Marten Kokk stated that Kristiansand in Norway is a region with rapid economic development and the opening of a new honorary consulate will certainly help to intensify economic relations between Estonia and Norway. “Our new honorary consul would like to help enliven business and, above all, tourism contacts between Estonia and Norway. The new Estonian honorary consul is also interested in promoting student exchanges between the countries,” said Kokk.

From left to right: Estonian Honorary Consul Eivind Lund, Estonian Ambassador in Norway Arti Hipus, Foreign Ministry Secretary General Marten Kokk and the Mayor of Kristiansand Per Sigurd Sørensen

Foreign Ministry Secretary General Kokk stated that this is the fourth Estonian honorary consulate in Norway and the first honorary consulate located in the southern part of Norway. “Expanding the network of honorary consuls is important for Estonia, because the honorary consuls play an essential role in deepening bilateral contacts in the economic, cultural, educational, and tourism sectors. Honorary consuls also provide Estonian citizens with consular aid,” said Kokk.

The consular region of the new honorary consul includes Aust-Agder and Vest-Agder counties. The honorary consulate is located in the Hotel Norge at the address Dronningens gate 5, PB 729, 46666 Kristiansand, Norway. The honorary consul can be reached by phone at +(47) 38 17 40 00 or by email at eivind.lund@hotel-norge.no.

Eivind Lund was born in Norway in 1977. He has studied economic and marketing and is currently engaged as an entrepreneur in real estate and the hospitality sector. Eivind Lund’s main responsibility at the moment is as the marketing director of the Hotel Norge in Kristiansand. In addition, Lund is a board member and shareholder of various stock corporations. The honorary consul speaks Norwegian and English.

Additional information about the Estonian honorary consuls in Norway:
http://www.vm.ee/?q=en/node/5444

Additional information about Estonian honorary consuls:
http://www.vm.ee/?q=en/taxonomy/term/155.

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The Girls' Choir of the Tallinn Old Town Music House will be in Oslo to participate in the final of the EBU choir competition. They were the only Estonian choir to reach the finals in the youth choir category in the EBU (European Broadcasting Union) choir competition, which is one of Europe’s most high-level competitions and reaches a wide range of listeners. The competition will take place in Oslo from 17-19 October 2009. Their concert will take place on the evening of 17 October and on 18 October the competition will take place late in the evening, which will be broadcast on Euroradio and can be heard in Estonia on Klassikaraadio.

At the meeting, they thoroughly discussed the results of the Irish referendum and the Treaty of Lisbon coming into effect. Foreign Ministry Secretary General Marten Kokk expressed hope that the ratification process for the Lisbon Treaty would soon end successfully in Poland and the Czech Republic as well. “The Treaty of Lisbon helps to ensure a strong Europe, which is a requirement for Europe to be a considerable power and partner to other nations in this globalising and rapidly changing world,” Kokk asserted.

The secretaries general of the Nordic and Baltic foreign ministries also discussed matters related to climate change. Marten Kokk stated that his Danish colleague gave an overview of how preparations for the Copenhagen climate conference are going. “We must continue making an effort to ensure the meaningful content of the climate agreement to be signed in Copenhagen. It is also important to keep in mind each nation’s ability to pay and its individual characteristics. Developing nations must also take on binding commitments and contribute to the fight against climate change as much as they are able,” said Kokk.  

Another topic addressed at the meeting was the effect of the economic crisis on the foreign service of the Nordic and Baltic nations. The Foreign Ministry secretary general confirmed that Estonia does not plan to close any of its foreign representations, but in today’s circumstances it is extremely necessary to develop co-operation between nations for foreign services. “Estonia is currently holding negotiations with Latvia over sharing a joint embassy space in Cairo, Egypt,” said Secretary General Kokk, giving an example of how nations can successfully co-operate to advance their foreign services.  

At their meeting, the secretaries general also talked about Iceland’s economic situation and Iceland’s application to join the EU.  

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Foreign Minister Urmas Paet stated that the Nordic and Baltic countries share the opinion that we should continue making an effort to ensure the meaningful content of the climate agreement to be signed in Copenhagen. “Both the Baltic and Nordic countries realise how critical it is to achieve a climate agreement. We share the position that financial responsibility should be divided globally according to the ‘polluter pays’ principle, still taking into account the country’s ability to pay and its individual features,” he stressed. “Estonia agrees with the proposal of the European Commission that the European Union should accept a common goal for reducing emissions in the climate agreement,” he stated.

European Union member states have pledged to reduce emissions by up to 30% compared to 1990 levels by the year 2020, assuming that other industrial nations will take on comparable obligations and developing countries with emerging economies will also make adequate contributions.

The foreign ministers of the Baltic and Nordic countries discussed co-operation in the UN and other international organisations more generally, while also introducing their nations’ plans to submit candidacies for governing bodies in organisations. Paet reiterated to his colleagues that Estonia is a candidate to be a member of the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) from 2012-2015 and a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council (UNSC) from 2020-2021.

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On 12 September at 19.30,

The Stavanger Symphony Orchestra will be performing, directed by Tõnu Kaljuste.

More information: www.arvopart.info

At their meeting, the foreign ministers also addressed the elections that took place in Afghanistan on 20 August. Foreign Minister Urmas Paet stated that the elections held the day before yesterday play an essential role in the formation of Afghanistan’s future. “The presidential and provincial council elections carried out by the state authorities are a clear indication of the firm desire of the Afghan people to continue building up their own state,” said Paet.

The foreign ministers of the Nordic and Baltic countries also talked at the meeting about matters related to the Arctic. Foreign Minister Urmas Paet acknowledged that regardless of how far away it is, issues relating to the Arctic are of global importance and have an effect on the countries in our region. “Since globally important environmental and security issues are tied to the Arctic, increasing the role of the European Union with regards to the Arctic is essential, as is achieving observer status for the European Union in the Arctic Council,” Paet noted.

