Estonia, U.S. sign cyber security deal

  • 2013-12-04
  • From wire reports, TALLINN

Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Paet and US Secretary of State John Kerry have signed a major Cyber partnership statement on Dec. 3.

“We both base our positions on the principle that the internet must remain a secure and free environment at the same time,” said Mr Paet.

“Cyber security is not only necessary for national security, but also to protect the rights of citizens,”

The partnership statement  provides a framework for supplementary bilateral activity as well as cooperation in international organisations. Paet added that the plans would increase internet freedom and security.  

“The cyber topic is global and affects every country and every field of activity. Together, we want to advance internet freedom and e-governance in the world,” remarked the Estonian Foreign Minister.

Paet asserted that cyber cooperation between Estonia and the United States has been very close thus far.

“Both Estonia and the United States belong to the Freedom Online Coalition, which is a group of states that cooperate to advance internet freedom,” said Paet. Next spring, as the current chairman of the Freedom Online Coalition, Estonia will organise the coalition’s annual conference “Free and Secure Internet for All”. Estonia and the US also have close cyber cooperation within the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence, which is located in Tallinn.

“We continue to want the deepening of bilateral cooperation with the United States,” he stated.