Today, 19 September, Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna was in New York, where in meetings at the UN he stressed the need for courage and ambition in carrying out UN reform. The minister also discussed Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, emphasising that a just and lasting peace can only be achieved by pressuring the aggressor and supporting the victim.
In New York, the foreign minister met with Guy Bernard Ryder, UN Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs; Amandeep Gill, the UN Secretary-General’s Envoy on Technology; Michael Waltz, the US Ambassador to the UN; Merete Fjeld Brattested, the Norwegian Ambassador to the UN; Stavros Lambrinidis, the EU Ambassador to the UN; and Andriy Melnyk, the Ukrainian Ambassador to the UN.
“This year marks 80 years since the founding of the UN. To meet the challenges facing the international community, it is essential to modernise the organisation and make it more effective,” Tsahkna said. “Estonia supports reform that would result in a more efficient, more accountable UN that is better at preventing conflicts.”
The meetings also covered how Estonia can contribute its expertise to global digital development, issues related to artificial intelligence, and continued support for Ukraine, including in UN formats.
“Estonia is convinced that achieving a just and lasting peace requires economic and political pressure on the aggressor, and strong military, economic and political support for the victim of aggression,” Tsahkna said, adding that Estonia is working toward this consistently together with allies and partners. “Estonia firmly supports Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty and will never accept the changing of borders by force.”
From the United States, Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna will travel to Brussels, where Thursday’s meeting of EU foreign ministers will address Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, as well as developments in the Middle East, Sudan and the Sahel. EU ministers will also hold discussions with ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). On Friday, the foreign minister will participate in the EU–Indo-Pacific Forum, which brings together foreign ministers from both regions. The forum will discuss defence and security, economic security, and the climate and green transition.
Photos from the foreign minister’s visit to the United States.
Additional information:
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