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Address of the President of the Republic on the Closing Ceremony of the Baltic Challenge'98 Exercise In Klaipeda on July 25, 1998
25.07.1998

Excellencies,
Officers and soldiers,

Security on the coasts of the Baltic Sea can be guaranteed only through international co-operation. During the first years of our restored independence, this seemed to be only a theoretical possibility. Today we are demonstrating the level of our practical readiness to become full members of NATO. The commander of the Estonian Defence Forces leutnant-general Kert has assured me that last year's "Baltic Challenge" enhanced our experience of organizing of military exercises, international co-operation and co-ordination of land, air and maritime forces - it confirmed our understanding that no country is too small, that no nation is too distant to be included into the expanding continent of stability and security, called NATO. And I am proud that Estonia and her Baltic brothers States are well known to our NATO partners by our readiness for co-operation.

"Baltic Challenge" has become an exemplary case in the development of the concept of the NATO Combined Joint Task Force. It is important for us that "Baltic Challenge" should continue and develop further. The performance level of the participating troops and non-commissioned officers has improved considerably, and will continue to improve further. We have now BALTDEFCOL for training officers able to co-operate with their NATO Colleagues on a tactical level. As an active participant in the NATO Partnership for Peace Programme, the Estonian Defence Forces are also interested in expanding the programme of the exercises. Besides peace-keeping, other tasks covered by Article 4 of the NATO Statutes could be included in the exercises. Estonia is prepared to co-operate with her neighbours in this field.

At this point I would like to remind you of the words of Strobe Talbott, the US Deputy Secretary of State, from the first meeting of the Baltic Charter Partnership Commission held in Riga a couple of weeks ago. Strobe Talbott emphasised that in the security thinking it is time to give up the vision of the Baltic States as a neutral region or a buffer zone. As he stressed, Russia should rather consider the possibility of seeing the Baltic States as a gateway to Europe. He gave the best possible interpretation to the concept "Baltic Challenge".

The political support from the United States has been unceasing. I would like to thank the US Armed Forces who are the most numerous here today, for their readiness to put this support into practice, and I am especially glad to see here so many representatives of the State of Maryland where assistance to the Estonian Defence Forces has obviously been taken to heart.

But specially I would like to thank Lithuania for the organisation of the exercise, and salute all the participants.

I thank everybody for proving that the Baltic States are not alone.

 

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