Baltic News Service
November 21, 2008 Friday 3:07 PM EET

ESTONIAN FORMIN ASKS FOR VISA WAIVER FROM ARMENIAN COLLEAGUE

TALLINN Nov 21

Meeting with his Armenian colleague, Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas
Paet raised the issue of visa waiver for Estonian citizens.

Bilateral relations, matters connected with Armenia and the European
Union as well as the situation in Southern Caucasus, the influence of
the Georgian conflict on the region and Armenia’s relations with its
neighbors were discussed during Paet’s meeting with Armenian Foreign
Minister Edward Nalbandian who is now on a visit to Estonia.

The foreign ministers stated at the meeting that relations between the
two countries needed development. Paet noted that the relations
between the two countries were good but not as intensive as they could
be.

Paet Friday told reporters that he had suggested to his Armenian
colleague to consder abolishment of the visa requirement for Estonian
citizens.

Paet thanked Armenia for assistance in the safe return home of
Estonian citizens during the Russian-Georgian hostilities. He said
that also Estonia’s relief consignments moved to Georgia via Armenia.

Nalbandian thanked Estonia for support given to it in the framework of
development cooperation, underlining the importance of exchange and
sharing of Estonia’s information technology experience. Cooperation
between higher shools was also discussed at the meeting.

Paet said that Estonia was in favor of opening of visa facilitation
talks and over a new trade regime for the purpose of signing in-depth
free trade agreements between the EU and target countries of the
eastern dimension.

Also the situation in the Southern Caucasian region and Armenia’s
relations with Turkey and Azerbaijan was discussed. Nalbandian said
that Armenia was prepared to normalize relations with Turkey.

Nalbandian said that next year Armenia would open an embassy in
Vilnius covering the three Baltic countries. He said that in the
future Armenia was planning to open embassies also in Tallinn and
Riga.

Nalbandian extended to Paet an invitation to visit Armenia and the
Estonian foreign minister accepted it. Paet said that he would go to
Armenia next year.