Today, a regular meeting of the Command System Reform Working Group of the National Defence Council took place in Kadriorg. The Head of the working group, the Minister of Defence Jüri Luik, as well as the working group members – Tiit Tammsaar, member of the Riigikogu, Lieutenant General Johannes Kert, Brigadier General Märt Tiru and Urmas Reinsalu, Director of the Office of the President – participated in the meeting. Lieutenant-Colonel Aarne Ermus, Acting Commander of the Defence Forces, as well as Lieutenant-Colonel German Kesa, Head of the Planning and Analysis Department of the General Staff (J-5), and Tiit Noorkõiv, Head of the Defence Policy and Planning Department of the Ministry of Defence, participated in the meeting as experts.

The working group discussed interim report that had been drawn up by the planning departments of the General Staff and the Ministry of Defence. Lieutenant Colonel German Kesa, who had previously been working at NATO headquarters, introduced the summary of the interim report drawn up by experts.

The working group has proceeded from the principle that the reform of the command system is necessary. The working group members decided that the draft drawn up by experts would constitute a basis, proceeding from which the Minister of Defence Jüri Luik was authorised to present an interim report on the subject of command system reform to the National Defence Council. It was decided that the text composed by experts would serve as a basis for further work.

The experts' proposal to start the establishment of District Staffs under the Army Staff was discussed at length. The debates also focused on the creation of a unified rear system and the issues of wartime command of the navy and air forces.

In conclusion, Minister of Defence Jüri Luik, Head of the working group said: ''I am delighted to observe that we have come quite close to unanimity. Also the differences that have been formulated are not mere abstract words, but concrete and clear choices''.

The final decision in these complicated matters shall be taken by the National Defence Council.


Press Service of the Office of the President
Kadriorg, August 22, 2000

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