Paet and Rasmussen: NATO’s Primary Responsibility Continues to Be Collective Defence
08.10.2009
During their meeting at the Foreign Ministry today, Foreign Minister Urmas Paet
and NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen emphasised that the
primary foundation of NATO’s activities will continue to be collective
defence. “The backbone of the new strategic concept must continue to be
Article 5 and collective defence as well as NATO’s visibility,
trustworthiness, and the clear presentation of its abilities,” Paet
said at the meeting. “The other principles of the Washington Treaty,
like joint crisis management, are also important. The NATO strategic
concept must address new risks as well, such as issues related to cyber
security,” he added.
NATO’s new strategic concept will be a central topic at the NATO foreign ministers’ meeting being held in Tallinn
in April 2010. “All of the members of the alliance must feel included
in both the process and the outcome of the creation of the new
strategic concept. Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania have appointed a joint representative to the group that is preparing the new strategy - former Latvian ambassador to the USA and NATO Aivis Ronis,” said Paet.
Paet and Rasmussen also talked about the situation in NATO, including the mission in Afghanistan, which is the most important foreign mission for Estonia, NATO-European Union and NATO-Russia relations, and the further enlargement of the alliance. Paet emphasised that Estonia
continues to support NATO enlargement and considered co-operation with
nations striving to become members of NATO to be of the utmost
importance.
At the meeting,
Rasmussen highlighted Estonia’s contribution in HelmandProvince, one of the most difficult regions in Afghanistan,
where Estonian soldiers work together with British, American and Danish
forces. “Problems must be addressed at their roots,” Paet emphasised.
“In order to achieve success in Afghanistan, Estonia
would like to continue working with civil projects as well. The
development of Afghan society and the ability to manage their own
nation is the goal of the presence of international forces,” Paet
added. Paet stated that Estonia
is prepared for long-term contributions, until conditions are reached
that allow for the Afghans to independently ensure peace and safety in
their nation.
Paet and Rasmussen agreed that the alliance’s co-operation with its partners, including Russia,
is very important. “In order to achieve NATO-Russia co-operation that
is based on reciprocal interest, an essential component is active
interest and participation from the Russian side,” Paet stressed.
