Nordic money, Baltic experience

The Nordic and Baltic countries want to enhance their joint projects on Russia. According to Estonian Foreign Minister Toomas Hendrik Ilves, the Baltic states have practical experience with Russia that the Nordic countries do not have. Therefore the Baltic countries should be involved in project preparation at an increasingly early stage.

Ilves proposed that the motto of future joint projects be "Nordic money, Baltic experience".

The Baltic Foreign Ministers met today the Nordic Co-operation Ministers at their annual NB 8 meeting. Finnish Minister for Nordic Co-operation Jan-Erik Enestam, who chaired the meeting, commented that the Nordic countries have set up an expert group to co-ordinate their co-operation with the adjacent areas. The experts will work closely together with their Baltic colleagues. The group is led by Director Markku Kauppinen from the Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs and will convene for the first time on 12 October.

Baltic views on NATO membership unchanged

The recent events in the United States have not changed the Baltic states’ opinions about their possible NATO membership. – The recent events have only shown us the importance of NATO co-operation, said Deputy Foreign Minister Evaldas Ignatavièius, who represented Lithuania at the press conference following the meeting.

The United States or NATO have not requested the Baltic countries to allow, for instance, the use of their air space, but if needed, the Baltic states are prepared to support the USA. Estonia has drawn up a list of assistance measures which it can offer, if necessary.

Further information about the Nordic-Baltic ministerial meeting: Karl Johan Krokfors, Secretariat for Nordic Co-operation, tel. 1341 5557, [email protected]