Estonia Formally Joins Open Governance Partnership

Estonia, along with 41 other countries, has been formally welcomed into the Open Government Partnership (OGP), an international initiative to promote citizen-focused governance using ICT solutions, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced today.

The news comes the day after Foreign Minister Urmas Paet, who is currently attending the OGP's annual meeting in Brazil, met with his host country counterpart, Antonio de Aguiar Patriota, and discussed Estonia's plans for contributing to the group. 

"Our aim in participating in the Open Governance Partnership is to introduce Estonia's successful e-solutions and contribute to the promotion of democracy worldwide," Paet said in the ministry announcement. "It is also important for the basic principles of democracy to spread in countries that are not presently ruled democratically," he added.

The OGP was launched in 2011 by Brazil, Indonesia, Mexico, Norway, Philippines, South Africa, the UK and the US. Its annual meeting, held in Brasilia April 17-18, was attended by representatives of 50 countries.

http://news.err.ee/politics/38090020-8dd5-4610-995c-5775bfcacb99 

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