Other events in Baltic States

Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Reinsalu on Sunday celebrated the centenary of the Tartu Peace Treaty with a joint working lunch with Latvian Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevics, Finnish Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto and Polish Foreign Minister Jacek Czaputowicz, informed LETA/BNS. 

The Estonian foreign minister thanked his colleagues for participating in the celebration of the day that holds special importance for Estonia. He stressed that the Tartu Peace Treaty, signed a hundred years ago today, is the birth certificate of the Republic of Estonia because it is the basis for recognizing Estonia as a free and independent state.

Reinsalu emphasized that the Republic of Estonia is guided by the validity of the Tartu Peace Treaty and legal continuity of the Republic of Estonia, spokespeople for the Estonian Foreign Ministry said.

The ministers also delivered welcoming speeches at the formal concert and ceremony at the Vanemuine Concert Hall on the occasion of the centennial of the Tartu Peace Treaty on Sunday.

The Tartu Peace Treaty between Soviet Russia and the Republic of Estonia was followed by Russia's treaties with Poland, Finland, Latvia and Lithuania.

At the working lunch, the ministers discussed ways of advancing topics important for the region, including cooperation in transatlantic relations, the Eastern Partnership, European Union enlargement, and agreeing on the multiannual financial framework of the European Union. They also talked about The Three Seas Initiative, UN Security Council topics, as well as developments in Iran and Iraq.

In transatlantic relations, efforts must continue to bring the positions of the EU and the United States closer, and expand cooperation between the EU and NATO.

"A positive effect on transatlantic relations can be expected from The Three Seas Initiative summit to be held in Tallinn on June 16 and 17," Reinsalu said.  

When it comes to The Three Seas Initiative, Estonia would like to expand cooperation further north, the Estonian minister said.

"This is why we would like to invite Finland to attend the summit," he said.

The Estonian minister encouraged Finland to join the 3SI Investment Fund established last year, in which Estonia plans to invest 20 mln euros.

On the subject of Eastern Partnership countries, it is in the EU's interests to direct maximum efforts towards helping them to enact reforms.

"It is crucial to achieve substantial and visible results that have a positive effect on the daily lives of ordinary people in Eastern Partnership countries," Reinsalu said.

On European Union enlargement, the Estonian foreign minister said that the EU has to reach a consensus on opening accession talks with Albania and North Macedonia, preferably before the EU-Western Balkans summit in March.

"Not finding a consensus would not send a good signal to the Western Balkans, who are waiting for assurances of the EU's continued support on their chosen path of reforms," he said.

As an elected member of the UN Security Council, Estonia considers the continued military conflict in Donbas among the most serious issues.

"We wish to ensure that Ukraine's efforts to restore its territorial integrity are acknowledged and supported by the UN," Reinsalu said.