ESTONIAN FOREIGN MINISTER PAET VISITS TURKEY

Estonia's Foreign Minister Urmas Paet who was in Turkey for official visits, had a meeting with the Chief Negotiator and Minister for EU Affairs, Egemen Bagis at the Secretariat General for European Union Affairs.

Delivering a short speech before the meeting, Bagis expressed his pleasure to the guest minister Paet for also visiting himself during his official visits in Turkey. Bagis reminded that the two countries had close relations and he thanked for Estonia's support and friendship in Turkey's accession process.

Bagis stated that Turkey was getting prepared to open a new chapter on Monday for the accession negotiations. Bagis also named the chapter to be opened for negotiations as environment covering the issues such as clean water and clean atmosphere.

Bagis stated that the leaders could not reach an agreement on paper in Copenhagen. He also expressed that Turkey and the EU had a common understanding on climate issues.

Bagis declared Estonia as a friend of Turkey and also thanked for Estonia's support for the opening of the mentioned chapter.

Estonia's Foreign Minister Paet stated that Turkey and EU had many common interests; and they were also interested in many other chapters besides the one to be opened on Monday. He added that it was not necessary to count those chapters one by one. Paet also wanted to attract attention to the fact that the energy issue was very important for the EU's security.

Paet also expressed his satisfaction with the positive changes in Turkey in many fields.

Source: AA