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Tallinn, Riigikogu, 14 May 2012 – Minister of Defence Urmas Reinsalu assumed office today by taking the oath of office before the Riigikogu.

“In undertaking to perform the duties of a member of the Government of the Republic, I am aware that I shall bear responsibility in this office before the Republic of Estonia and my conscience. I solemnly swear to remain faithful to the constitutional order of the Republic of Estonia and to devote my strength to securing the welfare and future of the people of Estonia,” said Minister of Defence Urmas Reinsalu by citing the government members’ oath of office.

President Toomas Hendrik Ilves appointed Urmas Reinsalu new minister of defence on the proposal of Prime Minister Andrus Ansip. Pursuant to the Government of the Republic Act, ministers may start to perform their duties after having taken their oath of office before the Riigikogu.

Minister of Defence Mart Laar resigned from the office of the minister of defence for health reasons. Prime Minister Ansip forwarded his letter of resignation to President Ilves last Friday.

The Government consists of Prime Minister Andrus Ansip, Minister of Education and Research Jaak Aaviksoo, Minister of Defence Urmas Reinsalu, Minister of the Environment Keit Pentus, Minister of Culture Rein Lang, Minister of Economic Affairs and Communications Juhan Parts, Minister of Agriculture Helir-Valdor Seeder, Minister of Finance Jürgen Ligi, Minister of Regional Affairs Siim Valmar Kiisler, Minister of the Interior Ken-Marti Vaher, Minister of Social Affairs Hanno Pevkur and Minister of Foreign Affairs Urmas Paet.

Video on the minister of defence taking his oath of office: https://valitsus.ee/et/uudised/videod#4602

Photos on the minister of defence taking his oath of office: http://www.valitsus.ee/et/uudised/pildialbum#1872-1

Tallinn, Stenbock House, 11 May 2012 – Prime Minister Andrus Ansip said at today’s meeting with Turkish Foreign Minister Davuto?lu that Estonian-Turkish relations are very good although there is still much room to develop in economic relations.

Ansip said Estonia has not forgotten that Turkey was the first NATO member from the south-eastern Europe and Mediterranean region to defend Baltic airspace. He added that Turkey is welcome to return to the Baltic airspace policing mission in the future.

“Estonia and Turkey are good partners,” said Ansip. “Each year, more and more Estonian tourists visit Turkey and Turkish inhabitants are increasingly discovering Estonia. Economic relations could be more substantial, however. We are looking forward to the opening of an Istanbul-Tallinn air route, which will provide a significant stimulus for economic relations and tourism.”

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davuto?lu confirmed that Estonia and Turkey had a special relationship. He expressed hope that the air route connecting the two countries would be opened before the year is out.

Prime Minister Ansip also said Estonia supports enlargement of the European Union and continues to support Turkey’s bid for accession.

“In accepting new members, the basis must be fulfilment of the accession criteria,” stressed Ansip.

Prime Minister Ansip and the Turkish foreign minister also discussed the state of the economy. Ansip said that the Turkish economy is enjoying awe-inspiring success – according to data released in April, the Turkish economy grew 8.5% in 2011.

The Prime Minister gave an overview of Estonia’s economic policy to date and the principal economic indicators. Ansip said the Estonian economy’s growth figures were stronger last year, but said optimism would be curtailed by general lower confidence in Europe this year.

At the meeting with the Turkish foreign minister, Prime Minister Andrus Ansip said that the official visit to Estonia of Turkey’s Prime Minister Recep Erdo?an was anticipated.

For photographs of the meeting, visit http://www.valitsus.ee/et/uudised/pildialbum#1862-1

Tapa, Kirde defence district staff, 8 May 2012 – Prime Minister Andrus Ansip paid a visit – the eighth in his time in office – to the biggest annual military exercise, Kevadtorm, where conscripts demonstrate and polish skills learned during military service and reservists refresh their own skills.

Prime Minister Ansip said the exercise was an example of the contribution of the Estonian people, government departments, companies and local governments to the country’s defence.

“The shield of Estonian national defence is primary independent defensive capability and its sword is NATO collective defence,” said Ansip. Ansip said Kevadtorm increases Estonia’s security, noting it is precisely through exercises such as these that Estonia’s primary independent defensive capability is developed. Ansip said Kevadtorm was a good indication of how the country’s consistent contribution to defence has increased its national defence capability.

“Estonia will be a secure place to live when the entire population are prepared to take part in homeland defence,” said Ansip. He said that an active contribution to national defence can be made in soldiers in active service, conscripts, reservists as well as Defence League members. The Prime Minister himself has been a member of the Defence League as of 2010. Current and future reservists are also participating at the ongoing exercise, showing that Estonia is able to increase the capability of the reserve-based Defence Forces.

