Clinton and Paet Emphasise Importance of NATO Principle of Collective Defence
18.09.2009
Foreign Minister Urmas Paet, meeting with Secretary of State of the
United States Hillary Clinton on 17 September 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 USA both 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 recognised Estonia’s great contribution to stabilising the
situation in Afghanistan and also its support of new democracies.
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—in 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 emphasised.
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—we should increase
international co-operation in the cyber security sector,” Paet
asserted. Secretary of State Clinton noted that the NATO Cyber Defence
Centre in Tallinn is 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 defence
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
acknowledged. “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.
Today Foreign Minister Paet also met with National Security Advisor
James Jones in the White House and participated in a discussion forum
at the Atlantic Council. Tomorrow the foreign minister has a meeting
scheduled in Washington with former US secretary of state and leader of
the Group of Wise Men for working out a new strategic concept for NATO
Madeleine Albright. Paet will also participate in a discussion in
co-operation with the Center for Strategic and International Studies
(CSIS).
Journalists: The foreign minister will be accompanied by the Foreign
Ministry press office’s press spokesperson Kersti Luha, who can be
reached at +372 521 3085.
