Estonian MFA to move it`s ambassador from Tbilisi to Yerevan

ArmInfo.  The Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has decided to move Marge Mardisalu-Kahar, the Estonian ambassador accredited to Georgia and  Armenia, whose residence has until now been in Tbilisi, to the  Armenian capital, Yerevan, and end her posting  as Georgian  ambassador. According to ERR, the reason for this change is the  cooling of Estonia's relations with the Georgian government and the  simultaneous strengthening of ties with Armenia.

The press service of the Estonian Foreign Ministry reported that the  Ministry of Foreign Affairs on February 11 informed Georgia's charge  d'affaires that Estonia's Ambassador to Georgia, Marge Mardisalu-  Kahar, will conclude her mission in Tbilisi on March 10. 

Until a new ambassador is appointed, Estonia's Embassy in Georgia  will be headed by Charge d'Affaires Gita Kalmet, the ministry  added.Until the appointment of a new ambassador, the Estonian embassy  in Georgia will be headed by Charge d'Affaires Gita Kalmet. A  spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs declined to specify  when a new ambassador to Georgia might be appointed.

Mardisalu-Kahar will continue her work as ambassador to Armenia where  Estonia will open its embassy in March. Marge Mardisalu-Kahar will  become Estonia's first resident ambassador in Yerevan, the ministry  said. The government decided last November to open the embassy in  Armenia.

Estonia and Georgia opened embassies in each other's capitals in 2006  and 2007, respectively, though Georgia currently does not have an  ambassador in Estonia. Estonia's relations with Georgia have cooled  following the change of power in Georgia, which resulted in  pro-European political forces being pushed out of office and the  government forcefully suppressing all protests. At the same time,  Estonia's relations with Armenia have begun to develop rapidly in  light of changes there, reflected in closer ties with the European  Union and the launch of a reconciliation process with Azerbaijan.

"Estonia's relations with Armenia are stable and good and have been  on an upward trajectory since 2023.  Bilateral visits and meetings  have taken place at the level of presidents, prime ministers and  foreign ministers," the Ministry of Foreign Affairs states on its  website.

Regarding relations with Georgia, the ministry notes on its website  that Estonia has long contributed to Georgia's Euro-Atlantic  integration. However, in light of the Georgian authorities'  systematic drift away from democracy, including shortcomings in  meeting the conditions set for European Union candidate status,  supporting Georgian state institutions is no longer an Estonian  foreign policy priority. Estonia continues to support the development  of civil society and free media, it added.  Estonia also reaffirmed  its consistent support for Georgia's territorial integrity, noting  that one Estonian expert is serving with the European Union  Monitoring Mission in Georgia.