The Estonian national security policy in the year 2004

2004 ESTONIAN MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS YEARBOOK
It seems that 2004 was also the year when we, Estonians, began to fully comprehend
the indivisibility of world security. We have always been aware of the dangers that, due
to our geographical location and historical background, constantly “hover over the
horizon”. But these are more of a theoretical nature. We have now had to start dealing
with contemporary and physically concrete threats to our national security, which unite
us not only with our immediate neighbours, but also with friends much farther away.
These threats are of a global nature, that can be dealt with only if we are firmly united
with others -- together with our allies in NATO and the EU, together with the rest of the
international community in the United Nations Organization. As a matter of fact, NATO
is no longer quite the same organization as the one that we dreamed of joining at the
beginning of the 1990s. Ever more time, energy, and resources are devoted, in addition
to common defence, to operations that are beyond the traditional NATO scope. Be it
participation in the Afghanistan stabilisation forces or the training of the Iraqi military.
The development of the European Security and Defence Policy, a process, which began
years ago and has had to endure various “stumbling blocks”, also started showing concrete
results in 2004. For instance, the EU took over, from NATO, the international mission in
Bosnia. In addition to the European Rapid Reaction Forces, the formation of 1500 member
EU Battle Groups, for deployment into international crisis cauldrons at 15 days’ notice,
was launched. Estonia has also expressed readiness to participate in the Battle Groups.
All these developments have, of course, not been without burden for neither NATO
and the EU, nor their new Member State, with its population of less than 1.4 million.
Ever more efforts are directed at creating the capabilities needed for dealing with these
new challenges. But I am convinced, that everything we are doing in connection with
contributing to international cooperative endeavours, is also, very definitely, helping to
increase our own national security.
Unfortunately, the year 2004 will also remain in history as the year when two courageous
Estonian soldiers were killed while serving their country abroad. On February
28, Staff Sergeant Andres Nuiamäe was killed in Iraq, as was Sergeant Major Arre
Illenzeer on October 25. Estonia has lost two of its finest. Before leaving on his mission,
Arre Illenzeer, in response to his mother’s question as to why he was risking his life,
declared: “The homeland needs defending.”
In conclusion, some statistics concerning the Estonians defending their homeland
abroad. At the end of 2004, 174 members of the Estonian Defence Forces were assigned
to various international missions: 34 to Iraq, 12 to Afghanistan, 122 to Kosovo, 3 to
Bosnia and Herzegovina, 2 to Israel, and 1 to the Central Command in the United States.
Plus, a highly praised Rescue Board bomb detection canine unit is helping to ensure the
security of Afghanistan’s Kabul airport.
My sincerest thanks to all of them!
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