The Riigikogu Foreign Affairs Committee concluded at its meeting today that the positive and dynamic developments both in Bulgaria and in Macedonia, as noted by the Estonia-Bulgaria and Estonia-Macedonia Friendship Groups during their visit to Bulgaria and Macedonia in early October, merit continuous support on the part of Estonia.

Hannes Astok, the Chairman of the Estonia-Macedonia parliamentary group and a member of the Estonia-Bulgaria parliamentary group, who participated at the meeting of the Riigikogu Foreign Affairs Committee, expressed his hope that the Estonian Embassy, which opened in Bulgaria in 2006 will help to promote the cooperation between the two states including that in the field of economy.

Hannes Astok emphasised that the efforts of Macedonia to join NATO are particularly noteworthy considering the difficult economic situation and the internal political problems in the country. Participants of the meeting stressed the need to involve the European Union in deciding as soon as possible on the constitutional name for Macedonia. Sven Mikser, the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, stated that it is not acceptable as a long-term solution to force an independent European state to use a name that refers to a federation that has long ceased to exist.

Sven Mikser claimed that the accession of Bulgaria and Romania to the European Union has been mutually gratifying and, in this light, efforts should be continued to integrate Western Balkan countries into the European Union.

The Riigikogu Press Service

Additional information:

Eve Anton

Adviser to the Foreign Affairs Committee, tel 631 6461