Estonian Minister praises Finnish-Estonian relations during visit
|
|
|
Estonia’s new Minister of Economic Affairs and Communications, Edgar Savisaar, has a reputation for making occasional biting remarks about Finland. However, there was a different tone on Tuesday when he was Helsinki to give a lecture in which he spoke of past events.
Savisaar, who was Estonia’s first Prime Minister after that country regained its independence, said that Estonia’s rapid economic growth is attributable in large measure to the good relations it has with Finland.
"To my understanding, Estonia’s rapid economic growth is largely the result of its good surroundings. If we had Belarus or Poland as neighbours, our development would not have been this fast", he said in his speech at the annual meeting of the Finnish-Estonian Chamber of Commerce.
"Relations with the Finns are important in the formation of an image of the world. Regular ship connections, television, and above all personal contacts, are valuable."
Savisaar sees the construction of the Viru Hotel in Tallinn by a Finnish construction company during the Soviet period to be an important event.
"Estonians saw new machinery, a new culture of work, and new builders. After that came many other projects which changed the country."
Savisaar took on his current ministerial post at a time when his country’s economy is doing quite well. Unemployment is declining, state finances are in balance, and the external balance is improving. Export figures are setting new records.
While he admits that six-percent economic growth is good, he feels that it could be better - possibly reaching Asia’s levels.
Edgar Savisaar feels that his country’s membership in the European Union is good in the long run, even though he took a completely neutral stance during Estonia’s EU membership debate.
In a vote on the issue at a party congress of his Centre Party, opponents of EU membership narrowly came out ahead. At that time Savisaar felt that the party should not take an official stand on the issue, and that its members should be given a free hand to vote their conscience.
Savisaar never revealed how he voted in the referendum.
Helsingin Sanomat
|
| 20.4.2005 - TODAY |
 Estonian Minister praises Finnish-Estonian relations during visit
|
|
