Estonian Foreign Policy Largely Mirrors U.S. Agenda

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TALLINN 000074 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL EAID EN SUBJECT: Estonian Foreign Policy Largely Mirrors U.S. Agenda ¶1. Summary: On February 11, FM Urmas Paet presented an overview of Estonia's foreign policy to the Estonian parliament. His main themes were: (1) Estonia will remain in Afghanistan as long as needed; (2) Estonia wants to launch joint development projects with USAID; (3) NATO should expand further, while also being on the watch for territorial threats from Russia; (4) Europe needs to work more providing energy security; (5) trade and tourism with Russian are developing well; and (6) relations with the United States are excellent. End summary. ¶2. Afghanistan: Paet stressed that threats to Estonia can originate far afield, therefore Estonian forces will remain in Afghanistan as long as they are needed (but leave as soon as they responsibly can). Estonia will keep 155 - 160 troops in Helmand Province, will send a counter-IED team and additional contributions to EUPOL, and is ready to contribute to the Peace and Reintegration Trust Fund. He further stated that Estonia would send another two police officers to the EUPOL mission, and is open to sending military trainers in coordination with other NATO allies. ¶3. USAID: Estonia will maintain is civil development projects in Afghanistan, and would like to partner with USAID on joint projects in Afghanistan and elsewhere. (Note: The GOE has discussed with us joint work on increasing the Afghan parliament's IT capabilities, improving medical care in Helmand Province, and helping Haiti develop a national ID card system - this idea was pre-earthquake. The GOE would also like to explore with USAID where else Estonia might be able to provide useful experience. Embassy Tallinn has put Estonian development officials in contact with Embassy and USAID Kabul, and facilitated the visit of the MFA's development head to Washington for talks.) ¶4. U.S. Relations: Relations with the United States are excellent, "as demonstrated by the numerous bilateral visits and meetings with representatives of the new U.S. administration during the last year." He specifically cited President Ilves' June meeting with President Obama as an example of extremely close relations. ¶5. NATO Expansion: Paet said he hopes Bosnia and Herzegovina are offered a MAP at the NATO ministerial in Tallinn in April. Estonia also supports Macedonia's "imminent accession" and Georgian and Ukrainian efforts to join the Alliance. 
 ¶6. NATO Mission: Paet indirectly rejected Russia's call for a new security infrastructure for Europe and said existing institutions must be used more effectively to deal with conventional and emerging threats. NATO must not forget about conventional threats, as Russia showed with its 2009 Ladoga and Zapad exercises (which simulated repelling a Lithuanian invasion) and 2008 invasion of Georgia. In this vein, Estonia would also like to see the EU strengthen its Common Security and Defense Policy. ¶7. Russia Relations: In his speech Paet emphasized the positive in relations with Russia, specifically that 2010 marks 90 years of diplomatic relations, that a record number of Russian tourists visited Estonia in the past year, and that Russia is Estonia's fourth-largest trading partner and its largest trade partner outside the EU. In his answers to questions from MPs, however, he was less positive. Paet said Russia uses economic relations for political ends, which increases trade risk. He would like to see Russia join the WTO to counter this tendency. Further, NATO has been trying to improve relations with Russia, but that Russia responded with military exercises on NATO's border and by calling NATO the "enemy." Still, he said threats to Russia will come from the south, and that Estonia is willing to help Russia face these threats. Paet is open to the EU lifting visa requirements for Russians, provided Russia follows the readmission agreement and reciprocates. ¶8. Georgia: Estonia supports the EU Monitoring Mission, wants to see the UN and OSCE missions reestablished as soon as possible, and believes all missions must be given access to all Georgian territory (Abkhazia and South Ossetia). Paet believes Tbilisi is willing to normalize relations with Russia to help resolve this conflict, but that Moscow is not. TALLINN 00000074 002 OF 002 ¶9. EU Enlargement: Paet stressed that Estonia supports continued EU enlargement. He was heartened by progress Turkey has made improving relations with Armenia, but feels it needs to go further improving relations in the region. Negotiations on membership for Macedonia should begin as soon as possible. Paet applauded the expansion of visa free travel to the EU for several states in 2009, and wants to see EU visa requirements dropped for Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina. ¶10. Eastern Partnership: Estonia will continue its bilateral development assistance with Georgia, Ukraine, Moldova, Belarus and Armenia, and starting in April will train additional diplomats from Eastern Partnership countries at the Estonian School of Diplomacy. Paet said the GOE is prepared to expand this school into an Eastern Partnership training center, similar to the Mediterranean Academy in Malta. ¶11. Belarus: Paet sees signs the Lukashenko regime is opening to the West, but Minsk is still curtailing human rights and free speech. Estonia opened an embassy in Minsk in 2009 to help develop Belarusan civil society. Economic relations are good. In fact, because of relatively lower corruption, Estonia does more trade with Belarus than it does with Ukraine (USD 546 million with Belarus and USD 378 million with Ukraine in 2009). ¶12. United Nations: Estonia would like to be a member of the Human Rights Council from 2012 - 2015, and wants to become a member of the UNICEF Council and the Women's Status Commission. ¶13. Haiti: The GOE has provided 5.5 million EEK (USD 477,000) in assistance, and will further provide a medical expert and a mechanic to help Haiti rebuild. ¶14. Comment: The Foreign Minister's appearance before parliament to report on foreign policy is an annual occurrence. Paet's speech shows that Estonia is constructively and meaningfully engaged in key parts of the world, many of which have no direct or visible impact on the lives of Estonian citizens. Moreover, Estonia's view of the world very much matches the USG view, making Estonia a valuable partner. Estonia has relevant, recent and first-hand experience with political and economic transition, combined with an outsized desire to make a positive contribution in the world. We intend to find ways the USG can take advantage of these skills. POLT