ESTONIA DISPLAYS INTENT INTEREST TO SOUTH CAUCASIAN REGION

PanARMENIAN.Net - 19.08.2000, MEDIAMAX, YEREVAN. Georgian Foreign Minister's visit to Estonia, starting tomorrow, is another confirmation that this Baltic country displays intent interest towards the South Caucasian region lately.

In March Foreign Minister of Estonia Toomas Hendrik Ilves paid an official visit to Baku. Few days later Foreign Minister of Armenia Vardan Oskanian visited Estonia and held negotiations with the leadership of the country.

In the exclusive interview to MEDIAMAX in December 1999, Foreign Minister of Estonia Toomas Ilves stated that Estonia wants to work in close contact with the countries, which have oriented themselves on the cooperation with Europe and Transatlantic structures. "South Caucasus in this context becomes much more interesting and important", he said.

Ilves also stated that Estonia supported the idea of reconstruction of the "Great Silk Road". "The Great Silk Road" gives new possibilities for the development of trade and transit industries of many countries. As a member of the Baltic economic region, Estonia believes he may become a good partner for the South Caucasian states and help them advance their goods and services to European Union markets", noted Estonian Foreign Minister.

Answering the question how actual was for Estonia the theme of Caspian energy carriers export to the Western markets, Mr. Ilves said: "We are sure that additional transit ways will give new possibilities to South Caucasian states to participate in international integration processes. Estonia follows with interest the development of the situation with Caspian energy carriers export". -0-