Russia and Estonia have everything necessary for improving their relations

Saturday, February 4, 2023

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Russia and Estonia have everything necessary for improving their relations, Estonian ambassador in Moscow Karin Jaani said in an interview with RIA Novosti. "Unfortunately, there were practically no bilateral political meetings last year," she said. "Today, the sides have everything for improving their relations, it is only necessary to display political will. Reality shows the necessity of developing cooperation," the ambassador underscored. She said that yesterday "consultations between the Foreign Ministries took place for the first time after a long period" in Moscow. "The diplomats revised bilateral relations. The conversation was urgent and important," the ambassador said. The development of trade and economic relations, in her opinion, would help intensify the relations. Ms. Jaani pointed out that the annulment of the double customs tariffs on the Estonian goods exported to Russia since May 2004 favorably influenced the situation. According to Estonian data, trade between the two countries last year, excluding the past months, totaled one billion dollars, in 2003 - about 800 million dollars. "The growth does exist, though very modestly. We would like it to be bigger," the ambassador emphasized. According to her, "Russia accounts for only the fourth place among Estonia's trade partners. "The Russian market is tremendous, and our economic contacts could have been better," the ambassador said. An increase in the number of Russian tourists visiting Estonia, she believes, is another important aspect of the development of dialogue at all the levels. Last year the Estonian consulate in the Russian Federation received 33,100 applications and issued 32,740 visas. Ms. Jaani pointed out that if the European Union and Russia reached an agreement on simplifying the visa regime, Estonia would do the same. "We would welcome such agreements, and if agreements on re-admission are signed, I do not see any other problems in this case," Ms. Jaani said

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