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DE RUEHTL #0311/01 0901518
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O 311518Z MAR 06
FM AMEMBASSY TALLINN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8423
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RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL IMMEDIATE 0017
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON IMMEDIATE 0067
RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO IMMEDIATE 1108
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C O N F I D E N T I A L TALLINN 000311 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/29/2016 
TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR UK AF EN
SUBJECT: AFGHANISTAN - ESTONIA'S MAIN FOREIGN MILITARY 
MISSION PRIORITY 
 
Classified By: DCM Jeff Goldstein for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) 
 
¶1. (C) Summary. Afghanistan is Estonia's main foreign 
military mission priority for the year.  Its contribution 
to the UK-led PRT in Helmand (up to 150 troops) will be a 
huge commitment for this small country, the largest it has 
ever undertaken.  In the run up to deployment of a company- 
size contingent of Estonian Defense Forces (EDF), a senior- 
level Estonian delegation visited Afghanistan (March 9-14) 
-- traveling to Kabul and Helmand -- to meet with UK 
counterparts and EDF soldiers already on the ground.  In a 
series of debriefs MOD, EDF, MFA and the Prime Minister's 
diplomatic advisor all confirmed to us that the GOE is 
fully behind the mission, and is preparing contingencies in 
the eventuality of Estonian casualties in this challenging 
province.  End Summary. 
 
AFGHANISTAN: THE NUMBER ONE FOREIGN MISSION PRIORITY 
--------------------------------------------- ------- 
 
¶2. (C) In the wake of a recent recce trip to Afghanistan, 
our Estonian military and civilian interlocutors tell us 
that participation in the UK-led Helmand PRT represents 
Estonia's main priority for both international military 
contributions in the GWOT and international development and 
reconstruction for 2006.  When the UK assumes PRT 
leadership in May, the Estonians will gradually increase 
their commitments to a company size over the course of the 
year.  The EDF will provide a number of niche capabilities 
ranging from an Explosives Ordinance Detonation (EOD) team, 
military observation team, a HUMINT team, and an infantry 
company serving alongside UK soldiers involved in poppy 
eradication. 
 
¶3. (C) By participating in the Helmand PRT the Estonians 
have chosen to jump into the deep end of the pool.  The GOE 
is under no illusions regarding the challenges and danger 
of the province.  The GOE pushed for a two year mandate 
(2006-2008) for its military involvement in Afghanistan in 
order to ensure a long-term commitment in what will be 
difficult conditions.  MFA Security Policy Director General 
Sander Soone told us on March 30 that the GOE is committed 
to Afghanistan's reconstruction and development.  If the 
military commitment ends in 2008, Estonia would remain 
engaged with civilian-led assistance.  While conveying real 
commitment and belief in the mission in Afghanistan, both 
Soone and MOD Desk Officer Taimar Peterkop conveyed that 
their ministries were sensitive to the wariness among 
Estonian politicians of long term, indeterminate 
involvement in Afghanistan without an exit strategy. 
 
BRING IN THE CIVILIANS 
---------------------- 
 
¶4. (C) In Afghanistan, the Estonians were briefed by both 
U.S. and UK officers on the status of their respective 
PRTs.  The Estonians were intrigued by what they understood 
as the contrast between U.S.-led PRTs, where the military 
took the lead, and the UK approach that put more emphasis 
on a civilian lead with the military and civilian agencies 
(the MFA, Ministry of Development, and Foreign Commonwealth 
Office) playing equal roles, and thereby diminishing the 
public perception of the PRT as a strictly military 
operation.  (Comment. Though none of the Estonians 
explicitly said one method was better, some preferences 
were expressed: Peterkop expressed no opinion; Soone 
expressed real interest in the UK approach; and, while 
reserving judgment, Sillaste-Elling shared her reservations 
about an "avalanche of (civilian) advisors" that she feared 
the UK approach, with its emphasis on capacity-building, 
might engender. End Comment) 
 
¶5. (C) Due to the small size of the GOE, the institutional 
inter-agency mechanisms put in place by the UK's approach 
is not practically relevant; but the PM's Office, MFA, and 
MOD were all on point in expressing the GOE's desire to 
carve out a larger role for civilians in Afghanistan. 
Since returning from Helmand, the MFA is in a "reflective 
period" on the scale, scope, and substance of the civilian 
component for Afghanistan.  There are plans under 
consideration to try to send a police advisor in the second 
half of 2006 and/or an MFA or MOD policy advisor.  Both the 
MFA and MOD have requested any assistance the U.S. could 
provide in this endeavor. 
 
PREPARING FOR THE WORST 
 
----------------------- 
 
¶6. (C) In its coverage of Estonian foreign military 
operations, the Estonian media has focused primarily on 
Iraq.  There is a real concern within the GOE that the 
public is not aware of the real security challenges and 
danger the Helmand PRT presents.  The general feeling is 
not if there will be casualties, but when.  In anticipation 
of such an eventuality, the PM's office, MFA, and MOD are 
working closely on an outreach strategy.  The PM's office 
is also preparing a series of background briefings that 
will be released once Estonian troops begin to deploy. 
 
¶7. (C) Estonia already has a complicated history in regards 
to Afghanistan as 50 Estonians were killed there fighting 
in the Red Army during the Soviet invasion.  Due to the 
sensitivities from this history, the MFA's Soone said it 
was important to make clear to the Estonian public that the 
missions are completely different.  While there are no 
concrete dates at the moment, the MFA will organize VIP 
visits similar to the PM's September 2005 visit to Baghdad. 
During that visit, EDF soldiers were able to convey their 
belief in the mission and explain their work.  The MFA is 
fairly confident that the press coverage from any visit to 
Helmand will be equally positive. 
 
A DESIRE FOR MORE RECOGNITION 
----------------------------- 
 
¶8. (C) In light of its resources, Estonia punches well 
above its weight in the GWOT; however, the GOE perception 
is that recognition for its contributions has not been 
commensurate.  Soone said that Estonia's contribution in 
Afghanistan will be equal in number to that of Lithuania, 
but fears that because it is not leading the PRT its role 
will not be seen as significant. 
WOS