Estonia prepared to participate in investigation of Georgian aviation incident
24.04.2008
TALLINN, Apr 24, BNS - Estonia is prepared to despatch to Georgia an expert to investigate the Georgian aviation incident.
Georgia has addressed to the Estonian Foreign Ministry a request to send an expert to assist the group investigating the shooting down of an aircraft.
"In principle, Estonia is prepared to send its experts to investigate the incident in Georgia," the Foreign Ministry spokeswoman told BNS. But she added that Estonia would consult with allies concerning their intentions and would then take a balanced decision.
The spokeswoman added that the group of experts should preferably have wider international support.
An unmanned Georgian reconnaissance aircraft was Sunday shot down above the Georgian separatist region of Abkhazia. According to Tbilisi the aircraft was shot down by a Russian military aircraft but Moscow denies it. The Abkhazian defense agency said that the reeconnaissance aircraft was shot down by an L-39 jet aircraft of the Abkhazian air force.
The Latvian defense ministry Thursday said that it would send Sgt. Kaspars Sloka from the air operations center to the assistance of the group investigating the shooting down of the aircraft. A day earlier also Lithuania promised to send an expert to Georgia.
On August 6, 2007 a Russian fighter peneterated into the Georgian air space according to Tbilisi, shooting a missile, which fell down near the village of Tsitelubani in the Gori district.
The Estonian Defense Attache to the United States Vello Loemaa, then in the rank of Brigadier General, and radar specialist Lt. Mart Magi from the Defense Ministry's telecommunications and information technology department took part in the investigation of that incident.
Tallinn newsroom, +372 610 8814, sise@bns.ee
 
|
