National Defense Course Under Way
The 29th Senior Courses in National Defense are taking place all this week at the traditional location in Roosta, a resort in Lääne County.
A sort of civilian version of reserve officers training, the courses feature presentations on Estonian defense policy, defense planning, international security and developments in the region.
Prime Minister Andrus Ansip, Foreign Minister Urmas Paet, Interior Minister Ken-Marti Vaher, Commander in Chief of the Defense Forces Maj. Gen. Riho Terras, Defense League Commander Brig. Gen. Meelis Kiili and others will deliver presentations.
On Friday, Defense Minister Urmas Reinsalu will hand over diplomas to the attendees.
"The Senior Courses in National Defense have significantly contributed to forming a consensus in Estonian society regarding the current national defense model and stable defense spending rate," said Secretary General of the Defense Ministry Mikk Marran in his opening remarks. "I hope that the national defense courses will next shape a common understanding of the broader vision of national defense where each institution must understand its role in national security."
The Senior Courses in National Defense have been held since 1999 and over 1,300 people from different walks of life have taken part in them. The participants have included politicians, officials, Defense Forces members, businessmen, journalists, educators and representatives from other spheres.
The Senior Courses are organized by the International Center for Defense Studies in cooperation with the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.