The Arctic Council is a high-level inter-governmental forum with the goal of developing co-operation, co-ordination and interaction among the Arctic nations. The member states are Canada, Denmark (along with the Faroe Islands and Greenland), Finland, Iceland, Norway, Russia, Sweden, and the USA. There are also observer nations and organisations involved in the Council.

The ministers also discussed questions of energy security. During the meeting they agreed that in order to increase energy security, it is necessary to create additional energy connections among the Baltic and Nordic countries and to establish a common Nordic-Baltic energy market. “An important milestone in moving towards this goal was the creation and approval of the Baltic Energy Market Interconnection Plan (BEMP),” said Paet. Foreign Minister Paet also emphasised that in order to create a common Nordic-Baltic energy market, a more powerful Estlink2 must be built in addition to the existing Estlink1 between Estonia and Finland.

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Topics of discussion were the Economic Recovery Plan for the European Union, financial crisis issues, the Treaty of Lisbon, developments in the Eastern Partnership of the European Neighbourhood Policy, energy and climate change, and opportunities for co-operation in the Baltic Sea region.

While talking about developments in the financial crisis, Secretary General Marten Kokk emphasised that it is important to prevent the spread of protectionist economic policies. “The restriction of the world economy, particularly free trade, will make emerging from this economic crisis very difficult in the long run,” said the secretary general. He added that the measures being taken to get out of the economic crisis in the European Union and on the level of individual member states must be in harmony with the principles of a functioning internal market and also take into consideration their effects across borders. Kokk also stated that the implementation of the Economic Recovery Plan is essential.

Other topics discussed at the meeting were the content and sticking points of the European Neighbourhood Policy Eastern Dimension. Secretary General Marten Kokk stated that the communication on strengthening Eastern Partnership given last December is a good basis for developing concrete and long-term policies for drawing target countries closer to the European Union. “Concluding association agreements, facilitating visa policies, having tighter economic integration and creating profound free trade agreements, which have the ultimate goal of a free trade zone that includes the EU and the target countries, are marks of the most ambitious partnership with our neighbours to date. The partnership is also a security guarantee for all those involved,” said Kokk.

On the topic of energy security, it was noted that in order to strengthen the European Union’s energy security and have a unified energy policy towards third countries, there must be a well-functioning internal energy market with sufficient connections. “One good example of a well-functioning internal energy market is the electricity market in the Nordic countries, which the Baltic nations should also be connected to soon,” said Secretary General Kokk. It was also agreed that it is important to work together to diversify suppliers, supply channels, and energy sources.

Climate change was another topic addressed at the meeting. Secretary General Marten Kokk stated that it is a positive development that the European Union has taken on a leading role in dealing with climate change and feels that the creation of a Post-Kyoto Global Climate Agreement is crucial. “However, it will be possible to achieve a functioning agreement only if all the great developed nations are included, so that their interest and good example would ensure the solid participation of developing nations in a Post-Kyoto Climate Agreement,” Kokk noted.

While talking about co-operation among the Baltic Sea states, Secretary General Kokk expressed hope that the Baltic Sea Region Strategy would be accepted by the second half of 2009, when Sweden will be the EU presidency. “It’s essential that the Baltic Sea Region Strategy will be as focused, realistic and feasible as possible,” Kokk emphasised. Estonia’s priorities for the Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region are spatial integration and competitiveness, as well as the effective and free movement of the five basic freedoms—trade, services, capital, people, and knowledge.

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In the conversation following the credential-presenting ceremony, King Harald V and Ambassador Arti Hilpus primarily discussed bilateral relations, both declaring that relations are very good as always. Ambassador Hilpus expressed his satisfaction over how well Nordic-Baltic co-operation functions. “It is a flexible and practical co-operation network, within the framework of which representatives from Estonia and Norway meet frequently,” said Hilpus. The ambassador also noted that alongside regional co-operation, Estonia and Norway should try to intensify direct contacts, which would be supported by new reciprocal visits being made.

Harald V recalled the state visit he once made to Estonia with fond words and inquired about recent developments in Estonia and Estonia’s neighbourhood. He was also interested to hear about Estonia’s experiences thus far as a European Union and NATO member state. “Estonia’s membership in the European Union and NATO has increased Estonia’s feeling of security, and has in a short amount of time become a very natural thing for Estonians,” said Ambassador Hilpus. He also acknowledged that Estonia and Norway’s bond as NATO members offers good opportunities for further co-operation between the two countries.

Harald V noted that the Nordic Security measures are an important topic for Norway which may also be of interest to Estonia. The two also discussed the international financial crisis and exchanged ideas about how Estonia and Norway could better come to terms with the situation.

Ambassador Arti Hilpus resides in Oslo. Hilpus has also been named the Estonian ambassador to Iceland.

Ambassador Arti Hilpus was born in Elva in 1972, graduated from the history department of Tartu University and completed the international course at the Geneva Centre for Security Policy. From 1995-1996, Arti Hilpus worked as an advisor to the co-ordination director of the State Chancellery, after which he served as the director of the human resources department of the Foreign Ministry. From 1999-2000 and 2005-2006, Hilpus was the director of the division for European Union joint foreign and security policy at the Foreign Ministry. Hilpus worked in the Estonian Embassy in Berlin as the first secretary for political affairs from 2001-2004. Before going to Norway, Hilpus last held the position of the director of the security policy division in the first political department.

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Programme:

R. Strauss: Till Eulenspiegel
R. Strauss: Vier letzte Lieder
R. Strauss: First Waltz Suite from Der Rosenkavalier
Respighi: Pini di Roma

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