VZCZCXYZ0017
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHTL #0423/01 1241446
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 041446Z MAY 06
FM AMEMBASSY TALLINN
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 8562

UNCLAS TALLINN 000423 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR H, EUR/NB 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PGOV OVIP EN
SUBJECT: CODEL COBLE ENGAGES WITH ESTONIANS ON LAW 
ENFORCEMENT COOPERATION AND THE GWOT 
 
¶1. (SBU) Summary: During an April 18 - 19 visit to 
Tallinn Congressman Howard Coble and Congressional staff 
discussed narcotics, shipping and port security, and 
other law enforcement issues with the Members of 
Parliament, Minister of Foreign Affairs Urmas Paet, 
Minister of Internal Affairs Kalle Lannet and Justice 
Minister Rein Lang.  Congressman Coble shared his 
appreciation for the Estonian contributions in the 
Global War on Terror (GWOT) and discussed at length the 
importance of the Estonian?s participation in the UK-led 
PRT in Helmand.  The Congressman also discussed Estonia- 
Russia relations and encouraged GOE efforts to promote 
democracy in the region.  End summary. 
 
ESTONIAN SUPPORT IN THE GWOT 
---------------------------- 
 
¶2. (SBU) Congressman Coble made clear in all meetings 
U.S. appreciation for Estonia standing shoulder to 
shoulder with the United States in the GWOT, especially 
in regards to Estonian troops serving in Afghanistan and 
Iraq.  The GOE assured the Congressman that Estonia is 
and will continue to be a strong ally of the United 
States.  Foreign Minister Paet and Justice Minister Lang 
expressed their hope that parliamentary authorization 
for Estonia's troop mission in Iraq would be extended 
past 2006. 
 
POPPY ERADICATION IN AFGHANISTAN 
-------------------------------- 
 
¶3. (SBU) Congressman Coble stressed that Estonia?s 
increased contributions in Afghanistan are in its own 
self interest.  Helmand province had become the 
epicenter of opium production, the bulk of which is 
smuggled into Europe for heroin.  Profits are falling 
into the hands of organized crime and terrorists.  FM 
Paet said he had expected Estonians might be reluctant 
to become more involved in Afghanistan, given that over 
fifty Estonians had been killed during the Soviet 
invasion of Afghanistan.  But this had not been the case 
and there has been little to no adverse public reaction. 
However, as Helmand is one of the more dangerous 
missions in Afghanistan, the GOE is aware of the 
likelihood of casualties.  Congressman Coble noted that 
it was thus all the more important to alert the public 
to Estonia's vulnerability to the narcotics trade 
originating from Afghanistan. 
 
THE FIGHT AGAINST DRUGS AT HOME 
------------------------------- 
 
¶4. (SBU) GOE officials and Members of Parliament all 
agreed that the war against drugs is a top priority. 
Even though Estonia is primarily a transit country for 
narcotics, the spill over into the Russian-speaking 
community is of real concern in urban communities.  MP 
Jaanus Rahumagi said narcotics is now the largest source 
of revenue for organized crime in Estonia, and that the 
average age of first time drug users is now 13 years. 
The rise of organized crime poses an immense challenge 
for Estonian security and law enforcement, as criminal 
organizations are becoming better funded and, therefore, 
more sophisticated in countering GOE law enforcement 
efforts.  MP Nelli Kalikova also brought to Congressman 
Coble?s attention the knock-on effect heroin use has had 
in the spread of HIV in Estonia. 
 
¶5. (SBU) In light of Estonia?s challenges to fight its 
drug problem, Congressman Coble stressed the need for 
the drafting and implementation of asset seizure and 
forfeiture legislation.  Justice Minister Lang said the 
MoJ was carefully examining other systems, including the 
U.S. system, in order to find the most suitable model 
for Estonia.  MP Rahumagi said that opposition party Res 
Publica had introduced its own draft asset seizure and 
forfeiture legislation that Parliament will debate in 
May.  In addition to asset seizure and forfeiture, the 
GOE wants to increase the powers of the Prosecutors 
office and the police.  At the moment, the MOJ and MoIA 
believe too many restrictions are placed on Estonian 
investigators. 
 
PORT SECURITY MEASURE 
--------------------- 
 
¶6. (SBU) Estonia?s nine percent economic growth has made 
Tallinn an ever more important regional hub for trade 
and transit.  Congressman Coble visited Muuga Port to 
see the port security and shipping inspection and 
 
security mechanisms put in place.  The Customs and Tax 
Board were also present and demonstrated the use of 
radioactive pagers and fiber-optic cameras provided by 
the EXBS program.  The officials described several 
sensitive interdictions where the equipment had played 
an important role. 
 
ESTONIA-RUSSIA RELATIONS 
------------------------ 
 
¶7. (SBU) Both FM Paet and Justice Minister Lang spoke at 
length about the challenge of managing the Russia 
relationship.  Lang made it clear that he did not 
actually fear Russian encroachment over Estonian 
sovereignty, but said that Russian attitudes were an 
obstacle, especially in law enforcement and security 
where common sense would suggest better cooperation 
could benefit both countries.  In a meeting at the 
Ministry of Internal Affairs (MoIA) Secretary General 
Mart Kraft mentioned the unreliability of his Russian 
counterparts in implementing cooperative agreements and 
information sharing. 
 
PROMOTING DEMOCRACY ESTONIAN STYLE 
---------------------------------- 
 
¶8. (SBU) Congressman Coble congratulated Estonia on its 
role in promoting the spread of democracy.  FM Paet 
spoke at length about Estonia?s efforts to assist the 
opposition in Belarus, which included election monitors, 
grants to Belarusian university students expelled for 
their political affiliations to study in Estonia, and 
support for more robust action on the EU?s part within 
EU fora. 
 
WOS