It's important for small countries to take part in foreign missions - Estonian PM

21.04.2008

"It's very important for a small country to take part in foreign missions. By doing it we show our commitment to the principle of collective defense," Ansip said in his speech to participants in the 18th senior courses in national defense.

The prime minister pointed out that in the period since the regaining of independence Estonia has received a lot of help from its Western partners.

"Now that Estonia is ready to itself give security assistance it is our moral duty to do it," he said.

The prime minister also said that the government must fulfill its international commitments, which in the making of a negative supplementary budget means that defense spending has to be kept at 1.8 percent of GDP this year.

"A small country has little else to offer save for trust, and the promises that one has given must be fulfilled," he said.

Recalling discussions on foreign missions that took place during the NATO summit in Bucharest, the head of government stressed that Estonia fully supports improving military-civilian cooperation in mission areas.

"It is not possible to achieve a breakthrough in Afghanistan by military means alone, an it's not what one has been trying to do," he said, adding that alliance members have invested also in the building up of the country's civilian structures and that the share of these investments must grow.

Starting from 1999 the Ministry of Defense has been holding senior courses in national defense for leaders of organizations in the public, private and NGO sectors with the purpose of offering them a complete picture of different aspects of security and defense policy.

Some 800 people have passed the courses by now.

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