ESTONIAN AGENDA FOR 2009 NATO SUMMIT

C O N F I D E N T I A L TALLINN 000077

SIPDIS

FOR EUR/NB-MIGUEL RODRIGUES

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/20/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL MOPS NATO EN
SUBJECT: ESTONIAN AGENDA FOR 2009 NATO SUMMIT

Classified By: CDA Karen Decker for reasons 1.4 (b) &
(d).


1. (C) The Government of Estonia (GOE) views the 60th
anniversary NATO summit in Strasbourg-Kehl as a
significant opportunity to showcase Alliance unity on
issues such as Afghanistan and NATO enlargement. Estonia
supports a new Strategic Concept and has proposed draft
language for the final summit communique that reinforces
collective defense as the core task of the Alliance.


2. (C) According to Paul Teesalu, the Director of
Security Policy at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the
GOE's priorities for the summit include:

-- AFGHANISTAN: Prime Minister Ansip's remarks at the
summit will focus on the importance of the ISAF mission,
the need for ISAF to prioritize security support for the
Afghan national elections, and the requirement for
enhanced NATO-EU cooperation and greater coordination
concerning the role of the UN, particularly with respect
to the UN Assistance Mission to Afghanistan (UNAMA).
(Note: During FM Paet's March trip to Afghanistan, he
presented Afghan authorities with a USD 40,000
contribution specifically for the upcoming elections.
End Note.) PM Ansip also plans to outline Estonia's
concrete proposals for how the Alliance can support the
elections (although Teesalu noted the details are still
under discussion within the MFA).

-- THE NEW STRATEGIC CONCEPT: Teesalu stressed the
importance Estonia places on NATO remaining the primary
venue for transatlantic security and dialogue. During
the review of the Strategic Concept, Estonia intends to
uphold the core principle of collective defense as a
focal point of the document. Teesalu added, however,
that NATO's Strategic Concept must explain and reinforce
the necessary link between collective defense and the
importance of out of area operations for the Alliance.

-- PARTNERSHIP: Estonia remains a strong supporter of
NATO enlargement, with the emphasis on Membership Action
Plan (MAP) status for Georgia and Ukraine. The GOE,
which supports Macedonia accession "as soon as possible,"
will line up with those Allies pushing for a resolution
to the name issue. On Bosnia and Herzegovina, while GOE
officials recognize it is too early to offer MAP, they
support bringing the country into a "closer relationship"
with NATO.

-- RUSSIA: Estonia remains undecided on how it wants to
address the issue of Russia at the summit, given NATO
FM's decision to resume formal contacts. Teesalu noted
Estonia remains "wary" of Russian motives and the GOE
still wants Russia's full compliance with the six-point
plan for peace in Georgia. However, he also acknowledged
the potential for Russia-NATO cooperation on Afghanistan,
arms control, non-proliferation and combating terrorism,
all of which would be beneficial for Allies' security.
GOE officials are anxious to hear more on the new
Administration's approach to CFE, particularly in light
of the recent Russian build up of military bases in
Abkhazia.

-- CYBER SECURITY: The GOE is hopeful that the
Estonian/German proposal on cyber security will be
included in the Summit's final communique. The statement
underlines NATO support for cyber security and NATO
commitment to advancement in the field. COMMENT: Should
the opportunity arise, the GOE delegation may note to
U.S. interlocutors that the U.S. has not yet formally
become a "Sponsoring Nation" of the Estonia/NATO
Cooperative Cyber Center of Excellence, despite Secretary
Gates' promise to do so during his November 12 visit to
Tallinn.

DECKER