Today Foreign Minister Urmas Paet met with the Estonian infantry company Estcoy-15 and soldiers of the logistics support unit at Camp Bastion.
Paet recognised Estonian soldiers serving in Afghanistan
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Foreign Minister Urmas Paet thanked the Estonian soldiers for their work in one of the most complicated areas of Afghanistan. “Estonian soldiers that are serving or have served in Afghanistan have not just fought to ensure the stability and security of Afghanistan, but also in the name of international security and the security of our own home country,” said Paet. The foreign minister added that one can always rely on Estonia’s soldiers, and thanks to their exemplary behaviour they have received widespread international recognition.
The contribution of Estonian soldiers in guaranteeing the security of Helmand Province is also valued highly by Commander of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in the South-western Zone Major General Walter Miller, with whom Foreign Minister Paet met at Camp Bastion. According to Paet, Major General Miller confirmed that Estonian soldiers are professional and do a good job of fulfilling their assignments.
During their meeting, Paet and Miller also discussed the regional security situation and the current status of the transition, as well as matters related to the development of the Afghan security forces. Foreign Minister Paet gave an overview of matters related to reducing the number of Estonian troops.
The foreign minister added that since Afghanistan will need the support of the international community after 2014 as well, Estonia is prepared to contribute to NATO’s new training mission in Afghanistan Resolute Support with a special operations forces (SOF) unit and up to ten staff officers. “From 2015-2017 we are prepared to support the Afghan security forces with at least 500 000 US dollars per year,” said Paet.
While in Helmand, Foreign Minister Paet also met with Commander of Task Force Helmand British Brigadier Robert Bruce. The foreign minister thanked the United Kingdom for its good co-operation thus far and expressed hope that joint military operations of Estonia and Great Britain would continue in the future.