Estonia Intends To Regulate Political And Economic Ties With Russia

Moscow's pragmatism and consistency in its foreign policy can create better conditions for cooperation between Estonia and Russia in settling bilateral problems, said Estonia's Foreign Minister Toomas Hendrick Ilves. He was delivering a report in parliament on Thursday on the country's foreign policy priorities for the immediate future. He noted that this policy pursued by Russia will enable the Estonian government to attain its long-term goals --to get in order its political and economic ties with Russia that would take into account the interests of both sides and be based on law. Ilves said that the activity of the working groups of the Estonian-Russian inter-government commission, whose co-chairmen are Prime Minister of Estonia Mark Laar and Russian Vice-Premier Valentina Matviyenko, has already brought certain fruit. The minister expressed the hope that the commission would hold its next plenary meeting already next June, when the sides will be able to sign bilateral agreements on social protection and cooperation in the trade and economic sphere.