Address by Foreign Minister Rein Lang at the celebrating of the first anniversary of Estonia’s NATO accession
Tallinn, 4 April 2005
Respected audience,
Dear colleagues,
Joining NATO is, without a doubt, one of the most essential moments, so far, in the course of our independent statehood. Since last year’s 29 March, Estonia’s security is ensured in a manner unequalled by anything to be found in the annals of our turbulent past. For over a year now, Estonia is one of 26 equal partners in an organisation, which can truly be regarded as the most effective and efficient alliance of all time. Our airspace is secured by NATO aircraft 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Membership in NATO, just as in the European Union, has given our foreign policy a global dimension.
We have gotten this far thanks, in part, to the efforts of many of you here in this hall today -- both the members of the Estonian NATO Association, as well as my colleagues from the Foreign and Defence Ministries, plus the Defence Forces. Allow me to congratulate you all on the first anniversary of our NATO membership!
It is clear that in the course of the last 15 years NATO has undergone great changes. A successful though relatively static Cold War alliance is in the changed conditions of the global security environment evolving into an ever-more dynamic organisation. Although any kind of large-scale military aggression against a NATO Member State is at present quite unlikely, so-called new threats have acquired a correspondingly greater role. And responding effectively to these threats requires even more flexibility and cooperation than ever before.
Dear audience,
To ensure its national security, Estonia is interested in a strong Alliance. And NATO, of course, is strong only if a sincere desire for unity and cooperation dominates both shores of the Atlantic Ocean. United States President George Bush’s visit to Brussels on February 22 kindled hopes for the re-strengthening of transatlantic relations. The successfulness of the struggle against terrorism, against the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and against other contemporary threats to security is, understandably, dependent upon the extent of cooperation between the forces of democracy.
Although the ensuring of the security and common defence of the transatlantic space is primarily NATO’s responsibility, the European Union, along with European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP) operations, also has an ever-greater role to play in the ensuring of Europe’s stability. As is well known, Estonia believes in the principle that Europe’s security is indivisible, in the need for strong transatlantic ties, and that, in the course of ensuring security in Europe and the world, the ESDP and NATO must complement, not duplicate or compete with each other. Therefore, while planning the further development of the ESDP, serious consideration must be given to
appropriate NATO developments, and when developing military capabilities to utilise the cooperative capacities of both organisations. It is in Estonia’s interests to promote close relations between NATO and the EU.
One point of common interest in the sphere of NATO and European Union military cooperation is, among others, the development of the rapid reaction capability of both organisations. Active contributing to both the NATO Response Force (NRF) and the EU Battle Groups (BG) has to be closely coordinated. Estonia is also making efforts in this field. Already in May we will be ready to contribute a staff ship to the NATO Response Force, and, by 2007, also some army units. Within the framework of the European Union Battle Groups, we would like to join the Nordic Battle Group, and at the moment we are negotiating the matter with Sweden.
One of NATO’s priorities has become the Partnership Programme, which has a direct tie-in with the European Union’s Neighbourhood Policy. Estonia acknowledges the Euro-Atlantic course of Ukraine’s foreign policy, and actively supports the launching of an intensive NATO dialogue with Ukraine.
Estonia greets the NATO Istanbul Summit’s decision to also develop the Partnership Programme with the Caucasus and Central Asian states, especially Georgia. At the same time NATO must continue and find even more opportunities to intensify relations with the states in its vicinity, especially with the countries encompassed by the Mediterranean Dialogue as well as the broader Middle East region.
NATO’s relations with Russia are important. The developments taking place in Russia during the last few years give cause for concern. They must be dealt with realistically and frankly by both NATO and the European Union. At the same time it is, of course, clear that the Alliance must continue its cooperation and dialogue with Russia. Close cooperation must also be maintained with our nearest NATO Partner States. The Estonian Embassy in Helsinki, for instance, has the honour of being, since 1 September 2004, NATO’s Contact Point Embassy in Finland.
Dear audience,
Last year’s NATO Summit in Istanbul, on 28-29 June, confirmed the sustainability of the Alliance’s activities, and the continued need for developing capabilities. The carrying out of NATO operations and the ensuring of appropriate capabilities are among the main tasks of the Alliance and its Member States.
Estonia will continue to actively participate in international crisis management plus the fight against terrorism, and is, this very day, participating in all NATO peace support operations. Nevertheless, it must be noted, that our contribution is still less than the 8/40 objective agreed upon within NATO. According to this agreement, each NATO Member State is committed to maintaining 8% of its defence forces on international missions, and 40% of the Member State’s army has to be very easily redeployable. According to “The Defence Forces’ Structure and Development Plan 2010”, approved by the Government in March 2004, by the year 2010, 350 military personnel must participate in international missions for Estonia to achieve the 8% level.
