Parliament's National Defense Committee Meets With UK Counterpart
Published: 27.01.2012 11:18
Chairman of the National Defense Committee Mati Raidma
( Photo: Postimees/Scanpix )
On January 26, members of the Estonian Parliament's National Defense Committee and the UK House of Commons Defense Committee met in London to discuss bilateral defense relations and military cooperation in Afghanistan.
According to Chairman of the National Defense Committee Mati Raidma, the House of Commons Defense Committee Chair James Arbuthnot noted the successful defense cooperation between the UK and Estonia, drawing particular attention to the countries' joint participation in the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force mission in southern Afghanistan.
"We agree with the British view that collective defense is founded upon the professional cooperation of the members of two countries' armed forces as well as the personal communication and the friendships that evolve between them thanks to joint operations carried out in crisis areas,“ said Raidma.
The committees also discussed bilateral defense relations, cyber security, and the Baltic air policing mission. The British MPs acknowledged the ideas and efforts put forth by Estonia to promote cyber defense in NATO and expressed support for the Baltic air policing mission.
"As NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said last week, the air policing mission is a good example of smart defense policy. Our airspace is defended by NATO allies, which enables us to develop the necessary capabilities for our own primary defense as well as for participating in NATO missions. The British share this view,“ noted Raidma who expressed gratitude to the British MPs for their support of the air policing mission and their contributions towards the development of the Baltic Defense College in Tartu.
The National Defense Committee also met with Maj. Gen. Gordon Kenneth Messenger, the Chief of Staff (Operations) from the UK Permanent Joint Headquarters, to discuss the current situation and recent developments in Afghanistan.
The National Defense Committee meetings were also attended by the Estonian Ambassador to the UK Aino Lepik von Wirén and Chief of Staff of the Estonian Defense Forces Col. Peeter Hoppe.
Sigrid Maasen