New Estonian Ambassador to Serbia Presents Credentials

Photo: SCANPIX

Estonian Ambassador to Serbia Arti Hilpus presented his credentials to Serbian President Tomislav Nikolić. The ambassador resides in Tallinn.

In the discussion that followed the presenting of credentials, President Nikolić thanked Estonia for consistently supporting Serbia’s European integration process. The president noted that many momentous and difficult decisions lie ahead for Serbia and therefore they hope for the support, understanding and patience of Estonia and the other European Union member states.

Ambassador Hilpus confirmed that Estonia’s support for European Union enlargement and Serbia’s integration with the EU would continue. “The progress made by the Serbian government over the past few months in fulfilling EU criteria, including developing the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, deserve great recognition,” said Hilpus.

During their meeting, President Nikolić expressed the desire to develop bilateral relations between Serbia and Estonia in the economic, political, cultural, and science sectors. They also spoke at length about Serbia’s interest in e-elections, which would facilitate participation in elections for the large number of Serbs that reside abroad. Ambassador Hilpus said that IT co-operation is one area of co-operation that holds great potential. “In 2010 Estonia gave Serbia the X-Road solution. In order to move ahead to the practical phase, it is necessary to define Serbia’s interests and needs more precisely so that the appropriate Estonian institutions and companies could offer Serbia aid and advice,” said the ambassador.

At the meeting, Hilpus noted Estonia’s readiness to co-operate with Serbia in utilising oil shale resources there. “We are prepared to share our knowledge, if the Serbian side is interested in Estonia’s long-time experiences and advice in this field,” he confirmed.

Ambassador Arti Hilpus was born in Elva in 1972, graduated from the history department of Tartu University and completed the international course at the Geneva Centre for Security Policy. Arti Hilpus has worked at the Foreign Ministry since 1996, serving as the director of the human resources division and the director of the division for the European Union Common Foreign and Security Policy. Hilpus worked in the Estonian Embassy in Berlin as the first secretary for political affairs from 2001-2004 and following that he was the director of the security policy division in the Foreign Ministry’s first political department. As of 2009 Hilpus was the Estonian ambassador to Norway and Iceland, residing in Oslo. Arti Hilpus is also the Estonian ambassador to Macedonia*, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro, residing in Tallinn.