President of the Riigikogu, the Parliament of Estonia Eiki Nestor met with the Marshal of the Sejm of Poland Radosław Sikorski, the Speaker of the Riksdag of Sweden Urban Ahlin, the Speaker of the Saeima of Latvia Ināra Mūrniece and the President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) Anne Brasseur who participate in the eighth Lennart Meri Conference in Tallinn.

At the meetings, current challenges of the international situation, like the Eastern Partnership policy and the security risks in Europe, and also the issues of bilateral cooperation were discussed.

At Nestor’s meeting with the Marshal of the Sejm of Poland Radosław Sikorski, the main topic of discussion was the situation in Ukraine, the latest developments there and the possibilities of helping the country in a complicated state of war. “Ukraine faces serious challenges: to carry out fundamental reforms at the time when part of the country is occupied and military activities instigated by Russia persist on a large part of its territory. Estonia continues providing extensive economic and humanitarian aid to Ukraine in order to contribute to stabilising the situation and take the life in the country to the path of normality,” Nestor emphasised. Sikorski spoke of Poland’s close cooperation with its neighbour Ukraine. He considered it very important to move rapidly towards visa-free regime between the EU and Ukraine, so that the citizens of Ukraine could be given more practical experience about the functioning and building up of a free society and the establishment of democratic values in their homeland. Nestor and Sikorski admitted that the rapid solving of the crisis in Ukraine would significantly reduce the expansion of Russia’s influence.

At Nestor’s meeting with the Speaker of the Riksdag Urban Ahlin, the composition of the parliaments of the two countries after the elections and the relevant issues currently on the agenda were discussed. The President of the Riigikogu stressed the significance of direct contacts and cooperation between the committees of the parliaments. Regional cooperation within the NB8 framework was also spoken about. During the discussion of foreign policy challenges, the urgency of continuing economic support to Ukraine was emphasised. Both speakers underlined the importance of common approach of the EU countries in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, and the need to continue providing economic support to Ukraine.

At the meeting with the Latvian Speaker Ināra Mūrniece, the bilateral cooperation between Estonia and Latvia and common international security cooperation were spoken about.

At Nestor’s meeting with the President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) Anne Brasseur, the situation of defending democracy and fundamental rights in Europe, and also the coming Estonian Presidency of the Council of Europe in 2016 were discussed.

Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee Hannes Hanso and Chairman of the Estonia-Poland Parliamentary Group Aadu Must also participated in the meeting with the Marshal of the Sejm of Poland.

The guests highly appreciated the international Lennart Meri Conference as one of the leading security forums in Europe. The eighth Lennart Meri Conference has brought nearly 400 security experts and high officials from all over the world to Tallinn. The Conference entitled “The Limits of Order” marks the 40th anniversary of the Helsinki agreements. The discussions focus on the stark challenges to the current international order.

Photos of the meeting with Sikorski: https://fotoalbum.riigikogu.ee/v/Riigikogu+juhatus/XIII+Riigikogu/Riigikogu+esimees+Eiki+Nestor/Radoslaw+Sikorski/

Photos of the meeting with Ahlin: https://fotoalbum.riigikogu.ee/v/Riigikogu+juhatus/XIII+Riigikogu/Riigikogu+esimees+Eiki+Nestor/Urban+Ahlin/

Riigikogu Press Service

Gunnar Paal, +372 631 6351,

[email protected]