Pevkur pledges proper cameras to watch borders

Photo: Valitsuse kommunikatsioonibüroo

Interior minister Hanno Pevkur, you met the people working on the border – what about their morale and will to work after the capture of Eston Kohver, and the criticism that followed regarding how the border holds?

I’m forwarding the emotion of two border guards straight from the scene – morale is high! The sight that I beheld was the same as in the springtime: the border has its good sections and the sections that need improvement. But, truly, the men’s morale is high.

After the September 5^th incident, you, the Prime Minister, and the police chief claimed the Estonian border holds. That the border, basically in brush and empty of guards, holds – don’t you worry! What is the basis for your convictions?

I am continually of the opinion that Estonia’s border is guarded and Estonia’s security is guaranteed. As a whole, we have built the protection of the border and the state on constant cooperation of all security structures. Add the readiness of the allies, then I’m convinced Estonia’s border is guarded and Estonian state protected.

Borders can always be guarded better, and it is true that these past years the border and guarding thereof have been underfinanced, and the condition of the border in the field and the equipment of the people guarding it ought to be better.

True, people are beginning to forget that at that specific instance there was a special operation underway in a specific section of the border, the conditions thus varying greatly from the normal. But surely this was not the first such special operation on the border. So is that single case now a reason to take a totally different approach to tidying up the border?

Surely, both Internal Security Service and Police and Border Guard Board must take a very critical review of their behaviour, and draw their conclusions. 

We now have former interior minister Ken-Marti Vaher and [former and current government’s] finance minister Jürgen Ligi arguing over work done and not done, about who asked for money for the border and who failed to give it. Why is it only now that all have this kind of clarity about these things?

Arguments and accusations are not leading us on now, the situation needs to be solved and that’s what we are dealing with.

What are the definite steps the government can do at the moment? You have promised more money, but what does that mean? The brush will be cut, the «sand strips» will emerge?

In spring already, after I took office, as I patrolled the border with the guards, I was convinced additional money had to be channelled to the border; by quick decision, back then, we allocated €200,000 to improve the situation of the boundary line. That was followed by spring-summer decisions to improve the protective equipment of border guards, for almost a million euros; and a while ago we decided to acquire new weapons for all those guarding the Eastern border.

As the budget was confirmed yesterday (day before yesterday – edit), this means we will allocate almost a million euros more next year, first of all to improve video monitoring; and we have agreed that State Forest Management Centre will clear the border line. Add the construction of Piusa cordon for almost €5.5m, and the building of Narva border point for about €9m, we realise that the sums this year and the next, to enhance border security, are very big.

How far, now and in times to come, will we be from the so-called Finnish ideal where the entire borderline is clearly guarded?

Our current primary task is to clean the boundary line and to mark it down; and this is already underway.

Some have said we should have people on the border with military training and Defence Forces’ weaponry... in addition to the modern technology. Is that needed?

We have agreed that Estonia’s border is guarded by Police and Border Guard Board, which will also cooperate with defence structures if needed. What we can additionally do to improve the situation of the border guards is their equipment and working condition both on the border and the cordons, and that’s what we are now busy doing.

It is also said the merger of Border Guard and Police was a totally wrong thing to do. Perhaps, it is time to review the forced merger?

I repeat: now and in times to come, Estonia’s border is guarded by Police and Border Guard Board.

We must also acknowledge this is not the Estonia-Russia boundary line only; this is also the Eastern border for the European Union, the Schengen Area, and NATO. The border did not hold and no-one has assumed responsibility. Should we feel ashamed before our friends and allies?

Before our friends and allies we need to be honest and say how things stand and what we are doing to improve the situation. Estonian border guard is an equal partner to its allies. Let is herewith be added that, by the beginning of next year, I have invited into Estonia the ministers of Schengen visa space, from the countries possessing external land borders.

What is the situation of Eston Kohver? They are letting him meet with the lawyer appointed by Russia, but how long is the situation suffered where Estonia’s representatives are denied access? Or is there nothing left for Estonian state to do than simply wait?

Estonian foreign ministry is definitely using all options for Estonia’s representative to be able to communicate with Eston Kohver. The issue is also being dealt with via other channels.