Estonian Ambassador to the Czech Republic presents her credentials

On 17 August, Estonia’s new Ambassador to the Czech Republic, Gita Kalmet, presented her credentials to President Miloš Zeman.

This is a seminal year in the relations of Estonia and the Czech Republic – we are celebrating the centenary of establishing diplomatic relations between the countries and the 30th anniversary of the restoration of relations in September 1991. Today, Estonia and the Czech Republic are close allies in NATO and partners in the European Union. The Czech Air Force has patrolled Estonia’s skies as part of the Baltic Air Policing on no less than three occasions, most recently in 2019 from the Ämari Air Base. The Czech Republic has joined the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence in Tallinn and their military is taking part in NATO battle groups in Latvia and Lithuania to ensure the region’s safety.

In the European Union, Estonia and the Czech Republic have similar views on many issues, including the EU’s internal market, digital affairs, supporting Eastern Partners and EU enlargement. Estonian and Czech governments are also cooperating in many other formats, including the regional format known as the Three Seas Initiative. A close alliance and partnership with the Czech Republic has always been important for Estonia.

Gita Kalmet has been working at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs since 1993. She has worked in various fields, including international organisations, security and the European Union. She was a policy official at the Estonian embassy in Paris between 1999 and 2002, an exchange diplomat in London in 2005, and the Estonian ambassador to the Netherlands in 2006-2011 and Canada between 2013 and 2018.

Estonian Ambassador to the Czech Republic Gita Kalmet in Prague, 17.08.2021