Paet: Europe's Security Infrastructure Should Be Determined Within the Framework of NATO
17.09.2009
During his meeting today, 17 September, with National Security
Advisor of the Unites States James Jones, Foreign Minister Urmas Paet
said that decisions to improve Europe's security infrastructure should
be made within the framework of NATO. Security Advisor Jones confirmed
on behalf of the United States that the USA's technology and strategy
for protecting Europe and NATO are constantly being improved, as are
solutions to minimize the potential risk from Iran. Jones affirmed that
abandoning the missile shield plan will not damage Europe's security.
Paet stated that the USA's plan to establish missile shields against
Iran in Poland and the Czech Republic was an object of bilateral
discussions with Poland and the Czech Republic, but the USA's
dedication to the safety of its European allies is broader. "We are
interested in seeing Europe's and NATO's security issues analysed
through NATO co-operation, including the new strategic concept that is
being worked out," said Paet. "Any need to renew security
infrastructure should be throroughly discussed, and then the
appropriate actions planned, in NATO," he emphasised.
Paet and Jones emphasised that the basis for NATO's work is
collective defence, and the backbone of the organisation’s new
strategic concept must be the continuance of this principle through
NATO’s visibility, trustworthiness, and the clear presentation of its
abilities, as was agreed at the Strasbourg-Kehl summit in spring of
2009.
Foreign Minister Paet and Security Advisor Jones also addressed
Estonia-USA co-operation in Afghanistan, where Estonia would like to
continue its military co-operation with the United States. "In addition
to military co-operation, in order to achieve success it is also
essential to make contributions to the civil sector," Paet emphasised.
"Estonia contributes to developing the health care sector in Helmand
and would also like to develop civil co-operation with the USA," he
added.
This afternoon Urmas Paet has a meeting scheduled in Washington with
Secretary of State of the United States of America Hillary Clinton.
