Estonia to send mortar unit to Afghanistan
28.02.2008
TALLINN, Feb 28, BNS - Estonia has in principle decided to send a mortar unit to Afghanistan but the time of deployment is yet open.
The commander of the defense forces, Lt. Gen. Ants Laaneots, and Defense Minister Jaak Aaviksoo have basically reached agreement on deploying a mortar unit to Afghanistan but the technical and logistical details need some more work, spokespeople for the Defense Ministry said.
General Staff spokesman Maj. Peeter Tali told BNS that if the defense minister makes a decision to send a mortar unit together with a new infantry platoon to Afghanistan in May the defense forces are ready to fulfill the decision.
The British command in Afghanistan asked Estonia in January to provide fire support in its area of responsibility as soon as possible. The ESTCOY-5 platoon has been assigned its own area of responsibility in Now Zad in Helmand province.
Deployment of the unit means the Estonian mission contingent will increase by 18-20 troops.
The unit plans to use 81-mm mortars.
The parliament extended at the beginning of December Estonian troops' mission in Afghanistan till the end of 2008. The mandate allows up to 150 military to be deployed to that country. Estonia at present has 120 soldiers serving in Afghanistan.
Tallinn newsroom, +372 610 8862, sise@bns.ee
 
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