The Foreign Affairs Committee of the Riigikogu discussed bilateral relations with the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Russian Council of the Federation.
On Thursday, the Foreign Affairs Committee hosted the delegation of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Russian Council of the Federation and discussed bilateral relations between Estonia and Russia after the signing of the border treaties on Tuesday.
“One of the most important events of the recent decades took place in the Estonian-Russia relations on Tuesday, when the border treaties were signed. I hope that the treaties will be ratified in the nearest future,” the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee Marko Mihkelson said at the meeting.
According to Mihkelson, the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Russian Council of the Federation Mikhail Margelov assured that the further process with the treaties is clear and the Russian State Duma is aware of the importance of ratifying the border treaties.
Mihkelson stated that many other agreements wait to be negotiated between the countries after the border treaties. The parties discussed the schedule for ratifying the border treaties, as well as practical issues related to border structures and infrastructures, border crossing, fishing, hydroenergy, regional cooperation, tourism and economic relations. The situations in Ukraine, Syria and Iran were raised as important foreign policy issues.
The Russian delegation was met by the President of the Riigikogu Ene Ergma as well as the members of the Estonian-Russian Parliamentary Group. The delegation of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Russian Council of the Federation visited the ICT Demo Centre and received an overview on the border infrastructure in the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications.
