Estonia Prepares to Open Embassy in Cairo

Eestlased Eestis | 04 Jan 2010 | EWR

EMFA

Foreign Ministry Secretary General Marten Kokk and Ambassador of the Republic of Latvia to Estonia Kārlis Eihenbaums will sign a memorandum of mutual understanding on 5 January, according to which the Estonian and Latvian embassies in Cairo will be located in the same building and will, in addition to their own embassy rooms, also both have the use of shared rooms.

Foreign Minister Urmas Paet stated that Estonia will open its embassy in Cairo in the upcoming spring. “The interest of Estonian entrepreneurs towards this area is constantly growing, and Egypt is an important travel destination for Estonians. The existence of an Estonian representation in Cairo is also necessary from the standpoint of developing the European Union’s common foreign policy,” stated Paet. Foreign Minister Paet said that the opening of the embassy will also allow for visas to be issued for travel to Estonia.

According to Foreign Ministry Secretary General Marten Kokk, the co-operation of the Estonian and Latvian foreign ministries in Cairo is an initiative that helps to reduce the maintenance cost of an embassy and also to share work responsibilities. “Co-operation among nations in developing a foreign service is extremely important, and our co-operation with our southern neighbours is a good example of how it is possible to accomplish practical solutions,” said Kokk. Secretary General Kokk added that if the project is successful, similar endeavours could be considered elsewhere as well. “Currently Estonia has had similar co-operation with Sweden in Cairo, with the Netherlands in Tel Aviv, and with Finland in New Delhi,” Kokk noted.

Estonia has had a special mission in Cairo since 2007, and one of its goals was to prepare for the opening of an embassy. The Estonian Ambassador to Egypt is Tiia Miller, who currently resides in Tallinn. Tiia Miller will remain the non-residing ambassador until a residing ambassador is named.

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