Paet to open first Estonian Diplomatic Representation in Australia

  • 2011-11-21
  • TBT Staff

PAET:

SYDNEY - Today [Nov. 21], within the framework of his visit to Australia, Foreign Minister Urmas Paet will open the Estonian Consulate General in Sydney.

According to Paet, the opening of a Consulate General in Sydney is necessary for both Estonia and Australia, in order to develop bilateral relations with Australia, as well as for the large Estonian population in Australia, so that they have access to consular services. “Australia is an important international cooperation partner of Estonia that shares the same values, with whom we would like to develop bilateral relations further. In addition, the community of Estonian citizens in Australia has grown in recent years,” he added.

The Estonian consul general in Australia is Triinu Rajasalu.

On Nov. 20 Paet met with members of the Estonian community in Australia at the Sydney Estonian House. “The Australia Estonians’ active involvement in preserving the Estonian language and culture has helped to maintain the Estonian spirit in a place very far away from Estonia itself. The Sydney Estonian archive is therefore a vital preserver of Estonia’s cultural heritage,” the minister stated.

On Tuesday, Nov. 22, Foreign Minister Paet will meet with his colleague, Australian Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd, and President of the Senate Senator John Hogg in Canberra. He will also participate in a session of the House of Representatives. In addition, Paet will participate in a roundtable discussion, being held by the Australian National University’s Center for European Studies.

During these meetings with Australian colleagues, bilateral relations, including the expansion of the treaty base, advancing cyber defense-related cooperation with Asia and cooperation with international organizations, will be discussed. Other items to be addressed are European Union-Australia relations, recent developments in each country’s neighborhood, international economic issues, and energy matters.