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