FM Paet: Prospect of Joining NATO is Stimulus for Carrying out Reforms
10.12.2007
Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Paet participated in a meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Brussels on Friday, 7 December.
The main topics discussed at the meeting were the NATO-led operation in Afghanistan, the situation in Kosovo and in the Western Balkans in general, and issues related to NATO enlargement and relations with partner countries. A meeting of the NATO-Russia Council and NATO Ukraine-Commission also took place, as did a meeting between NATO allies and the Mediterranean Dialogue countries.
In speaking about the operation in Afghanistan, Foreign Minister Urmas Paet emphasized that success can not be achieved by using military means alone. “The situation in Afghanistan demands the implementation of more civil measures. Primarily, international organizations like the UN and the European Union should increase their contributions and expand their activities alongside NATO,” said Paet. The foreign minister also mentioned the importance of involving Afghanistan’s neighbours more in the stabilising process.
In their joint communiqué the foreign ministers of the alliance called upon the parties involved in the Kosovo Status Talks not to take steps which could worsen the security situation in the region. Estonia believes that the sustainability of the Kosovo status solution depends on the ongoing presence of the international community and the coordination and unity of activities there.
The foreign policy leaders also discussed matters related to NATO enlargement. At the moment, Croatia, Macedonia and Albania are preparing to become members of the alliance within the framework of the NATO Membership Action Plan (MAP). An invitation to join may be issued to these nations at the next NATO summit in April 2008, depending on how successfully the countries do their “homework” of implementing reforms. According to Foreign Minister Urmas Paet, the results-based enlargement process will increase the security of the entire Euro-Atlantic region. “The prospect of acceding to NATO is a motivator for all European nations to move forward on the path to reforms, integration and democracy,” said Paet. The foreign ministers will continue to discuss the potential expansion of NATO at their next meeting in March of next year.
In talking about the situation in Georgia, the NATO foreign ministers emphasized the importance of free elections and freedom of the media. They also confirmed the continued support of members of the alliance for Georgia’s Euro-Atlantic endeavours. The Estonian foreign minister called on his colleagues to give Georgia the opportunity to prove itself. “First of all we need to wait for the presidential election in Georgia in January. Only after that can we evaluate the possibility of giving Georgia a NATO Membership Action Plan,” said Paet.
At the NATO-Russia Council foreign ministers’ meeting, matters related to the Kosovo Status Talks and the Treaty on Conventional Forces Europe (CFE) were discussed. Since the adapted CFE signed in 1999 is not in effect, Estonia is not legally able to join the treaty. Foreign Minister Urmas Paet confirmed Estonia’s readiness to begin negotiations to join the treaty as soon as it becomes a legal possibility.
Within the framework of the NATO-Ukraine Commission, Ukrainian participation in NATO operations was discussed. The Estonian foreign minister believes that Ukraine’s active participation in NATO operations is a sign of its strategic movement towards Euro-Atlantic integration.
