SPEECH BY THE HON EDWARD FENECH-ADAMI, PRIME MINISTER, AT THE DINNER HOSTED IN HONOUR OF MR MART LAAR, PRIME MINISTER OF ESTONIA, AT AUBERGE DE CASTILLE, VALLETTA. 29 MARCH 2001

It is an honour and pleasure for me, on behalf of the people and Government of Malta to extend our warmest welcome to you and your delegation.

Your presence here today, testifies to the good relations between our two countries. It should also mark the beginning of a stronger relationship, built on solid bilateral ties and our prospects as future members of the European Union.

Estonia has recently freed itself from the shackles of an ideology, which stifled its economy and deprived its people of their freedom. In less than a decade you have undergone great changes and faced up to many a challenge.

In less than ten years your economy has been transformed from a state-owned and controlled activity, to one which boasts of the most advanced free-market principles.

As both Malta and Estonia move towards membership in the European Union, the values and principles which underpin this Union will continue to inspire and assist us in our conviction that our mutual home is in Europe, as members of the European Union.

In the last decade Malta too has undergone many changes.

The reforms we have undertaken are driven by the immediate goal of membership in the European Union, but will, in the longer term, enable us to face the inevitable challenges of globalisation.

Accession negotiations have taken both our countries through complex processes. Estonia has made impressive progress and is among the front-runners of the first group of countries that opened negotiations with the European Union.

Malta, in the year since the start of negotiations, has worked efficiently to attain its position as one of the prime candidates for the next enlargement.

Co-operation and the exchange of information is to our mutual benefit, as we prepare to engage in the advanced stage of the negotiation process.

Mr Prime Minister

On the bilateral front we have seen promising signals. For the first time, last year, Malta registered its first exports to Estonia.

This first step needs to be developed through a legal framework which enhances co-operation in the fields of Air Services and investments. Malta is committed to see the finalisation of agreements in these fields, and I am confident that Estonia shares this commitment.

Our co-operation could also be extended to the fields of culture, tourism, and our common fight against drug trafficking and organised crime.

The recent appointment of the Ambassador to Tallin will provide us with an enhanced channel to effect this co-operation.

On the multilateral front, Estonia is a participant in the organisations in which Malta is also a member. In the UN, the OSCE and the Council of Europe, we have demonstrated the ability to co-operate closely on issues of mutual interest.

This co-operation will undoubtedly be enhanced through membership in the European Union.

Mr Prime Minister

You have a long-standing reputation as an able and committed leader. The honour bestowed on you in 1993 as that year's 'Best Young Politician in the World' does credit to your ability as champion of the common European values.

Like Malta, I am sure that Estonia will seek an active role within the Union. The contribution of our two countries to the recently established Rapid Reaction Force, which has a mandate to alleviate humanitarian crises and act as a peace-keeping presence in troubled regions, is a clear manifestation of our commitment.

Our talks tomorrow will focus on a number of issues, which will serve as a foundation for the consolidation of a stronger and more effective bilateral relationship.

The State visit of our President to Estonia in the coming weeks will further build on this foundation.

With these words of promise, I ask you to rise and toast the health of Prime Minister Laar and to the prosperity of the people of Estonia.