Clinton and Paet stress collective defense

Sep 18, 2009
TBT Staff in cooperation with MFA Estonia

WASHINGTOND.C.-Foreign Minister Urmas Paet, meeting with Secretary of State of the United States Hillary Clinton on  September 17 in Washington, stated that Estonia would be ready to finishing developing the Estonia-USA joint Operational Mentor and Liaison Team (OMLT) by 2011.

Foreign Minister Paet and Secretary of State Clinton confirmed that Estonia and the USA have excellent allied relations, especially their long-term security co-operation.

"Estonia would like to continue this close co-operation with the USAboth bilaterally and in NATO and other international formats. Particularly in Afghanistan, where there are co-operation opportunities in the military as well as civilian sectors," said Paet.

Clinton recognized Estonia's contribution to stabilizing the situation in Afghanistan and also its support of new democracies.

"We value our relationship with Estonia. We are allies in NATO. And I want to publicly thank Estonia for your contributions and assistance in Afghanistan, for the sacrifice and service of your troops, and for the solidarity you have demonstrated within NATO and on a bilateral basis," said Clinton

Paet and Clinton thoroughly discussed the situation in Afghanistan following the presidential election in August.

"It is clear that expecting quick results in Afghanistan is unrealistic, so we must remain persistent in our military and civilian activities'sin the war against terrorism, it is more effective to deal with the root of the threat, rather than watch the consequences in Europe, the United States, and all over the world," said Paet.

 "Our common goal is to reach the point where Afghans can manage to hold up their own state and security," he continued.

In speaking about further co-operation trends and developments in NATO, Paet and Clinton noted that the basis for NATO's work is collective defence, and the backbone of the organisation's new strategic concept must be NATO's visibility, trustworthiness, and the clear presentation of its abilities. "One essential factor is responding to new threats, including threats in the realm of cyber security'swe should increase international co-operation in the cyber security sector," Paet asserted. Secretary of State Clinton noted that the NATO Cyber Defence Centre in Tallinnis one example of such co-operation. Clinton and Paet also consider the further expansion of NATO to be important.

Clinton and Paet also emphasised the need to develop the European Union's energy security through diversifying energy channels. "For Estonia and the other Baltic nations, diversifying energy connections with other European Union regions is a vital component of energy security," Paet emphasised.

"Although Estonia has active communication and multi-faceted co-operation with the United States, particularly in the defense co-operation and security sectors, there is certainly still room for development in the economic realm, where increasing the number of close contacts and reciprocal investments would be very welcome," Paet said.

 "We would like to co-operate, for example, in the area of oil shale technology, in which Estonia has long-time experience and expertise," he added.

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