VZCZCXRO2760
RR RUEHAST
DE RUEHTL #0580/01 1700456
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 190456Z JUN 06
FM AMEMBASSY TALLINN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8755
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TALLINN 000580 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV EN
SUBJECT: ESTONIAN FOREIGN MINISTER'S REPORT TO THE 
PARLIAMENT 
 
TALLINN 00000580  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
¶1. (SBU) Summary:  Foreign Minister Urmas Paet presented 
his semi-annual foreign policy report to the Estonian 
Parliament on June 6.  On June 15 MFA Policy Planning 
Director Raul Malk (co-author of the speech) told us 
key take-aways included: a warning that Estonia was at 
risk of overextension with the number of international 
military missions in which it participated; notice that 
Estonia was becoming less euro-skeptic in its approach 
to the EU ? ?more like Ireland and Finland, less like 
the UK?; expressions of concern over the political 
influence that Russian investments could have on 
Estonia; and, a signal the GOE would go forward with 
plans to extend Estonia?s military mission in Iraq. 
Opposition MP and Foreign Affairs Committee Deputy 
Chairman Marko Mihkelson told us he was disappointed 
Paet made no references to critical issues farther 
afield, such as Iran.  End summary. 
 
--------------- 
SECURITY ISSUES 
--------------- 
 
¶2. (U) Paet reaffirmed Estonia?s commitment to the NATO 
?8/40? criterion.  Estonia will follow through on its 
promise to have 350 deployable troops by 2010.  ?Only so 
are we trustworthy allies. Our trustworthiness is the 
best guarantee of our international security,? Paet 
said.  Paet also underscored that NATO was not just a 
military organization, but a ?political-military one.? 
He noted that Estonia currently has 244 military 
personnel deployed on foreign missions, including 40 in 
Iraq, 80 in Afghanistan, 89 in Kosovo, 33 in Bosnia and 
Herzegovina.  In the future, it would be critical ?not 
to disperse (Estonia?s) strength, but rather to limit 
the number of missions.? 
 
¶3. (U) Paet said Afghanistan was the most important 
mission for the Estonian Defense Forces.  On Iraq, Paet 
said Estonia would ?remain committed to the UN decision 
and the endeavors of the Iraqi government.? Paet called 
Estonia?s Development Cooperation and Humanitarian 
Assistance Program 2006 ? 2010 the country?s ?fifth 
foreign mission.?  Support for human rights and 
democracy elsewhere in the world was fundamental to 
Estonia?s national strategy, and an important part of 
international security. 
 
¶4. (SBU) MFA Policy Planning Director Raul Malk told us 
on June 15 that he thought Estonia was ?at the limit? of 
what it could do in foreign military missions.  Looking 
ahead it would be important to have a more measured 
approach when taking on new commitments.  For example, 
Malk said Estonia ?had to be a good European? and was 
committed to participating in the EU?s Nordic Battle 
Group.  But he was not happy that 50 Estonians would 
likely deploy with the group to Congo in early 2008. 
?We can?t be in a position of saying ?everyone?s doing 
it, so let?s go.?? 
 
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ESTONIA AND THE EU 
------------------ 
 
¶5. (U)  In his remarks on the EU, Paet said Estonia had 
?made a contribution to restoring the driving force of 
the engine? by ratifying the Constitutional Treaty. 
Estonia now must engage in Brussels on a range of 
critical issues, including the fate of the treaty, 
Schengen entry, eurozone issues, energy, free movement 
of labor and services and the Financial Perspective. 
Estonia would remain steadfastly supportive of 
enlargement: every additional new Member State ?produces 
security? simply by fulfilling the accession criteria. 
Paet also stressed the necessity for close cooperative 
activities and common analysis of NATO and the EU, 
because ?the relations between NATO and the EU are, by 
no means, what they should be.? 
 
¶6. (SBU)  The MFA?s Malk, as well as Prime Minister 
Andrus Ansip?s EU Affairs Advisor Gert Antsu, told us 
that Parliament and the press missed the key point of 
Paet?s comments: that Estonia had migrated from a ?euro- 
skeptic? camp over the past several years to a position 
closer to that of ?Finland or Ireland? welcoming further 
integration in key areas.  Antsu underscored that such 
views were fully compatible with Estonia?s continued 
strong trans-atlanticist views on security policy. 
 
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ECONOMY 
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TALLINN 00000580  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
 
¶7. (U) In his remarks FM Paet questioned the possible 
influence investments ?from abroad? (Russia) might have 
on Estonia?s security.  ?The Estonian economy has to 
become more transparent in order to prevent the 
emergence of sizeable players with unknown background 
who might seek to influence the domestic and foreign 
policy decisions of the country's institutions,? Paet 
said.  With respect to Russian capital, each case had to 
be viewed separately.  Energy was a particularly 
sensitive area, and one where the three Baltic states 
shared concerns, such as the rise in the price of 
energy, the energy systems excessive dependence on 
Russian monopolies, separation of the Baltic energy grid 
from the rest of the EU.  The EU needed a common energy 
policy. 
 
¶8. (SBU) Commenting on Paet?s remarks, the MFA?s Malk 
said Paet?s note of caution reflected ?some differences? 
the MFA had with the Estonian Ministry of Economy on the 
role of Russian investment.  The MFA was undertaking a 
study focused in particular on Russian investment in 
media, energy and transit. 
 
- - - - - 
REACTION 
- - - - - 
 
¶9. (SBU) Paet?s speech was generally well-received by 
Estonian media.  Many observers credit MFA Counselor 
(former Defense Minister and future Ambassador to 
Latvia) Jaak Joeruut for having breathed some life into 
what had become fairly predictable set piece. 
Opposition MP and Foreign Affairs Committee Vice 
Chairman Marko Mihkelson (Res Publica) told us he was 
disappointed that Paet had not delved into topics 
farther afield from Estonia (such as challenges in 
Iran).  Mihkelson thought this reflected a lack of 
experience and fresh ideas among Estonia?s foreign 
policy class.  He has proposed that the government fund 
a robust foreign policy institute that could help 
develop such expertise. 
 
¶10.  Paet?s speech can be found at: 
http://www.vm.ee/eng/kat_140/7567.html?arhiiv _kuup=kuup_ 
2006 
 
WOS