President Lennart Meri today signed the resolution to release from office Major General Ants Laaneots, Commander of the General Staff of the Defence Forces. The President Released the Commander of the General Staff on the basis of Major General's own application, in connection with his new position in the Baltic Defence College from October 1, 1999.

In recognition and appreciation of his work in the Estonian Defence Forces, President of the Republic has decided to confer the II Class Order of the Cross of the Eagle to Major General Ants Laaneots.

President Meri supports the initiative of the Commander of the Defence Forces to appoint Lieutenant Colonel Aare Ermus, who also has the support of the Government of the Republic, the Acting Commander of the General Staff. The President considered it reasonable that young officers educated in the West should be promoted to strategic positions in the Estonian Defence Forces. The placing of such young officers to the leading positions in the Estonian Defence Forces could be more important than any political declaration from the viewpoint of Estonia's NATO aspirations, the President emphasised. The Acting Commander of the Defence Forces Urmas Roosimägi has been educated in Finland, Lieut-Col Aare Ermus in the United States of America. Members of the Defence Forces are currently educated in the military academies of Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Switzerland, the United States and other partner states.


Press Service of the Office of the President
Kadriorg, September 21, 1999

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