Prime Minister Kallas thanked President Macron for France’s military presence in the Baltic Sea region. “France is a strong ally of Estonia. French defence forces in Estonia help to ensure our security,” said Kallas. The Prime Minister also acknowledged the important role played by the French President in supporting Ukraine. “France understands very clearly the threat that Russia poses to Europe and the free world. France has done a lot to help Ukraine and we all need to continue these efforts together,” added Kallas.
According to Prime Minister Kallas, Hamas attacks against Israel were also discussed at the meeting. “Hamas is carrying out ruthless terror and shows no respect for human life, including the lives of Palestinians. Israel has every right to defend itself. This self-defence must be done in a way that spares innocent lives and respects the norms of international law,” said Kallas.
The Prime Minister acknowledged that radicalisation, in whatever form, is a threat to us all. It is in the interest of Israelis, Palestinians, the Middle East, and the world to end the violence and tensions. “Stirring up crisis in the Middle East benefits forces interested in distracting us and fragmenting our unity. It is useful for those who want to divert the attention of the free world from supporting Ukraine. It is all the more important that we keep our unity and our broad support for Ukraine,” said Kallas.
The Estonian Prime Minister stressed that Russia is fighting a war of attrition in Ukraine and that difficult times continue. “Lasting peace in Europe will only be possible once the aggressor has been finally defeated, Russia’s crimes have been punished and we have eliminated the grey areas in European security. Ukraine’s place is in the European Union and, after the end of the war, in NATO,” Kallas said.
Prime Minister Kallas is in Paris with a business delegation focusing on green technology. “An important outcome of the visit will be the signing of a Declaration of Common Intent between Estonia and France in the field of green technologies. The aim is to give an impetus to Estonian and French companies to intensify cooperation opportunities,” Kallas stressed. “Estonia and France are very much of the same mindset that Europe needs to strengthen its energy independence and we need to move to clean energy and low carbon fuels,” said Kallas.
Today, the Prime Minister also participated in a business seminar at the Estonian Embassy in Paris, which focused on energy and green technology. The seminar was organised in cooperation with the French business umbrella organisation MEDEF (Mouvement des Entreprises de France). Among the Estonian companies present were Elcogen, Fusebox, Skeleton Technologies, Sunly, and UpCatalyst. The Declaration of Common Intent on green technologies was signed by Tiit Riisalo, Estonian Minister of Economic Affairs and Information Technology, and Olivier Becht, French Minister for Foreign Trade, Attractiveness, and the French Abroad.
- Press statement by Prime Minister Kallas ahead of her meeting with President Macron (in English): https://valitsus.ee/en/news/remarks-prime-minister-kaja-kallas-press-point-french-president-emmanuel-macron-18-october
- Photos (gallery to be updated): https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjAYZLM
- Video of the press statements of Kallas and Macron: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QDdQFpgs3gI&t=1s
