New ruling coalition likely to support Estonian bid for temporary seat on UN Security Council
Estonia is set to continue seeking a temporary seat on the UN Security Council under the new Estonian government being formed, confirmed Chairman of the National Defence Committee of the Riigikogu Marko Mihkelson (IRL).
Mihkelson told ERR's online news portal that the government being formed will continue on course with all key trends as regards to external security, including striving toward a temporary seat on the UN Security Council, and that he did not see any reason to turn heel.
"In foreign and security policy it would be very unwise for a small country especially to make such changes," said Mihkelson.
Former Prime Minister Taavi Rõivas had previously been the primary spokesman for Estonia's potential bid for a temporary seat on the security council, calling the opportunity one of Estonia's next bigger foreign policy goals following the country's presidency of the EU.
Former President Toomas Hendrik Ilves, however, was skeptical of the plan, stating that it was incomprehensible what Estonia had to achieve from it.
Foreign policy experts have said that Estonia's potentially serving on the security council could demonstrate to larger countries that smaller states can also participate in global affairs, however they have also questioned whether the groundwork for two years would pay off.
Editor: Editor: Aili Vahtla