Estonian PM pleased with NATO's Afghanistan strategy

03.04.2008

According to Andrus Ansip, the Afghanistan strategy approved at the Bucharest summit helps the alliance to better cope with the challenges facing it. "Hopefully other international organizations will take a leaf out of NATO's book," he said.

NATO heads of state and government stressed the alliance's long-term commitment to building stability and a better life in Afghanistan and said the allies are ready to continue the Afghan operation as long as necessary.

Participants in the summit underlined the importance of international cooperation to ensure the success of the mission.

Cooperation and coordination among international organizations, particularly the European Union and NATO, needs to be improved, also the Estonian premier stressed.

Ansip voiced the hope that the appointment of Kai Eide for the UN secretary-general's special envoy to Afghanistan paves the way for closer cooperation among several organizations.

Foreign Minister Urmas Paet added that in Estonia's opinion the United Nations should be the principal coordinator of international aid in Afghanistan.

"We therefore consider it necessary to clearly define the UN envoy Kai Eide's role so that different countries and organizations saw it in the same way," Paet said.

Estonia is making a substantial contribution to the Afghan mission, Defense Minister Jaak Aaviksoo said.

"Nonetheless, we plan to deploy a mortar unit to Afghanistan this spring," he said.

Increasing its contribution, Estonia will still remain within the present mandate which allows up to 150 defense forces personnel to be deployed to Afghanistan, the minister added.

Tallinn newsroom, +372 610 8861, sise@bns.ee