Estonia fairs well in UN General Assembly

TALLINN- During his time in the opening week of the 64th UN General Assembly in 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 great many current international topics that are important to Estonia both in co-operation with its partners in international organizations and in bilateral relations. Subjects discussed in the meetings were preparations for concluding the Copenhagen climate agreement, the prevention of the spread of nuclear weapons, NATO co-operation, European security, preparations for the new NATO strategic concept, and Nordic-Baltic co-operation.

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

During bilateral meetings held within the framework of the UN General Assembly, Paet concluded economic agreements with Azerbaijan, Korea, Morocco, Serbia and Vietnam. "Bilateral economic agreements allow Estonian entrepreneurs to feel more secure and provide opportunities for doing business on foreign markets," asserted Foreign Minister Paet. "We are satisfied that Estonian businessmen are becoming more and more active in their communication with the Foreign Ministry and Estonia's foreign representations. We would like to make our own contribution to the development of Estonia's economy and to broadening foreign economic relations," he added.

The circle of nations with which Estonia has diplomatic relations also expanded last week. Foreign Minister Paet signed communiqués for establishing diplomatic relations with Mozambique and the Caribbean Sea region nations of Saints Kitts and Nevis and Saint Lucia. "It is important for Estonia to have diplomatic relations will all UN nations, if possible. This will be useful 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 held with 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 Verde José Brito. On Sept. 23, the foreign minister signed the International Tropical Timber Agreement of behalf of Estonia.

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