Foreign Minister Urmas Paet: Estonia and Monaco Oriented Towards Environmental Friendliness

03.06.2011

No. 198–E

During their meeting today in Tallinn, Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Paet and Foreign Minister of Monaco Jose Badia confirmed that both nations are oriented towards adopting the use of environmentally friendly and innovative technologies. “Like Monaco, Estonia also wants to establish the use of electric cars in the name of clean transport and nature preservation,” noted Foreign Minister Paet. Estonia is procuring 500 electric cars this year to be used by municipal social workers, and an electric car-charging network that covers the whole country should be completed by the end of next year.

Paet emphasised that Estonia would like to develop relations with Monaco in the areas of tourism, culture, science, knowledge-based economy, and information and communications technology. “We are interested in closer economic contacts as well as business and trade relations with Monaco,” said Paet. A business delegation is accompanying Prince Albert II on his visit. “We hope that as a result of this visit, business relations with companies in Monaco will grow stronger and investments in Estonia will increase,” stated Foreign Minister Paet.

Both Estonia and Monaco also place an emphasis on matters related to the protection of the maritime environments of the Baltic and Mediterranean seas. “We see opportunities to co-operate by exchanging the experiences we have in this area,” said Paet. He added that Estonia and Monaco are already working together to ensure maritime safety within the International Hydrographic Organisation.

Paet and Badia also discussed development co-operation as well as the situation in Northern Africa and the immigration being caused by the humanitarian crises there.

Photos from the meeting: http://www.flickr.com/photos/estonian-foreign-ministry

SPOKESPERSON'S OFFICE
+372 637 7654