ESTONIA: MISSLE DEFENSE PUBLIC DIPLOMACY AND

C O N F I D E N T I A L TALLINN 000165 SIPDIS SIPDIS EUR/NCE EUR/PRA - MAZEVEDO EUR/PPD - TCORN VCI/MDSP - STEVEN ROSENKRANTZ NSC - MAHAYWARD E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/13/2017 TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR PL EZ RU EN SUBJECT: ESTONIA: MISSLE DEFENSE PUBLIC DIPLOMACY AND OUTREACH REF: A. STATE 30480 ¶B. TALLINN 124 ¶C. JOHNSON-MIDDLETON UNCLASS EMAIL 3/5/07 ¶D. ANDERTON-WASER CLASSIFIED EMAIL 2/23/07 Classified By: CDA Jeff Goldstein for reasons 1.4 (b) & (d) ¶1. (U) As requested Ref A, Post has designated Acting DCM Eric Johnson as the POC for public diplomacy and outreach efforts on missile defense. ¶2. (C) As reported Ref B, Estonia agrees with the USG position on the Russian response to U.S. missile defense plans. We do not expect any wavering on this position or any significant public opposition in Estonia. As noted Ref C, on March 2nd, Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Paet is on record saying: "It is important to underline that the U.S. missile shield is not directed against Russia by its nature and does not pose a threat to Russia. The system is strictly of a defensive nature and is intended as a defense of the United States and Europe against potential ballistic missile danger from the Middle East. Estonia is in solidarity with its NATO partners and regards threatening statements as unjustified and out of place." ¶3. (C) However, we share concerns noted Ref D that if Estonia - or any of the Baltic countries - appear to get out in front on this issue, they will simply be branded as anti-Russian. For this reason, post recommends against a high profile public diplomacy campaign in Estonia. GOLDSTEIN