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