Cooperation, Estonia, Tourism, Transport

International Internet Magazine. Baltic States news & analytics Friday, 29.03.2024, 15:37

Tallinn-Istanbul airline will be opened in spring

Juhan Tere, BC, Tallinn, 21.12.2009.Print version
Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu promised last week that in spring a direct flight between Tallinn and Istanbul will be opened. At Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Paet’s meeting with Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu in Ankara on Friday, the latter stated that Turkey is very interested in further intensifying ties with Estonia and that in the spring a direct flight between Tallinn and Istanbul will be opened.

Ahmet Davutoglu and Urmas Paet.

Foreign Minister Paet stated that relations between Estonia and Turkey are good and close. “In the near future we anticipate the opening of the direct flight connection and many joint cultural projects within the framework of Istanbul 2010 and Tallinn 2011 as European Capitals of Culture. Turkey’s decision in the summer of 2008 to allow visa-free travel for Estonian citizens has also had a positive effect,” Paet added.

 

Paet confirmed Estonia’s support for Turkey’s desire to join the European Union. “Turkey has made progress in implementing reforms. However, there is still much to be done, and so it is a good thing that the environmental chapter of European Union-Turkey accession negotiations will be opened on Monday,” Paet noted. “At the same time, reforms must continue, and resolving the issues with Cyprus is also of key importance.”

 

The foreign ministers also discussed Estonia’s co-operation with Turkey within the framework of NATO. Foreign Minister Paet stated that Estonia’s defence-related co-operation with Turkey in NATO has gone very well. “Turkey was the first NATO member from the Mediterranean region who guarded the airspace of Estonia and the other Baltic nations, and they did it for a longer period that usual. Our views on NATO’s new strategic concept are the same as well,” asserted Paet. The Estonian foreign minister also welcomed Turkey’s participation in the NATO Co-operative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence, writes LETA.

 

During his visit to Turkey, Foreign Minister Urmas Paet also had meetings with Turkish Minister for European Affairs and chief European Union negotiator Egemen Bagis and Minister of Culture Ertugrul Gunay.

 

Paet and Turkish Cultural Minister Ertugrul Günay discussed co-operation opportunities related to Istanbul and Tallinn being European Capitals of Culture in 2010 and 2011 respectively and acknowledged that this will strengthen cultural ties between the two nations even more.

 

Foreign Minister Urmas Paet stated that co-operation between Istanbul and Tallinn will give each city the chance to introduce its culture across Europe during the other city’s time as the Capital of Culture. In 2010, when Istanbul is the European Capital of Culture, many events introducing Estonian theatre, film and music will take place there. Among other events, there will be the world premiere of a musical piece by Arvo Pärt.

 

In February of the coming year the Estonian Embassy in Ankara will organize a ski marathon in Anatolia for the third year in a row.

 

Foreign Minister Urmas Paet also met with Turkish Minister for European Affairs and chief European Union negotiator Egemen Bagis.

 

Paet emphasised that all European nations that want to join the European Union and that fulfil all of the fixed criteria must have the opportunity to do so.






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