TALLINN, Mar 21, BNS - The Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian defense ministries are going to renew a three-way cooperation agreement this spring.
The updated agreement on defense cooperation will be signed at Baltic defense ministers' next meeting which will take place in Latvia in April or May, a spokesperson for the Estonian Defense Ministry said.
The original agreement was concluded in 1995. The need to revise it stems primarily from the fact that the Baltic states have in between joined NATO, the spokesperson said.
The adapted pact changes the financing of joint events held in the framework of the cooperation agreement. If earlier the expenses of a delegation such as accommodation were paid by the receiving country then under the renewed accord each country shoulders itself its expenses.
The agreement deals with the Baltic states' cooperation in such areas as collaboration within NATO and the European Union, defense policy and planning, development of defense capabilities, training of the military and civilian personnel, communication and information systems, and logistics and procurement.
The pact also covers cooperation in legal issues, crisis management, civilian and military cooperation, defense forces-related environment protection and other questions of mutual interest.
Tallinn newsroom, +372 610 8814, sise@bns.ee
