Vice President Biden welcomed Prime Minister Andrus Ansip of Estonia to the White House today. The Vice President and Prime Minister emphasized their support for strong relations between our two countries and close cooperation on regional issues of mutual concern. The Vice President congratulated the Prime Minister on the remarkable democratic and economic achievements Estonia has made as it approaches the 20th anniversary of the restoration of its independence next month. Estonia has offered its valuable experience and its assistance to others in Europe and in the Middle East and North Africa seeking to undertake similar reforms; the Vice President noted Prime Minister Ansip’s leadership in this area. Vice President Biden expressed U.S. appreciation for Estonia’s important ongoing contributions to the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan and to other missions in which it is a valued partner, and thanked Estonia for the sacrifices it has made in these missions. He also reiterated the United States’ unwavering Article 5 commitment to Estonia as a NATO ally.