Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06TALLINN423
2006-05-04 14:46:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Tallinn
Cable title:  

CODEL COBLE ENGAGES WITH ESTONIANS ON LAW

Tags:  PREL PGOV OVIP EN 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0017
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHTL #0423/01 1241446
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 041446Z MAY 06
FM AMEMBASSY TALLINN
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 8562
UNCLAS TALLINN 000423 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPT FOR H, EUR/NB

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV OVIP EN
SUBJECT: CODEL COBLE ENGAGES WITH ESTONIANS ON LAW
ENFORCEMENT COOPERATION AND THE GWOT

UNCLAS TALLINN 000423

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPT FOR H, EUR/NB

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV OVIP EN
SUBJECT: CODEL COBLE ENGAGES WITH ESTONIANS ON LAW
ENFORCEMENT COOPERATION AND THE GWOT


1. (SBU) Summary: During an April 18 - 19 visit to
Tallinn Congressman Howard Coble and Congressional staff
discussed narcotics, shipping and port security, and
other law enforcement issues with the Members of
Parliament, Minister of Foreign Affairs Urmas Paet,
Minister of Internal Affairs Kalle Lannet and Justice
Minister Rein Lang. Congressman Coble shared his
appreciation for the Estonian contributions in the
Global War on Terror (GWOT) and discussed at length the
importance of the Estonian?s participation in the UK-led
PRT in Helmand. The Congressman also discussed Estonia-
Russia relations and encouraged GOE efforts to promote
democracy in the region. End summary.

ESTONIAN SUPPORT IN THE GWOT
--------------


2. (SBU) Congressman Coble made clear in all meetings
U.S. appreciation for Estonia standing shoulder to
shoulder with the United States in the GWOT, especially
in regards to Estonian troops serving in Afghanistan and
Iraq. The GOE assured the Congressman that Estonia is
and will continue to be a strong ally of the United
States. Foreign Minister Paet and Justice Minister Lang
expressed their hope that parliamentary authorization
for Estonia's troop mission in Iraq would be extended
past 2006.

POPPY ERADICATION IN AFGHANISTAN
--------------


3. (SBU) Congressman Coble stressed that Estonia?s
increased contributions in Afghanistan are in its own
self interest. Helmand province had become the
epicenter of opium production, the bulk of which is
smuggled into Europe for heroin. Profits are falling
into the hands of organized crime and terrorists. FM
Paet said he had expected Estonians might be reluctant
to become more involved in Afghanistan, given that over
fifty Estonians had been killed during the Soviet
invasion of Afghanistan. But this had not been the case
and there has been little to no adverse public reaction.
However, as Helmand is one of the more dangerous
missions in Afghanistan, the GOE is aware of the
likelihood of casualties. Congressman Coble noted that
it was thus all the more important to alert the public
to Estonia's vulnerability to the narcotics trade
originating from Afghanistan.


THE FIGHT AGAINST DRUGS AT HOME
--------------


4. (SBU) GOE officials and Members of Parliament all
agreed that the war against drugs is a top priority.
Even though Estonia is primarily a transit country for
narcotics, the spill over into the Russian-speaking
community is of real concern in urban communities. MP
Jaanus Rahumagi said narcotics is now the largest source
of revenue for organized crime in Estonia, and that the
average age of first time drug users is now 13 years.
The rise of organized crime poses an immense challenge
for Estonian security and law enforcement, as criminal
organizations are becoming better funded and, therefore,
more sophisticated in countering GOE law enforcement
efforts. MP Nelli Kalikova also brought to Congressman
Coble?s attention the knock-on effect heroin use has had
in the spread of HIV in Estonia.


5. (SBU) In light of Estonia?s challenges to fight its
drug problem, Congressman Coble stressed the need for
the drafting and implementation of asset seizure and
forfeiture legislation. Justice Minister Lang said the
MoJ was carefully examining other systems, including the
U.S. system, in order to find the most suitable model
for Estonia. MP Rahumagi said that opposition party Res
Publica had introduced its own draft asset seizure and
forfeiture legislation that Parliament will debate in
May. In addition to asset seizure and forfeiture, the
GOE wants to increase the powers of the Prosecutors
office and the police. At the moment, the MOJ and MoIA
believe too many restrictions are placed on Estonian
investigators.

PORT SECURITY MEASURE
--------------


6. (SBU) Estonia?s nine percent economic growth has made
Tallinn an ever more important regional hub for trade
and transit. Congressman Coble visited Muuga Port to
see the port security and shipping inspection and

security mechanisms put in place. The Customs and Tax
Board were also present and demonstrated the use of
radioactive pagers and fiber-optic cameras provided by
the EXBS program. The officials described several
sensitive interdictions where the equipment had played
an important role.

ESTONIA-RUSSIA RELATIONS
--------------


7. (SBU) Both FM Paet and Justice Minister Lang spoke at
length about the challenge of managing the Russia
relationship. Lang made it clear that he did not
actually fear Russian encroachment over Estonian
sovereignty, but said that Russian attitudes were an
obstacle, especially in law enforcement and security
where common sense would suggest better cooperation
could benefit both countries. In a meeting at the
Ministry of Internal Affairs (MoIA) Secretary General
Mart Kraft mentioned the unreliability of his Russian
counterparts in implementing cooperative agreements and
information sharing.

PROMOTING DEMOCRACY ESTONIAN STYLE
--------------


8. (SBU) Congressman Coble congratulated Estonia on its
role in promoting the spread of democracy. FM Paet
spoke at length about Estonia?s efforts to assist the
opposition in Belarus, which included election monitors,
grants to Belarusian university students expelled for
their political affiliations to study in Estonia, and
support for more robust action on the EU?s part within
EU fora.

WOS