Inquiries Regarding Estonia's Conduct at the United Nations General Assembly (no. 663)
Session: 15th Riigikogu, 4th sitting, plenary sitting
Date: 2024-12-09 18:32
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 30
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 24m
AI Summaries: 30/30 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
During the discussion of the third agenda item, a request for information no. 663, concerning Estonia’s vote at the United Nations General Assembly on September 18, 2024, was presented by members of the Riigikogu Vadim Belobrovtsev, Lauri Laatsi, Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart, and Vladimir Arhipov. Riigikogu member Vadim Belobrovtsev was asked to deliver the presentation. The request for information focused on Estonia’s vote and the tensions created in Estonian-Israeli relations, taking into account the context of the tragic events of October 7th, and the need to clarify why Estonia has changed its voting practice and whether this occurred based on instructions from the minister.
The second part of the agenda item included Minister Margus Tsahkna’s responses to the requesters’ questions, followed by question-and-answer speeches from various members of the Riigikogu. The discussion touched on the semantic effects of the ICC arrest warrants, the situations in Syria and Israel, developments in the Middle East, the issue of refugee acceptance, and Estonia’s consultation practices more broadly with allies. Finally, the agenda item was closed, and no clear decisions were made; the discussion focused on the continued protection of principles and interests in Estonian foreign policy, as well as adherence to international law.
Decisions Made 1
Decisions were not made. The discussion and responses regarding the inquiry concern an informative explanation, but no final political decisions were adopted.
Most Active Speaker
The most active representative was Vadim Belobrovtsev (a cross-party entrepreneur in the Riigikogu). He can be seen as the driving force behind the cross-party group of entrepreneurs; political affiliation is not precisely defined here, therefore category: other.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
This speech concerns the parliamentary inquiry submitted on 4 November 2024 by Riigikogu members Vadim Belobrovtsevi, Lauri Laatsi, Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvarti and Vladimir Arhipovi regarding Estonia's conduct at the UN General Assembly, and the presenter is Vadim Belobrovtsevi.
Vadim Belobrovtsev
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Vadim Belobrovtsev notes that Estonia voted on September 18 in the UN General Assembly in favor of a resolution calling on Israel to end the occupation of the Palestinian territories, and emphasizes that this has run counter to Estonia’s previous voting patterns, and raises several questions for the minister about the reasons for the change, consultations with allies, the involvement of the Riigikogu, and the possible impact on Estonia–Israel relations, and asks whether it would have been prudent to vote in line with the earlier practice if the text of the resolution does not adequately reflect Israel’s security interests.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The deputy speaker thanks and invites the esteemed Minister of Foreign Affairs Margus Tsahkna to answer the inquirers' questions at the Riigikogu's rostrum.
Välisminister Margus Tsahkna
AI Summary
Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna told the Riigikogu that Estonia's foreign policy remains in line with Estonia's interests, the European Union's and NATO's principles, and is based on international law; he stressed the positions of UN and ICJ resolutions, voted in favor of a resolution concerning the ICJ's opinion, condemned Hamas and other terrorist organizations, and supported a two-state solution and peaceful negotiations between Israel and Palestine, and will continue to cooperate closely with its allies, including Israel.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi thanks the audience, invites them to pose questions, and turns to Vadim Belobrovtsev.
Vadim Belobrovtsev
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Vadim Belobrovtsev skeptically asks how the International Criminal Court ruling, by which democratically elected members of the Israeli government and Hamas leaders are equated, helps peace, and how Estonia should act in this situation, referring to the cases of Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant.
Välisminister Margus Tsahkna
AI Summary
Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna stressed that Estonia adheres to the validity of international law, is a member of the International Criminal Court, and regards the independence of ICC decisions as important, and calls for achieving peace and initiating mutual talks in the Middle East through peaceful, coordinated cooperation with allies, while keeping Estonia's interests in mind.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The deputy chairman Toomas Kivimägi asks Riina Solman to perform.
