ESTONIA SUPPORTS U.S. ON CFE TREATY

C O N F I D E N T I A L TALLINN 000373 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/06/2017 TAGS: KCFE PARM PREL NATO RS EN SUBJECT: ESTONIA SUPPORTS U.S. ON CFE TREATY REF: A) STATE 75293 B) STATE77371 Classified By: ADCM Eric A Johnson for reasons 1.4 (b) & (d) (C) On June 1, we delivered Ref A points to Arti Hilpus, MFA Director for the First Political Department (responsible for Security and Arms Control),on developing a unified NATO response to Russia's request for an extraordinary conference to discuss the CFE (Conventional Forces in Europe) Treaty concerns. On June 6, Hilpus informed us that Estonia fully agrees with the U.S. position and strongly believes that NATO needs a unified response to Russia's recent "misleading and unfortunate" statements on the CFE Treaty. It is still Estonia's intention of acceding to the Treaty once the adapted CFE Treaty is in force. However, Hilpus was unwilling to discuss the details of Estonia's accession and possible national commitments before the adapted CFE Treaty is in force. On June 6, we delivered Ref B points to Kristjan Priik, Second Secretary in the MFA's First Political Department. Priik said the MFA would have a response to these additional points by June 7. GOLDSTEIN