Estonian foreign minister cites security, terrorism, refugees as country's biggest challenges

Estonia Foreign Minister Marina Kaljurand said that security is the top concern for her country, following aggressive Russian military activities in neighboring Ukraine and in the Crimea.

At a Dec. 17 National Press Club Newsmaker, she called on Russia to resume following international law and the agreements in place under the Helsinki Accords of 1975.

Another challenge facing Estonia is how it will play its part in dealing with millions of refugees and migrants who are flooding into Europe, she said.

“We in Estonia very much believe in solidarity,” Kalijurand said in answer to the question on how Estonia should respond to these pressures. “We can overcome a crisis if we act together."

As part of Europe’s resettlement agreement, Estonia will receive 535 refugees in two years and provide them with education, housing and other social benefits. Kalijurand did not identify the the refugees' origins except to say that economic migrants would not be accepted under this agreement.

The main goal for 2016 is to keep Europe together and united without borders within Europe, she said. But she accepts that temporary walls within the union may be needed.

The Schengen Information System, a database used in national security, border control and law enforcement applications to track individuals and property “has to survive this crisis,” she said.

Kalijurand credited fate and lucky accidents for sparing Estonian lives in the recent terrorist attacks on civilian targets, such as hotels, concert venues and airplanes.

While acknowledging the threat, Kaljurand warned against panic and stated that priorities, values and lifestyles need not change.

She also expressed support for continued efforts to combat organized crime and human trafficking in the European Union.