The President of the Republic had a meeting with Prime Minister Mart Laar today. The Prime Minister presented his account of the training exercises at the shooting range of the Nursi training base in May 1999, where allegedly there had been shooting at the image of a member of the Riigikogu. The account repeated the Prime Minister's earlier statements concerning the events.

The President emphasised that the supervisory control proceedings conducted on his orders must provide an unequivocal account of the events and of the alleged participation of the members of the defence forces. The President and the Prime Minister stated that the report of Rear Admiral Tarmo Kõuts, the Commander of the Defence Forces, must be exhaustive and will have to be published in full extent.

The President expressed his hope that the political forces and the press would not attempt to relate the incident to the Estonian defence forces before the report has been completed.


Press Service of the Office of the President
Kadriorg, February 14, 2001

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