Other events in Baltic States

NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Europe Admiral James Stavridis who met with Prime Minister Andrus Ansip during his visit to Estonia expressed his thanks to Estonia for the contribution in guaranteeing international security, writes LETA/Postimees Online.

“My message is that of gratitude – Estonia stands out among members of the alliance as an active contributor to security,” said Admiral Stavridis.

During the meeting, Ansip and Stavridis discussed the security situation at the NATO’s most important military mission in Afghanistan.

The Estonian head of Government assured that Estonia would continue taking part in the international security forces in Afghanistan, stating that the Estonian Defence Forces will stay in the mission region for as long as necessary and as long as the Government of Afghanistan so wishes.

Admiral Stavridis stated that the courage and valour of Estonian soldiers is highly valued. “Estonian Defence Forces have during the foreign missions borne grave losses and I express my deep condolences to the loved ones of all those who have fallen,” he said.

The NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe emphasised the need to achieve that alliance’s Member States contribute two per cent of their GDP to defence spending. He recognised the decision made by Estonia to maintain the level of funding of national defence in the context of the economic crisis.

Ansip passed forward to the Admiral the principal pledge of the Government of Estonia to raise the defence spending rate to 1.9 per cent of GDP next year.

In addition to meeting the Prime Minister, Admiral Stavridis visited Riigikogu on Wednesday and met with the officials of the Ministry of Defence and the officers of the Defence Forces.

During his meeting with the Chairman of the Riigikogu Committee on Foreign Affairs Sven Mikser, Stavridis gave an overview of the new NATO strategic concept and the related reforms, training plans and operations.

Mikser stated that Estonia expects that the new NATO strategic concept emphasise the collective defence principle as the core function of NATO.