FM Paet Spoke with his Canadian and Georgian Colleagues about NATO Enlargement
03.04.2008
Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Paet met with Canadian Foreign Minister Maxime Bernier and Georgian Foreign Minister David Bakradze today, 3 April, within the framework of the NATO summit in Bucharest.
In the meeting with the Canadian foreign minister, topics of discussion included the two nations’ contributions in Afghanistan, the cyber defence centre being set up in Estonia, and the possibility of concluding a youth exchange agreement in the near future.
The ministers emphasised that Estonia and Canada have similarly positive positions when it comes to NATO enlargement and issuing Membership Acton Plans (MAP) to Georgia and Ukraine. Estonia and Canada both contribute to the most complicated regions in the southern part of Afghanistan. The ministers also recognised that Estonia and Canada are united by their long-term presence in Afghanistan. “Collective efforts in a complicated security region are a strong unifying force,” said Paet. The Estonian foreign minister also gave an overview of the Estonian units’ activities in Helmand province and introduced the work of the civil expert who was sent there in early March.
In talking about the NATO cyber security centre that is being established in Estonia, Urmas Paet asked Canada to consider joining the centre.
At the meeting with Georgian Foreign Minister David Bakradze, Georgia’s NATO MAP perspective was discussed. Foreign Minister Paet confirmed that Estonia has always supported issuing a MAP to Georgia. He also emphasised that the Georgian government must guarantee that reforms will continue. According to the foreign minister, “a strong signal must be sent to Georgia during the Bucharest summit. We should inspire them to try even harder to implement the necessary reforms”.
Additional information:
Riia Salsa
Press spokesperson, Permanent Representation of Estonia to NATO
+32 473 800 358
 
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