TALLINN — In a move that lends verity to an anonymously-sourced Newsweek report, Russia’s transport minister said Friday that he considers the rail and road connections between his country and Estonia to be very important and deserving of investment rubles.

The movement of tourists and goods between St. Petersburg and Tallinn make up a large part of the road and rail usage in Estonia. St. Petersburg is the [private_supervisor]closest large Russian city to Estonia’s capital.

In Leipzig, Germany, the Estonian economy minister Juhan Parts met with the Russian transport minister Igor Levitin to discuss the long term upkeep and upgrade of the links between the two cities. Rail transit tariff schemes were also discussed at the meeting.

The two announced after the meeting that bilateral support is needed for the upkeep of the links. Levitin said that the Russian rail networks needed to be opened up to competition like in the west in order to ensure functioning trade.

Both ministers welcomed progress on the bridge between the Estonian border town Narva and Russia.

Despite snuggling up to Russia on the issue, Parts said that the EU as a whole needed to help.

“While Estonia and Russia have recently intensified cooperation in transportation, the cannot be a breakthrough without the European Union. There are several issues that must be carried out in close co-operation between Moscow and Brussels,” said Parts.

Russia’s interest in investing could prove to be part of a larger trend. According to a recent report in the Russian-language edition of Newsweek, the Russian foreign ministry is preparing a policy agenda (initially drafted in February with the approval of President Dmitry Medvedev) that would advocate Russian companies invest in the Baltic states’ transport sectors to facilitate increased trade with the European Union, the energy market and other sectors given the drop in asset value in those countries, alleging a decreasing attractiveness for Western investors.

— Baltic Reports editor Nathan Greenhalgh contributed to this article. [/private_supervisor] [private_subscription 1 month]closest large Russian city to Estonia’s capital.

In Leipzig, Germany, the Estonian economy minister Juhan Parts met with the Russian transport minister Igor Levitin to discuss the long term upkeep and upgrade of the links between the two cities. Rail transit tariff schemes were also discussed at the meeting.

The two announced after the meeting that bilateral support is needed for the upkeep of the links. Levitin said that the Russian rail networks needed to be opened up to competition like in the west in order to ensure functioning trade.

Both ministers welcomed progress on the bridge between the Estonian border town Narva and Russia.

Despite snuggling up to Russia on the issue, Parts said that the EU as a whole needed to help.

“While Estonia and Russia have recently intensified cooperation in transportation, the cannot be a breakthrough without the European Union. There are several issues that must be carried out in close co-operation between Moscow and Brussels,” said Parts.

Russia’s interest in investing could prove to be part of a larger trend. According to a recent report in the Russian-language edition of Newsweek, the Russian foreign ministry is preparing a policy agenda (initially drafted in February with the approval of President Dmitry Medvedev) that would advocate Russian companies invest in the Baltic states’ transport sectors to facilitate increased trade with the European Union, the energy market and other sectors given the drop in asset value in those countries, alleging a decreasing attractiveness for Western investors.

— Baltic Reports editor Nathan Greenhalgh contributed to this article. [/private_subscription 1 month] [private_subscription 4 months]closest large Russian city to Estonia’s capital.

In Leipzig, Germany, the Estonian economy minister Juhan Parts met with the Russian transport minister Igor Levitin to discuss the long term upkeep and upgrade of the links between the two cities. Rail transit tariff schemes were also discussed at the meeting.

The two announced after the meeting that bilateral support is needed for the upkeep of the links. Levitin said that the Russian rail networks needed to be opened up to competition like in the west in order to ensure functioning trade.

Both ministers welcomed progress on the bridge between the Estonian border town Narva and Russia.

Despite snuggling up to Russia on the issue, Parts said that the EU as a whole needed to help.

“While Estonia and Russia have recently intensified cooperation in transportation, the cannot be a breakthrough without the European Union. There are several issues that must be carried out in close co-operation between Moscow and Brussels,” said Parts.

Russia’s interest in investing could prove to be part of a larger trend. According to a recent report in the Russian-language edition of Newsweek, the Russian foreign ministry is preparing a policy agenda (initially drafted in February with the approval of President Dmitry Medvedev) that would advocate Russian companies invest in the Baltic states’ transport sectors to facilitate increased trade with the European Union, the energy market and other sectors given the drop in asset value in those countries, alleging a decreasing attractiveness for Western investors.

— Baltic Reports editor Nathan Greenhalgh contributed to this article. [/private_subscription 4 months] [private_subscription 1 year]closest large Russian city to Estonia’s capital.

In Leipzig, Germany, the Estonian economy minister Juhan Parts met with the Russian transport minister Igor Levitin to discuss the long term upkeep and upgrade of the links between the two cities. Rail transit tariff schemes were also discussed at the meeting.

The two announced after the meeting that bilateral support is needed for the upkeep of the links. Levitin said that the Russian rail networks needed to be opened up to competition like in the west in order to ensure functioning trade.

Both ministers welcomed progress on the bridge between the Estonian border town Narva and Russia.

Despite snuggling up to Russia on the issue, Parts said that the EU as a whole needed to help.

“While Estonia and Russia have recently intensified cooperation in transportation, the cannot be a breakthrough without the European Union. There are several issues that must be carried out in close co-operation between Moscow and Brussels,” said Parts.

Russia’s interest in investing could prove to be part of a larger trend. According to a recent report in the Russian-language edition of Newsweek, the Russian foreign ministry is preparing a policy agenda (initially drafted in February with the approval of President Dmitry Medvedev) that would advocate Russian companies invest in the Baltic states’ transport sectors to facilitate increased trade with the European Union, the energy market and other sectors given the drop in asset value in those countries, alleging a decreasing attractiveness for Western investors.

— Baltic Reports editor Nathan Greenhalgh contributed to this article. [/private_subscription 1 year]

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