Our role in the Afghanistan mission is for Estonia, as a NATO Member, a high priority both politically and for the obtaining of operational experiences. Keeping in mind the parliamentary elections, which will hopefully take place in September, NATO’s primary objective in Afghanistan at the moment is the stabilisation of the security environment, and the successful concluding of the elections.
Presently, an Estonian military police unit is serving in Kosovo. Estonia, just like Latvia and Lithuania, is also continuing to participate in the rotation scheme with a company serving together with the Danish forces. This all is quite prudent since Kosovo’s status will be negotiated this year, which means that the region’s security environment could become strained. At the same time, the Balkans as a whole is a good example of the cooperation developing between the European Union and NATO in the security policy realm. The handing over of the NATO-led Stabilisation Force (SFOR) to the European Union, making it thus the EUFOR, is a proof that the Berlin Plus programme is functioning successfully.
In addition to the aforementioned, Estonia supports the NATO training mission in Iraq. The objective is to restore as quickly as possible the local power structures. And Estonia is contributing to the effort in accordance with its capabilities. In January we sent to Iraq a shipment of small arms and ammunition. Presently a computer class is being equipped for the NATO training centre in Baghdad. The General Staff of the Defence Forces sent an officer to Iraq as an instructor, to help train that country’s officers.
Dear audience,
It is obvious, that Estonia’s capabilities as a small state for contributing militarily are much more limited than those of NATO’s big Member States. But by finding our niche in NATO, we would be able to contribute on an equal basis with the big members. One possibility, which has already been discussed, would be to specialise in the IT field, especially considering NATO’s growing and justified interest in so-called cyber-terrorism.
It is also obvious that despite its limited resources and capabilities, Estonia must fulfil all the promises and commitments made when joining NATO, including the maintaining of defence expenditures at 2% of GDP. Only thus can we be reliable allies, and hope that our voice will be heard in the international relations arena. We must not forget that 2% of GDP, as a reliable partner in NATO, is for Estonia a noticeably bigger security guarantee than whatever other amount, even 100% of GDP, without membership in NATO!
Thank you for your attention!
Respected audience,
Dear colleagues,
Joining NATO is, without a doubt, one of the most essential moments, so far, in the course of our independent statehood. Since last year’s 29 March, Estonia’s security is ensured in a manner unequalled by anything to be found in the annals of our turbulent past. For over a year now, Estonia is one of 26 equal partners in an organisation, which can truly be regarded as the most effective and efficient alliance of all time. Our airspace is secured by NATO aircraft 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Membership in NATO, just as in the European Union, has given our foreign policy a global dimension.
We have gotten this far thanks, in part, to the efforts of many of you here in this hall today -- both the members of the Estonian NATO Association, as well as my colleagues from the Foreign and Defence Ministries, plus the Defence Forces. Allow me to congratulate you all on the first anniversary of our NATO membership!
It is clear that in the course of the last 15 years NATO has undergone great changes. A successful though relatively static Cold War alliance is in the changed conditions of the global security environment evolving into an ever-more dynamic organisation. Although any kind of large-scale military aggression against a NATO Member State is at present quite unlikely, so-called new threats have acquired a correspondingly greater role. And responding effectively to these threats requires even more flexibility and cooperation than ever before.
Dear audience,
To ensure its national security, Estonia is interested in a strong Alliance. And NATO, of course, is strong only if a sincere desire for unity and cooperation dominates both shores of the Atlantic Ocean. United States President George Bush’s visit to Brussels on February 22 kindled hopes for the re-strengthening of transatlantic relations. The successfulness of the struggle against terrorism, against the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and against other contemporary threats to security is, understandably, dependent upon the extent of cooperation between the forces of democracy.
Although the ensuring of the security and common defence of the transatlantic space is primarily NATO’s responsibility, the European Union, along with European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP) operations, also has an ever-greater role to play in the ensuring of Europe’s stability. As is well known, Estonia believes in the principle that Europe’s security is indivisible, in the need for strong transatlantic ties, and that, in the course of ensuring security in Europe and the world, the ESDP and NATO must complement, not duplicate or compete with each other. Therefore, while planning the further development of the ESDP, serious consideration must be given to
appropriate NATO developments, and when developing military capabilities to utilise the cooperative capacities of both organisations. It is in Estonia’s interests to promote close relations between NATO and the EU.
