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President Ilves met with cyber defence commander of France

11.01.2013

The President, Toomas Hendrik Ilves, met today with Rear Admiral Arnaud Coustilliere, who is the Cyber Defence General Officer of the Defence Staff of the French Armed Forces. Mr. Coustilliere is visiting Estonia in relation to France's preparations for joining the NATO Centre of Excellence for Co-operative Cyber Defence in Tallinn.

At the meeting, the discussion focused on the obligation of democratic countries to stand against possible cyber threats, which may be more often targeted at computer networks for civilian purposes rather than military infrastructures.

Admiral Coustilliere expressed his interest in the Estonian Cyber Defence League, which serves the purpose of bringing together voluntary information technology security specialists to use their initiative and know-how in protecting the constitutional order of the country.

President Ilves also addressed cyber security issues at his meeting in Paris on Monday with Francois Hollande, the President of France. "Defence-related co-operation between our countries will continue," confirmed President Ilves, emphasising that co-operation, not segregation, will be our strength, not only in terms of economic and financial co-operation but also cyber defence in the European Union. "Defence-related co-operation between Estonia and France – from combating pirates through cyber defence to a training mission for Mali's Government Forces – serves as a good example of a successful joint venture," stated the Estonian Head of State at his meeting today with the French cyber defence commander.

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