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The meeting between President Ilves and the U.S. Vice-President focused on developments in Georgia and energy security in the world

20.04.2008

The main topics at today’s meeting between President Toomas Hendrik Ilves and U.S. Vice-President Richard B. Cheney were energy security and developments in Georgia, while developments in Afghanistan and the mission in Iraq were also discussed.

According to President Ilves, it is important to support the aspirations of countries, which have chosen the path to democracy, to promote freedom and a market economy. “Estonia has undertaken the objective of sharing its reform experiences with Georgia, which has made great strides in carrying out social and economic reforms.”

President Ilves and Vice-President Cheney believe that the directive of the Russian President to increase the Russian government’s direct contacts with the separatist regimes in South Ossetia and Abkhazia is counterproductive and absolutely unacceptable, and it should be rescinded. President Ilves also acknowledged the Georgian government’s calm reaction to Russia’s provocations.

At the meeting, the issue of energy security was also discussed at length. For Estonia, as well as the European Union more broadly, cooperation with the United States in the field of energy security is very important. “Security must be an indivisible part of strategic energy cooperation,” the Estonian Head of State stressed at the meeting, “and this primarily through the diversification of supply sources.”

“In order to increase the security of Europe’s energy supply, we must create energy connections that are independent of the large current suppliers,” President Ilves noted.

He believes that the greater participation of Europe and the United States in Caspian and Central Asian energy projects is very important for the stable and sustainable development of the region.

Speaking about the mission in Iraq, President Ilves stressed the need to continue bilateral cooperation in military operations.

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