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Estonian Head of State met with German Minister of Defence

08.06.2009

“NATO must continue to pay great attention to its main function – collective defence,” said President Ilves, at meeting with the German Minister of Defence, Mr. Franz Josef Jung “NATO must continue to pay great attention to its main function – collective defence,” said President Toomas Hendrik Ilves, at today’s meeting with the German Minister of Defence, Mr. Franz Josef Jung. “For that purpose the alliance should increase its visibility, reliability and capability.”

According to President Ilves, the air policing operation of the Baltic states, launched in 2004, serves as a positive example of NATO’s presence and visibility.

“This operation of NATO allies, which includes Germany, has been, on the one hand, a fine example of NATO’s presence and the Baltic states as a part of that alliance, while on the other hand, it has contributed strongly to the security of the region and has helped put an end to the violation of our air space.”

President Ilves and Minister Jung also discussed the situation in Afghanistan where the army units of both country participate in the NATO-led operation.

“Disquiet and largely decisive months will be ahead of us in Afghanistan due to the presidential election, as NATO’s success will largely be determined by the decisiveness of the alliance and its allies as well as the commitment to a safe and stable Afghanistan,” President Ilves said.

President Ilves and Minister Jung also discussed the results of yesterday’s European Parliament elections.


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