FM Paet: NATO Wishes to Strengthen Contribution to Afghanistan and Fight against Somali Coastal Pirates
03.12.2008
The meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Brussels continued on Wednesday, 3 December. The foreign ministers focused on matters related to the NATO-led Afghanistan operation and the situation in Kosovo, as well as combating piracy off the shores of Somalia. The NATO-Ukraine and the NATO-Georgia Commission both met as well, the latter for the first time within the foreign minister format.
The NATO foreign ministers agreed that it is important for NATO to make a stronger contribution than before to improving the security situation in Afghanistan. “We must increase support for Afghanistan’s police and military training, so that Afghanistan will be capable of shouldering increasingly more tasks on its own,” said Foreign Minister Paet. He stated that the contribution to the reconstruction of Afghanistan must be strengthened as well. “It is not possible to achieve success by purely military means,” Paet added.
The NATO foreign ministers also emphasised the importance of preventing civilian deaths and the necessity of closer co-operation with Pakistan and Central Asia in order to stabilise the situation in Afghanistan.
The foreign ministers approved the extension of NATO’s training mission in Iraq and the activities of the mission in Kosovo.
Combating piracy off the shores of Somalia was also addressed at the meeting. Paet stated that the protection of NATO World Food Programme ships will continue, as will increasing security in Somali waters. A European Union military mission is beginning in the area, and NATO is also prepared to continue activities there to improve the security situation.
In the NATO-Georgia and NATO-Ukraine Commissions, the foreign ministers exchanged ideas about NATO’s relations with Ukraine and Georgia respectively, as well as decided in favour of more intense co-operation with these nations within the framework of the yearly action plan of each commission.
Foreign Minister Paet confirmed Estonia’s support for Georgia’s territorial integrity and sovereignty within internationally recognised borders. “The Georgian government has played a constructive role in the efforts of international organisations to find a long-term solution to the Russia-Georgia conflict,” Paet emphasised. The Estonian foreign minister stated that the NATO-Georgia Commission has a central role in achieving the Bucharest goals, namely NATO membership for Georgia. “The key in this process is Georgia’s continuing dedication to implementing democratic reforms,” Paet asserted.
The NATO foreign minister confirmed that a democratic, stable, and successful Ukraine is the best security guarantee for the Black Sea region, and therefore supported unanimously Ukraine’s Euro-atlantic aspirations. Minister Paet emphasised that accession to NATO requires that Ukraine continues the effective implementation of reforms and has political stability and support for society. Paet also called upon Ukraine to consult with NATO more actively on all levels.
