Foreign Ministry andEstonia's foreign representations. We would like to make our own contributionto the development of Estonia'seconomy and to broadening foreign economic relations," he added.

The circle of nations with which Estonia has diplomatic relationsalso expanded last week. Foreign Minister Paet signed communiqués forestablishing diplomatic relations with Mozambiqueand the Caribbean Sea region nations of Saints Kitts and Nevis and Saint Lucia."It is important for Estoniato have diplomatic relations will all UN nations, if possible. This will beuseful for co-operation in the UN as well as our own citizens," said Paet.

Also during the opening of United Nations Week, bilateral meetings were heldwith Foreign Minister of the Republic of Montenegro Milan Roćen,Foreign Minister of the United Arab Emirates Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan,Belarusian Foreign Minister Sergei Martynov, and Foreign Minister of Cape VerdeJosé Brito. On Sept. 23, the foreign minister signed the International TropicalTimber Agreement of behalf of Estonia.

Paet also met with representatives of the American Jewish Committee in New York.