Riina Solman
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Riina Solman said that she did not see a proposal to undermine the rules-based international order and asked whether the foreign minister should have stayed silent and not informed Lithuania immediately, and whether the Estonian Jewish community feels hurt or unsafe after her speech at the Old Jewish Cemetery and the decisions made.
Välisminister Margus Tsahkna
AI Summary
Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna confirmed that Estonia's foreign policy remains on the same course and is based on strategic documents approved by the Riigikogu. Estonia is a safe place for all nationalities, including the Jewish community, and the government is working to ensure security. He does not foresee any extraordinary changes in this policy.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The speech was merely a plea to invite Henn Põlluaas to perform.
Henn Põlluaas
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Henn Põlluaas criticizes that the government, together with Chancellor Vseviov, formed its own position and tried to smooth it over later; the commission did not adopt that decision, and he also highlights the Israel–Palestine negotiations and the question of Palestine's status as a United Nations observer state.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
This was merely a token of gratitude.
Henn Põlluaas
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
They claim that there is no such state and that it is only territory under terrorist control, which lacks state recognition.
Välisminister Margus Tsahkna
AI Summary
They assert that the listener has misunderstood the question, and there are several false claims in it that they will not bother refuting.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
During the speech, Mart Maastikut was invited onto the stage.
Mart Maastik
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Mart Maastik raises the question of whether Estonia's foreign policy should be guided by personal preferences or by defending international law, and whether it should dare to voice its positions, taking into account the differing views on the United States and Israel.
Välisminister Margus Tsahkna
AI Summary
Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said that Estonia's foreign policy is based on the unity that has lasted more than 30 years, international law, and our principles and interests, which are protected, and the successes achieved to date should continue.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Since a misunderstanding may have arisen between the questioner and the minister, Henn Põlluaas presents a question to the chair of the session.
Henn Põlluaas
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Henn Põlluaas accuses the minister in the Riigikogu of extreme arrogance and untruthfulness, saying that the minister refused to answer and claimed that the entire issue consisted of lies (including on the Palestine issue), and he calls the minister to account.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi emphasizes mutual respect, tries to answer questions, and promises to obtain an answer from the minister later about Palestine, after which he will turn to Lauri Laats.
Lauri Laats
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Lauri Laats emphasizes the importance of the Middle East, discusses the turbulence of the situation in Syria, where power has collapsed and rebels have seized the country, and HTS's role and its ties to ISIS, and asks what the current situation is, what information the ministry has, and whether we should be vigilant.
Välisminister Margus Tsahkna
AI Summary
According to Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna, the situation in Syria is very complicated, but the only clear fact is that the Bashar al-Assad regime has ended, and the path forward must be peaceful and in accordance with the will of the Syrian people, where solutions may emerge through the convocation of a representative assembly, but the questions of maintaining territorial integrity and guaranteeing power remain unresolved, and precise answers are lacking.
Ants Frosch
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Ants Frosch asks whether Estonia's foreign policy would become peripheral if it concentrated only on coordinating with its immediate neighbours, and whether it would be wise to consult also with the leading European and world powers outside its own region.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
At the start of the speech, Ants Frosch is invited onto the stage.
Välisminister Margus Tsahkna
AI Summary
He stressed that Estonia does not coordinate its positions, but consults and is in constant contact, and engages in very serious security and foreign policy cooperation with all allies, including those located far away.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The deputy chairman Toomas Kivimägi turned to Vladimir Arhipov and asked him.
Vladimir Arhipov
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Arhipov points out that, due to the events affecting Syria, a large number of refugees may leave Syria and, in the end, probably head for Europe, and he asks the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for its stance on how to receive them.
Välisminister Margus Tsahkna
AI Summary
Instability forces people to move, but based on the early days so far we see that Syrian refugees are returning and the refugee wave has not grown, but if the conflict intensifies and people's lives are in danger, a refugee wave will certainly arise, and Estonia monitors the situation together with the European Union and is ready to respond if necessary.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi thanked everyone, announced that there were no further questions, opened and closed the negotiations, and ended the consideration of that agenda item.