Estonia, EU – Baltic States

Ex-Minister of Public Administration Mihhail Korb

Prime Minister Juri Ratas decided to grant the minister's request, LETA/BNS said according to LETA information.

"I apologize for my remarks, this confusion should not have been, and I understand the gravity of my mistake. Therefore I am stepping down," the Center Party minister told reporters at Stenbock House government seat on Wednesday evening. Korb said that he decided to step down primarily in order to keep the ruling coalition together.

Korb said that membership of NATO and the EU are the only right choices for Estonia.

Prime Minister Juri Ratas, chairman of the Center Party, said that the new minister of public administration will come from the Center Party, but he cannot say the candidate's name yet.

Korb announced earlier on Wednesday that he is ready to take responsibility following the wave of criticism that his remark about Estonia's NATO membership drew from the public.

"Society's criticism is so strong, and [since] my mistake is so big indeed, I am ready to take responsibility for my mistake," Korb told.

The minister said he is planning to discuss the matter with fellow members of the Center Party and will make the decision after that.

Meeting with war veterans in the n

orthwestern regional capital Haapsalu on Tuesday, Korb said that he does not support Estonia 's membership of NATO. "I… maybe I'm saying a phrase that is unpleasant for Estonians ... I am not in favor of NATO membership," the minister said according to regional newspaper Laane Elu. "But making an army of our own would be more expensive still. Do you understand? The Finns are developing an army of their own, they are separate from NATO, are engaging in the defense of their country on their own. But nobody will come to their aid," the minister was quoted as saying.

The minister later offered his apologies for the remark and declared that he supports the basic principles of Estonia's security policy and the country's membership of the alliance.

The remark by Korb was criticized by the prime minister, who described it as unfortunate and pointed to the apology offered by the minister. Foreign Minister Sven Mikser and Defense Minister Margus Tsahkn, representing the Center Party's junior coalition partners Social Democrats and Pro Patria and Res Publica Union (IRL), added a recommendation to their criticism for Korb to resign. The same was said by the leader of the opposition Reform Party, Hanno Pevkur.

Minister of public administration is a Cabinet post with no portfolio in the structure of the Estonian government. The position is attached to the Ministry of Finance.