Meeting of EAPC Defence Ministers NATO HQ, Brussels 8 June 2001

Remarks by H.E. Jiiri Luik, Minister of Defence of the Republic of Estonia Secretary General, dear Colleagues, Our focus today is on the review of the strategic environment, security risks and opportunities in the Euro-Atlantic region, including in particular in the Balkans. We have clearly had positive achievements in that region and our message should be loud and clear - we would not let this be reversed. In this context let me point out the excellent diplomacy, co-operation and confidence building what NATO and KFOR have pursued with the FRY government and ethnic Albanians in Southern Serbia. As long as our message remains clear - that destabilising activities will not be tolerated and that the only solution is co-operative effort to stabilise the region - there is hope for the situation to improve. Estonia also supports every effort to set up a constitutional framework for Kosovo and to strengthen the position of the present coalition government in Macedonia. We all understand that this is not an easy and short-term process, but it must be constantly stressed that it is the only acceptable one. I'd like to use this opportunity to comment on the PARP process. PARP is a multifaceted, multipurpose process, offering different things to different participants. My country is using the mechanisms of PARP as a tool to prepare for membership obligations -something that does not preclude other partners using PARP for a different purpose. Estonia considers that the review/revalidation of the existing PG packages is a right course, which also acknowledges the comprehensiveness of current portfolio. In the Ministerial Guidance significant progress has been made in ensuring the releasability of Allied documents required for the implementation of agreed PG-s, a problem what has sometimes hindered the achievement of required capabilities. Let me also say some words about the trilateral co-operation between the UK, Estonia and Georgia. The underlying current and logic for this co-operation is a transfer of reform experience from Estonia to Georgia. In April I paid a visit to Tbilisi and together with my Georgian colleague signed a MOU on bilateral co-operation. We agreed to concentrate on the questions pertaining to defence planning, public relations, civil-military relations and legal reform. I want to stress here that the UK's role as a facilitator and co-ordinator has been an instrumental one. I would not fully speak my mind if I'll not touch on what's closest to heart - the MAP process and enlargement. During the second MAP cycle the programme established its position as a dominant force behind the defence reforms of aspirant countries. Since the Washington Summit, aspirant's defence planning, force structure, military capabilities, her thinking, her interoperability of mind has been examined thoroughly. For those of you not directly involved in the MAP -1 can assure you that the process is tough, honest and pushing the limits of speed and endurance. This fall we will consult with the allies on the future force structure of my country - a direct overlap and mutual reinforcement of MAP and PARP. I am confident that we all have wisdom, courage and determination to follow this process to its logic conclusion. Because of this ingenuity of MAP programme I am confident that Estonia will be ready for the Summit in Prague.