Army cmdr: Key to Estonia's security lies in strong reserve force

23.02.2008

"Estonia managed to restore its statehood in 1991 in a bloodless way. Maybe that victory without victims has made us careless, even overbearing as regards ensuring our security. We tend to take statehood too unthoughtfully, as something natural and for granted," Laaneots said in his speech at the parade in the southwestern city of Parnu marking the 90th anniversary of the proclamation of the Republic of Estonia.

The army chief described freedom as a fragile treasure that must be protected vigorously and consistently, because the desire to act from a position of power has not disappeared from the world.

"The international security situation is in constant change, and unfortunately not toward better. The leaders of major powers are ever more often using the term "cold war" in their public remarks. That is a sign of danger," Laaneots said.

Estonia does have the means to defend itself with. It is a member of the world's most powerful defense organization NATO and the European Union, a body that is rapidly developing its military capabilities, he said.

"Estonian soldiers and officers must learn to fight and organize combat in an excellent manner, be it in defense of our native land here or to act together with our allies abroad," Laaneots said.

Estonia's small population size and limited resources do not allow it to maintain a professional military of sufficient size and capabilities.

"The Estonian defense force is a military force in reserve. The preserving of our combat ability requires regular participation by reservists in reserve training," Laaneots said.

Turning to present and future reservists, the chief of the armed forces said that already in the near future the defense forces will be sending out invitations more often to reserve training.

Looking back into history, the army chief made it clear that Estonia should have taken up arms to resist the Red Army in 1939.

"Was it necessary to put up resistance or was it better to surrender and let oneself be driven to the slaughterhouse like a herd of lambs that has resigned to one's fate, like actually happened?" Laaneots asked.

He said that Estonia lost more than 180,000 people in World War II as fallen, people forced into exile and forcefully deported, who in most cases did not lose their lives fighting under the Estonian flag because there was almost no state-organized resistance.

Finland, too, suffered huge losses in the Winter War, Continuation War and Lappland War, but was able, unlike occupied Estonia, to emerge after the war as a developed, self-confident, highly recognized country with a high standard of living and a strong defense organization, with a population of just 5.3 million, Laaneots said.

Tallinn newsroom, +372 610 8832, sise@bns.ee