One point of common interest in the sphere of NATO and European Union military cooperation is, among others, the development of the rapid reaction capability of both organisations. Active contributing to both the NATO Response Force (NRF) and the EU Battle Groups (BG) has to be closely coordinated. Estonia is also making efforts in this field. Already in May we will be ready to contribute a staff ship to the NATO Response Force, and, by 2007, also some army units. Within the framework of the European Union Battle Groups, we would like to join the Nordic Battle Group, and at the moment we are negotiating the matter with Sweden.
One of NATO’s priorities has become the Partnership Programme, which has a direct tie-in with the European Union’s Neighbourhood Policy. Estonia acknowledges the Euro-Atlantic course of Ukraine’s foreign policy, and actively supports the launching of an intensive NATO dialogue with Ukraine.
Estonia greets the NATO Istanbul Summit’s decision to also develop the Partnership Programme with the Caucasus and Central Asian states, especially Georgia. At the same time NATO must continue and find even more opportunities to intensify relations with the states in its vicinity, especially with the countries encompassed by the Mediterranean Dialogue as well as the broader Middle East region.
NATO’s relations with Russia are important. The developments taking place in Russia during the last few years give cause for concern. They must be dealt with realistically and frankly by both NATO and the European Union. At the same time it is, of course, clear that the Alliance must continue its cooperation and dialogue with Russia. Close cooperation must also be maintained with our nearest NATO Partner States. The Estonian Embassy in Helsinki, for instance, has the honour of being, since 1 September 2004, NATO’s Contact Point Embassy in Finland.
Dear audience,
Last year’s NATO Summit in Istanbul, on 28-29 June, confirmed the sustainability of the Alliance’s activities, and the continued need for developing capabilities. The carrying out of NATO operations and the ensuring of appropriate capabilities are among the main tasks of the Alliance and its Member States.
Estonia will continue to actively participate in international crisis management plus the fight against terrorism, and is, this very day, participating in all NATO peace support operations. Nevertheless, it must be noted, that our contribution is still less than the 8/40 objective agreed upon within NATO. According to this agreement, each NATO Member State is committed to maintaining 8% of its defence forces on international missions, and 40% of the Member State’s army has to be very easily redeployable. According to “The Defence Forces’ Structure and Development Plan 2010”, approved by the Government in March 2004, by the year 2010, 350 military personnel must participate in international missions for Estonia to achieve the 8% level.
Our role in the Afghanistan mission is for Estonia, as a NATO Member, a high priority both politically and for the obtaining of operational experiences. Keeping in mind the parliamentary elections, which will hopefully take place in September, NATO’s primary objective in Afghanistan at the moment is the stabilisation of the security environment, and the successful concluding of the elections.
Presently, an Estonian military police unit is serving in Kosovo. Estonia, just like Latvia and Lithuania, is also continuing to participate in the rotation scheme with a company serving together with the Danish forces. This all is quite prudent since Kosovo’s status will be negotiated this year, which means that the region’s security environment could become strained. At the same time, the Balkans as a whole is a good example of the cooperation developing between the European Union and NATO in the security policy realm. The handing over of the NATO-led Stabilisation Force (SFOR) to the European Union, making it thus the EUFOR, is a proof that the Berlin Plus programme is functioning successfully.
In addition to the aforementioned, Estonia supports the NATO training mission in Iraq. The objective is to restore as quickly as possible the local power structures. And Estonia is contributing to the effort in accordance with its capabilities. In January we sent to Iraq a shipment of small arms and ammunition. Presently a computer class is being equipped for the NATO training centre in Baghdad. The General Staff of the Defence Forces sent an officer to Iraq as an instructor, to help train that country’s officers.
Dear audience,
It is obvious, that Estonia’s capabilities as a small state for contributing militarily are much more limited than those of NATO’s big Member States. But by finding our niche in NATO, we would be able to contribute on an equal basis with the big members. One possibility, which has already been discussed, would be to specialise in the IT field, especially considering NATO’s growing and justified interest in so-called cyber-terrorism.
It is also obvious that despite its limited resources and capabilities, Estonia must fulfil all the promises and commitments made when joining NATO, including the maintaining of defence expenditures at 2% of GDP. Only thus can we be reliable allies, and hope that our voice will be heard in the international relations arena. We must not forget that 2% of GDP, as a reliable partner in NATO, is for Estonia a noticeably bigger security guarantee than whatever other amount, even 100% of GDP, without membership in NATO!
Thank you for your attention!
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