Cablegate: Estonian Foreign Policy Largely Mirrors U.S. Agenda

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INFO EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE

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SIPDIS

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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.

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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

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