Dialogue with Russia must also reach entrepreneur level - Estonian parlt panel head

Photo: PEETER LANGOVITS/PM/SCANPIX

 Political dialogue with Russia has to reach the level of entrepreneurs as well, says the chairman of the Estonian parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee, Marko Mihkelson, who met with the president of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs Alexander Shokhin in Moscow on Friday.

Members of the committee delegation visiting Moscow gave in the meeting an overview of the current state of the Estonian economy, eurozone developments and their previous meetings in Moscow, the parliamentary press service said.

Highlighting the constructive political dialogue, Mihkelson said it needs to be transferred to the business level as well to create mutually beneficial ties between entrepreneurs.

Shokhin said the border treaty currently under negotiation will be a solid basis for moving ahead with other bilateral accords such as agreements on the avoidance of double taxation and protection of investments. He stated that Russia is also interested in developing infrastructure in border territories which he said will give an added impetus to trade between the two countries.

Members of the Foreign Affairs Committee visited also the Moscow Institute of International Relations on Friday.

The Estonian delegation is made up of Mihkelson, Jevgeni Ossinovski, Imre Sooaar and Vladimir Velman.