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President meets Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs

09.09.2009

President Ilves and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Franco Frattini, expressed their hope that the second Irish referendum on the Lisbon Treaty, which is to take place on 2nd October, will yield a positive result and that the treaty will take effect. The President of the Republic, Mr. Toomas Hendrik Ilves, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Italy, Mr. Franco Frattini, expressed their hope that the second Irish referendum on the Lisbon Treaty, which is to take place on 2nd October, will yield a positive result and that the treaty will take effect.

“This will strengthen the European Union and make its activities more transparent,” said President Ilves.

When discussing NATO’s new strategic concept, the Estonian Head of State stressed the importance of collective defence as one of the main functions of the alliance, identifying that, “At the same time, it is important to ensure the alliance’s capability and readiness to fulfil its main function.”

In reference to energy security issues, the Estonian Head of State emphasised that, “As demonstrated by last winter’s gas crisis, the diversification of suppliers, the establishment of additional energy associations between the Member States, and an efficient energy market is required to ensure energy security in Europe.”

New suppliers and suppliers both from the Caspian region and North-Africa are equally important for the European Union as a whole, according to President Ilves, who added: “This is why we regard the signing of the Nabucco Treaty in July in Ankara and developments taking place in the building of a new gas pipeline from North-Africa as positive signs.”

The Estonian Head of State and the Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs both confirmed that relations between the two countries are positive and healthy.


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