The head of government thanked the local government leaders and local inhabitants for their understanding regarding organization of Kevadtorm exercises past and present, saying that well-trained Defence Forces units were in the interest of all people living in Estonia. “Supporting the Defence Forces’ training at Kevadtorm, every inhabitant is actually making a contribution to their own security and that of their family, home and neighbours,” said Ansip, adding that over the eight years he has visited the exercise, cooperation with locals has improved significantly.

From 3-11 May, the exercise will take place on the territory of the following municipalities: Vinni, Väike-Maarja, Tapa and Laekvere. It will then expand to include Jõhvi, Illuka, Mäetaguse, Kohtla, Toila, Maidla, Sonda, Sõmeru and Rägavere municipalities.

This year’s Kevadtorm is being attended by over 4,000 professional soldiers, conscripts, Defence Leaguers, reservists and officials. The main emphasis of the exercise is on the units in the Northeast (Kirde) defence district. The district’s staff and its wartime units are participating in the exercise. Those units include the infantry battalion, whose soldiers will be transferred to reserves after Kevadtorm.

Kevadtorm 2012 will end on 19 May with a final roll call. Held for the tenth time this year, Kevadtorm is an annual exercise held in a different part of Estonia each year: in 2003 in Lääne-Viru County, in 2004 in Ida-Viru County, in 2005 in Valga and Võru County, in 2006 in Ida-Viru County and Jõgeva County, in 2007 in Tartu and Põlva, in 2008 in Lääne-Viru County and Ida-Viru County, in 2009 in Lääne-Viru and Ida-Viru County and in Jõgeva County, in 2010 in Pärnu and Viljandi County and last year in Tartu County, Võru County and Põlva County.

The prime minister also visited the Jägala Army Base of the Defence Forces.

Photographs of the visit:

http://valitsus.ee/et/uudised/pildialbum#1852-1

 http://www.mil.ee/~fotek/gallery/view_album.php?set_albumName=album1339

Warsaw, 26 April 2012 – Prime Minister Andrus Ansip took part in a summit between China and Central and Eastern European countries, followed also by a bilateral meeting between the prime ministers of Estonia and China.

Both PM Andrus Ansip and the head of government of the People’s Republic of China Wen Jiabao said that the relations between the two countries were good and have expanded to nearly every walk of life. Ansip expressed satisfaction with Estonian-Chinese economic relations, which have become more lively as late. He said that the growth in trade in 2011 between the two countries was noteworthy. “Last year our trade grew more than 60 percent,” said Ansip, “yet there is still much unused potential in our economic and trade relations. We can\'t speak of major reciprocal investments.” Ansip said Estonia was looking to deepen and broaden cooperation in various fields – transit, air transport and tourism. He added that an intergovernmental joint committee was set up to deal with these topics back in 1993.

Prime Minister Wen also affirmed that the cooperation between the countries should be strengthened further. He welcomed the plan to organize a session of the joint committee in Tallinn in the autumn in order to discuss the topics in detail. Wen promised to encourage Chinese companies to invest in Estonia, while calling on Estonian business leaders to do the same. He credited Estonia for its work toward creating a favourable business climate. “Despite the crisis, Estonia’s finances are in order. You have reserves, low government debt and a surplus budget,” said Wen. “This is a good foundation for business relations.”

Ansip and Wen also considered it important to promote interpersonal contacts in the interests of better mutual understanding. Deepening of cooperation was also discussed in the framework of the summit between China and the Central and Eastern European countries. The 16 heads of government said they shared the position that the extent of cooperation between the region and China was not sufficient.

Photographs of the meeting: http://valitsus.ee/et/uudised/pildialbum#1812-1

Tallinn, Stenbock House, 25 April 2012 – Finnish President Sauli Niinistö said Estonia has had an exemplary recovery from economic downturn. For his part, Prime Minister Ansip praised the faith Finnish investors had in Estonia.

“Many Finnish investors dared invest in Estonia even in hard times, thus helping us out of the difficulties,” said Ansip. Niinistö also confirmed that Finnish investors viewed Estonia and Estonians with confidence. Both Niinistö and Ansip said the long-term relationship between the two countries had endured through thick and thin. “I am very grateful to Finland for the country’s cooperation. The trust-based special ties between our countries have evolved out of good-neighbourly relations and many shared accomplishments are yet to come,” said Ansip at the meeting.

In summing up, Ansip said that Estonia was facing a new economic reality that could not be compared to the economic boom times, but added that he was optimistic as things were moving in the right direction. At the meeting, the leaders also touched on Nordic-Baltic cooperation in the EU – topics such as the gas market, labour market and Rail Baltic. They also discussed briefly the agreements between the euro area and member states, including matters related to the European Stability Mechanism.

After meetings with President Toomas Hendrik Ilves, Riigikogu President Ene Ergma and Prime Minister Andrus Ansip, Niinistö was due to open the Lappset factory, which makes playground equipment, in Saku municipality. Niinistö will wind up his visit to Estonia with a reception at the Finnish Embassy in Tallinn.

View photographs from the meeting

http://www.valitsus.ee/et/uudised/pildialbum#1802-1