Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06TALLINN535
2006-06-06 07:37:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Tallinn
Cable title:  

ESTONIA: PDAS VERGA DISCUSSES DISASTER

Tags:  MARR SOCI EN 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO8862
RR RUEHIK RUEHYG
DE RUEHTL #0535/01 1570737
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 060737Z JUN 06
FM AMEMBASSY TALLINN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8699
INFO RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TALLINN 000535 

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SENSITIVE
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E.O. 19528: N/A
TAGS: MARR SOCI EN
SUBJECT: ESTONIA: PDAS VERGA DISCUSSES DISASTER
PLANNING, GWOT WITH MINISTRIES OF DEFENSE, INTERIOR

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TALLINN 000535

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SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 19528: N/A
TAGS: MARR SOCI EN
SUBJECT: ESTONIA: PDAS VERGA DISCUSSES DISASTER
PLANNING, GWOT WITH MINISTRIES OF DEFENSE, INTERIOR


1. (SBU) Summary: On the margins of his participation
in a Baltic Defense College seminar, OSD PDAS for
Homeland Defense Peter Verga met with the Secretaries
General of the Ministries of Defense and Internal
Affairs on June 1. Verga shared insights on the
challenges of inter-agency coordination and the
civilian/military nexus in disaster planning in the
United States, and promised to forward information on
the U.S. National Response Plan development process.
The Estonians told Verga they were extremely pleased
with the recent Shamrock Key exercise. The MoD noted
that effective exchange of information with partners
will be critical to Estonia's mission in Afghanistan?s
Helmand Province. End summary.

Ministry of Interior
- - - - - - - - - - -


2. (SBU) In a June 1 meeting Minister of Interior
Secretary General Mart Kraft thanked PDAS Verga for the

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U.S. role in the recent Shamrock Key joint exercise. It
had been an important step in helping the Estonians test
response capabilities to terror threats. Kraft said the
GOE would appreciate further joint training, including
in the area of cyber-crime. Training/exercises that
involved former Soviet states would be particularly
useful on that score. Verga noted that the FBI had the
lead on cyber-crime. U.S./Estonia cooperation in the
area was strong, but Verga said he would take Estonia?s
continued interest in cooperation on the fight against
cyber-crime back to Washington.


3. (SBU) Kraft highlighted challenges facing Estonia in
disaster planning and civil defense. The Estonians had
conducted several exercises testing responses to
potential incidents at Russia's Sosnovy Bor nuclear
power plant, located roughly 50 miles from the Estonian
border. Bird flu preparedness was another priority, as
was response to chemical incidents. Cross-border
cooperation on such efforts had been strong with Baltic
neighbors, but remained problematic with Russia.


4. (SBU) Two oil spills that had affected the Estonian
coastline in early 2006 had provided a "good lesson" at
a relatively modest price, Kraft said. The GOE was now
paying more attention to oil spill issues and devoting
more resources to improving prevention and clean-up
capabilities.

Ministry of Defense
- - - - - - - - - -


5. (SBU) In a separate meeting, Verga thanked Ministry
of Defense Secretary General Lauri Almann for Estonia?s
continued support in the GWOT, including in Iraq and
Afghanistan. Almann noted that Estonia continued to be
guided by the Istanbul targets for deployable forces,
and aimed to have 350 troops available for deployment by
2010 (Estonia currently had 243 troops abroad).
Resources were being drawn down in Kosovo and redeployed
to the PRT mission in Afghanistan?s Helmand province.
The MoD understood that Afghanistan would be "a very
difficult mission" and the GOE was taking it "very
seriously." Effective exchange of information with
partners would be critical to success there.


6. (SBU) Almann described MoD assistance activity in
Georgia and suggested that a trilateral Estonia-Georgia-
U.S. approach to projects there might be particularly
effective. Estonia had undertaken such efforts in the
past with the UK. Estonia's small state perspective was
helpful in getting Georgian defense planners to
understand that their challenges were not unique.


7. (SBU) Almann expressed particular interest in PDAS
Verga?s description of civilian/military cooperation in
disaster preparedness and response, and said the
Estonians would be grateful for further insight on U.S.
experience in this area. The MoD had helped to stand up
a cell for inter-agency crisis management and operations
cooperation six months ago. It was making progress in
capacity-building, though legislative restrictions on
the MoD's domestic peacetime role presented an
especially acute challenge. The MoD was looking at ways
to loosen the strictures. As an example, Almann said
draft legislation currently before Estonia's Legal
Chancellor would clarify whether the Prime Minister or
Minister of Defense could authorize the downing of
renegade civilian aircraft in Estonian airspace.


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