Estonia forges closer ties with Kazakhstan

TALLINN - What looked like your run-of-the-mill ceremony involving the accreditation of a new ambassador could have larger economic implications for both Estonia and Kazakhstan, which began its official diplomatic representation in the Baltic country.

"Kazakhstan's interest toward Estonia has grown in connection with the upcoming EU accession of this Baltic state," said Parliament Deputy Speaker Ants Kaarma after Estonian President Lennart Meri received the credentials of Kazakhstan's new ambassador to Estonia, Ikram Adyrbekov.

According to Kaarma, Kazakhstan has shown considerable interest in Estonia since the country was invited to begin negotiations with the European Union.

"Kazakhstan was interested in opening an embassy in Estonia in 1995, but back then mutual interest was lacking," Kaarma said. "Now the issue has arisen again, and Estonia is very likely to become Kazakhstan's closest connection with the European Union."

The ambassador's ceremony also coincided with the renewal of the trade agreement between the two countries.

"We hope to sign the renewed version of the mutually beneficial economic agreement, initially signed in 1992, in connection with the establishment of diplomatic relations, in November," said Kaarma. November will also mark a visit by the Kazak foreign minister.

According to the press office of the Estonian Foreign Ministry, the new version of the 1992 trade agreement implements transit freedom, tax discounts for companies of both countries and grants access to the administrative and court departments of the contracting parties.

The Kazak ambassador will reside in a pan-Baltic embassy in Vilnius, but Kazakhstan and Estonia plan to establish special parliamentary committees to coordinate trade relations between the two countries, Kaarma said.

"Special points of interest are Estonian ports, which according to the ambassador are modern," Kaarma said. "The Muuga Port is assessed as having the best infrastructure in the Baltic region. Estonia has suitable transit facilities and prices and Kazakhstan's relations with Russia are good."

According to the Estonian Statistics Department, at the end of 1997, Kazakhstan ranked 22nd among Estonia's export partners and 26th among import partners, with a mere 0.5 percent of Estonia's aggregate import and export turnover.

Import articles from Kazakhstan included black metals, chemicals, electric apparatus and grains.

The imported goods accounted for 300 million kroons ($21.4 million). The export articles from Estonia during the same period were electronic devices, land transportation products, refreshments, alcohol and meat. Exports were worth 160 million kroons last year, including transit goods passing through Estonia.

Adyrbekov served his country as a deputy foreign minister in 1996. He expressed his delight about the two countries' relations becoming closer and said that cooperation in transit and trade is expected to increase in the future.