The Estonian national security policy in the year 2004
The Estonian national security policy in the year 2004
The Estonian national security policy in the year 2004
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<strong>2004</strong> ESTONIAN MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS YEARBOOK<br />
It seems that <strong>2004</strong> was also <strong>the</strong> <strong>year</strong> when we, <strong>Estonian</strong>s, began to fully comprehend<br />
<strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>divisibility of world <strong>security</strong>. We have always been aware of <strong>the</strong> dangers that, due<br />
to our geographical location and historical background, constantly “hover over <strong>the</strong><br />
horizon”. But <strong>the</strong>se are more of a <strong>the</strong>oretical nature. We have now had to start deal<strong>in</strong>g<br />
with contemporary and physically concrete threats to our <strong>national</strong> <strong>security</strong>, which unite<br />
us not only with our immediate neighbours, but also with friends much far<strong>the</strong>r away.<br />
<strong>The</strong>se threats are of a global nature, that can be dealt with only if we are firmly united<br />
with o<strong>the</strong>rs -- toge<strong>the</strong>r with our allies <strong>in</strong> NATO and <strong>the</strong> EU, toge<strong>the</strong>r with <strong>the</strong> rest of <strong>the</strong><br />
<strong>in</strong>ter<strong>national</strong> community <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> United Nations Organization. As a matter of fact, NATO<br />
is no longer quite <strong>the</strong> same organization as <strong>the</strong> one that we dreamed of jo<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g at <strong>the</strong><br />
beg<strong>in</strong>n<strong>in</strong>g of <strong>the</strong> 1990s. Ever more time, energy, and resources are devoted, <strong>in</strong> addition<br />
to common defence, to operations that are beyond <strong>the</strong> traditional NATO scope. Be it<br />
participation <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> Afghanistan stabilisation forces or <strong>the</strong> tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g of <strong>the</strong> Iraqi military.<br />
<strong>The</strong> development of <strong>the</strong> European Security and Defence Policy, a process, which began<br />
<strong>year</strong>s ago and has had to endure various “stumbl<strong>in</strong>g blocks”, also started show<strong>in</strong>g concrete<br />
results <strong>in</strong> <strong>2004</strong>. For <strong>in</strong>stance, <strong>the</strong> EU took over, from NATO, <strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>ter<strong>national</strong> mission <strong>in</strong><br />
Bosnia. In addition to <strong>the</strong> European Rapid Reaction Forces, <strong>the</strong> formation of 1500 member<br />
EU Battle Groups, for deployment <strong>in</strong>to <strong>in</strong>ter<strong>national</strong> crisis cauldrons at 15 days’ notice,<br />
was launched. Estonia has also expressed read<strong>in</strong>ess to participate <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> Battle Groups.<br />
All <strong>the</strong>se developments have, of course, not been without burden for nei<strong>the</strong>r NATO<br />
and <strong>the</strong> EU, nor <strong>the</strong>ir new Member State, with its population of less than 1.4 million.<br />
Ever more efforts are directed at creat<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> capabilities needed for deal<strong>in</strong>g with <strong>the</strong>se<br />
new challenges. But I am conv<strong>in</strong>ced, that everyth<strong>in</strong>g we are do<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> connection with<br />
contribut<strong>in</strong>g to <strong>in</strong>ter<strong>national</strong> cooperative endeavours, is also, very def<strong>in</strong>itely, help<strong>in</strong>g to<br />
<strong>in</strong>crease our own <strong>national</strong> <strong>security</strong>.<br />
Unfortunately, <strong>the</strong> <strong>year</strong> <strong>2004</strong> will also rema<strong>in</strong> <strong>in</strong> history as <strong>the</strong> <strong>year</strong> when two courageous<br />
<strong>Estonian</strong> soldiers were killed while serv<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong>ir country abroad. On February<br />
28, Staff Sergeant Andres Nuiamäe was killed <strong>in</strong> Iraq, as was Sergeant Major Arre<br />
Illenzeer on October 25. Estonia has lost two of its f<strong>in</strong>est. Before leav<strong>in</strong>g on his mission,<br />
Arre Illenzeer, <strong>in</strong> response to his mo<strong>the</strong>r’s question as to why he was risk<strong>in</strong>g his life,<br />
declared: “<strong>The</strong> homeland needs defend<strong>in</strong>g.”<br />
In conclusion, some statistics concern<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> <strong>Estonian</strong>s defend<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong>ir homeland<br />
abroad. At <strong>the</strong> end of <strong>2004</strong>, 174 members of <strong>the</strong> <strong>Estonian</strong> Defence Forces were assigned<br />
to various <strong>in</strong>ter<strong>national</strong> missions: 34 to Iraq, 12 to Afghanistan, 122 to Kosovo, 3 to<br />
Bosnia and Herzegov<strong>in</strong>a, 2 to Israel, and 1 to <strong>the</strong> Central Command <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> United States.<br />
Plus, a highly praised Rescue Board bomb detection can<strong>in</strong>e unit is help<strong>in</strong>g to ensure <strong>the</strong><br />
<strong>security</strong> of Afghanistan’s Kabul airport.<br />
My s<strong>in</strong>cerest thanks to all of <strong>the</strong>m!<br />
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