The President of the Republic Appointed the Acting Commander of the Defence Forces
30.06.1999

Today, the President of the Republic had a meeting with the Commander of the Defence Forces, Lieutenant General Johannes Kert. The meeting focused on the organisation of the work of the defence forces during General Kert's studies in the Military College of the U.S. Army from July 7, 1999, to June 10, 2000.

President Lennart Meri emphasised that the defence forces of the Republic of Estonia are facing co-operation with NATO and the aspiration of full membership of the Alliance, and one presumption for this is the implementation of the tasks that the State has set for the Commander of the Defence Forces.

President of the Republic also met Major General Ants Laaneots, Commander of the General Staff of the Defence forces, and discussed with him the problems that the defence forces would be facing in the coming year.

In accordance with Subsection 4 of Section 8 of the Peacetime national defence Act, the President of the Republic today appointed Colonel Urmas Roosimägi the Acting Commander of the Defence forces. Last week, the President as the Supreme Commander of National Defence conferred the rank of Colonel to Urmas Roosimägi on the proposal of the Commander of the Defence Forces.

The President also informed the members of the National Defence Council about his resolution on the appointment of Urmas Roosimägi.

General Johannes Kert characterised Colonel Roosimägi as an excellent, goal-oriented officer with a quick and flexible mind, who would be capable of carrying to life the goals of the Republic of Estonia.

Colonel Urmas Roosimägi (b. 1958), has been the Commander of the Anti-Aircraft Division since 1995, and was expecting a posting to the Air Forces Inspector of the General Staff of the Defence Forces. He graduated from the Higher Anti-Aircraft College of Kiev as a military anti-aircraft defender an also as a civil radio engineer. This year, Colonel Roosimägi completed the General Staff course of the Finnish National Defence University together with General Kert, the Commander of the Defence Forces, Commander Kapp, Commander of the Estonian Navy, and Rear Admiral Tarmo Kõuts, the Commander of the Border Guard.


Press Service of the Office of the President
Kadriorg, June 30, 1999