Foreign Minister Paet Met with USA Under Secretary of Defence Flournoy

01.03.2010

Foreign Minister Urmas Paet met today with Under Secretary of Defence for Policy of the United States Michele Flournoy. At the meeting they discussed co-operation between Estonia and the USA in Afghanistan and NATO issues in general, touching upon the formulation of NATO’s new Strategic Concept and NATO’s relations with Russia, as well as ensuring energy security.

Foreign Minister Paet and Under Secretary of Defence Flournoy discussed Estonia and the USA’s goals in the formulation of NATO’s Strategic Concept. Prior to the meeting of NATO foreign ministers taking place in Tallinn in April, the representatives of Estonia and the USA confirmed that the basis for NATO’s activities must be Article 5 and NATO’s trustworthiness. “We want for collective defence and Article 5 to be central to the new Strategic Concept and to demonstrate NATO’s transparency, trustworthiness and strength,” said Foreign Minister Paet.

In talking about Estonia and the USA’s common goals in the Afghanistan mission, Paet confirmed that Estonia would like close co-operation with the USA in both the military and civil realms. “Estonia will continue to participate in the International Security Assistance Force on the level determined by the Riigikogu mandate for as long as it is necessary, and it will increase its civil contribution in Afghanistan compared to last year,” said Paet.

Paet and Flournoy agreed it is necessary to increase the Afghans’ participation in operations and in building up the state. “A positive example of increasing Afghan participation is the operation Moshtarak currently underway in Afghanistan,” said Paet. “In terms of both the Afghan security forces and development aid projects, we must ensure sustainability and improve the co-ordination of the military and civil measures being taken by the European Union, NATO, the UN, and other international organisations,” said the Estonian foreign minister.