Defense Minister Holds Out Hope for 2011 Withdrawal
Defense minister Jaak Aaviksoo told Kuku radio that Estonian troops could start being withdrawn from Afghanistan next year, but said it would not be acceptable for Estonia to desert its allies.
Responding to questions about the latest Estonian soldier killed in the country, which brings the death toll to eight since 2003, Minister of Defense Aaviksoo said that every loss was irredeemable, even in the knowledge that it occurred on a military mission.
The mission cannot be declared complete given the current situation in the country, Aaviksoo claimed.
Aaviksoo said he would want to withdraw troops, but said Estonia could not permit itself to leave its allies on the battlefield.