Estonia and India Consider Combating Pirates in Somalia’s Coastal Waters to be Crucial
23.11.2008
Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Paet, in India on an official visit, met with Indian Foreign Minister Pranab Muhkerjee and Minister of Science and Technology Shri Kapil Sibali on Monday, 24 November.
At the meetings, topics included opportunities to enliven communications between India and Estonia and increase co-operation in the political, economic and science sectors, international relations, and mutual interests in combating pirates in Somalia.
Foreign Minister Urmas Paet brought up how Estonia is interested in intensifying relations with India, one of the greatest nations and a powerful player in global politics. “India’s political and economic importance in the world is rapidly increasing. Estonia is interested in closer communication with India,” Paet added. The last foreign minister’s visit to India took place 15 years ago. Paet stated that an agreement for the avoidance of double taxation with India is being prepared in order to create better conditions for economic co-operation. “We want to promote business contacts as much as possible,” added Foreign Minister Paet, saying that Estonia would welcome an Indian business delegation visiting Estonia.
In his meeting with Indian Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee, Paet outlined Estonia’s plans for intensifying bilateral relations. “Since we are interested in intensifying relations with India, Estonia has initiated the process of appointing a non-residing ambassador to India,” said Paet. “Estonia’s long-term goal is to open its own embassy in India,” he added. Estonia has two honorary consuls in India, and Paet stated that there are plans to name honorary consuls in Calcutta and Madras soon as well.
The Estonian and Indian foreign ministers also discussed the fight against pirates in Somalia’s coastal waters. Paet stated that in the past few months, ships carrying both Estonian and Indian citizens and residents have been hijacked. India has dispatched its battleships near the Somali coast to increase security for ship traffic. “Only through well co-ordinated international actions will it be possible to reduce piracy,” said Paet.
Other topics were the economic situation in light of the financial crisis and matters related to international agreements necessary for alleviating climate change. Paet stated that the role of the group of G20 nations in alleviating the financial crisis is essential, but it must not become a substitute for the International Monetary Fund, for example. Paet and Mukherjee also discussed India’s role in guaranteeing the stability of the South Asian region, the situations in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Myanmar (Burma), and relations with Russia. Another topic was the reform of the UN Security Council. Paet asserted that Estonia supports the enlargement of the UN Security Council as well as India being a permanent member. According to Paet, Estonia also considers it important for a spot to be added to the Security Council’s elected members for Eastern European countries, including Estonia.
During the meetings, the members of India’s Government also expressed an interest in having closer communication. In addition to the importance of high-level contacts between the nations, tourism as an already developing area of economic co-operation was also highlighted. Minister of Science and Technology Shri Kapil Sibali stated that India is interested in increasing contacts with Estonia in the realm of scientific co-operation by exchanging both students and researchers.
The only previous visit by an Estonian foreign minister to India took place in 1993. Foreign Minister Paet acknowledged that more frequent high-level meetings would also boost relations and invited the Indian foreign minister to visit Estonia in 2009. A visit to Estonia was made by India’s minister of state for external affairs in 2003.
