Ernst Jaakson's speech on 48th Session of the UN General Assembly (1993)

Ernst Jaakson, the ambassador of the Republic of Estonia in the United States of America, makes an overview of the situation in the Baltic States. Soviet military bases block the reconstruction work and normal development in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania that have newly obtained independence. The military bases have left their trace on the environment of the Baltic States after these 50 years. There is vandalizing and violating the environmental safety requirements on the territories of military bases. Therefore, fishing in the Baltic Sea is endangered. All three Baltic countries must collaborate in designing a joint sea boundary. The existing forest resource must be preserved and should not be carelessly exploited. Economic dialogue and collaboration with the developed European countries. The Baltic States are only at the beginning of this reconstruction work. Dangerous effects of electric power production to the environment must be inspected since the technology is out of date. According to the programme of Agenda 21 accepted at UN conference of environment and development on June 14, 1992 environment must be protected all over the world. But in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania old technologies are being used. Requirements are applied during difficult times for the Baltic countries since they are rearranging their legislation and economy. Baltic enterprises must be privatised and reformed based on new technologies. And for that legal basis must be formed. Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania aim at following the sustainable development programme accepted at the UN conference held in Rio de Janeiro.