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National Defence Development Priorities 2003 |
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(Source: Estonian Ministry of Defence; issued April 8, 2003)
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1. ESTONIA’S INTEGRATION INTO NATO During the NATO integration talks led by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a set of integration principles, including Estonia’s duties and tasks, will be agreed upon. During the talks, the Ministry of Defence and the Defence Forces will be responsible for military issues and information security issues, as well as for questions concerning national defence legislation. In the context of integration, the next Annual National Programme (ANP) will be developed, which will also include the so-called timetable of reforms, agreed on during the integration talks. Estonia’s homework with regard to the NATO integration will have to continue.
2. DEVELOPMENT OF MILITARY CAPABILITIES FOR PARTICIPATING IN NATO-LED AND/OR EUROPEAN UNION-LED MILITARY OR CRISIS MANAGEMENT OPERATIONS as a member of NATO and the EU, Estonia must be prepared to contribute to NATO-led military operations as well as EU-led Crisis Management Operations. For this purpose, Estonian Defence Forces’ rapid reaction capabilities must be enhanced at all levels and the necessary operational structure must be developed.
Priority will be given to the manning, training and equipping of the Scouts Battalion. The infantry brigade must ensure the capability to support and sustain the Battalion on missions. In the light of the formation of NATO’s Response Force (NRF), Estonia’s opportunities to participate in this process should be analysed and the existing military police, mine countermeasures and Explosive Ordnance Disposal capabilities should be developed accordingly. Additionally, the development of new military capabilities regarded as important by the Alliance should be looked into. Developing of these military capabilities should take place, to the greatest extent possible, in co-operation with Latvia and Lithuania.
With regard to international co-operation, participation in the NATO-led operation KFOR in Kososvo will continue and deployment to the ISAF III operation in Afghanistan will take place.
3. INTEGRATING THE ESTONIAN DEFENCE PLANNING SYSTEM INTO NATO’s PLANNING STRUCTURE. NATO’s defence planning, including the planning for the defence of NATO’s territory is included in the general NATO planning process. This process also creates a basis for the development of the means and military capabilities needed for the defence of Estonia’s territory. In order to insure her proportional contribution and to make known Estonia’s national interests, Estonia must participate in the NATO Defence Planning Process and harmonise her national policies accordingly. Estonia is aiming to obtain an integral understanding of NATO. As this broader understanding is based on many different integrated factors, participation in the planning process foresees the knowledge of Allies’s defence plans, as well as those of future members. During the planning process, Estonian defence planners should clarify the force structure of the EDF.
4. LEGISLATION AND LEGAL REGULATION OF THE NATIONAL DEFENCE SYSTEM.
The International Military Co-operation Act as well as the amendments to the State Secrets Act and the Military Service Act will also be adopted shortly and thereafter promptly implemented. In the context of NATO integration, Estonia must, in addition to the Washington Treaty, join another 6 to 7 international treaties and develop national legal regulations for their implementation. Although the implementation can only take place after Estonia has become a full member of the Alliance, the necessary preparations should begin.
5. CONTINUED DEVELOPMENT OF THE AIR SURVEILLANCE NETWORK AND ITS INTEGRATION WITH NATO SYSTEMS. For this purpose, a 3D long-range air-defence radar TPS-117 and a medium-range primary radar will be set up and installed in 2003. With the aim of ensuring the interoperability of Estonian systems with those of the Alliance, technical compatibility of air surveillance and communications systems must be established.
6. IMPLEMENTATION OF THE HOST NATION SUPPORT CONCEPT. The HNS concept was established in 2002, determining the structures, means and procedures of HNS. When implemented, Estonian HNS must be able to guarantee sufficient support to NATO forces for carrying out military operations on Estonian territory. Once the HNS concept has been officially adopted, its implementation plan will be drawn up and implementation initiated. Creation of the corresponding database and preparation of the necessary infrastructure must begin. With regard to the latter, co-operation with NATO within the framework of the NATO Security Investment Programme (NSIP) must be intensified.
7. INFORMATION SECURITY AND STRATEGIC COMMUNICATION SYSTEM. In 2003, more attention will be paid to the further development of surveillance and communications systems. The system for ensuring adequate security protection of classified information exchange between NATO and Estonia should be implemented. Prior to Estonia’s full integration to the Alliance, Estonia must create preconditions for information exchange with NATO headquarters at the strategic and regional level. This task includes the preparation of infrastructure, procurement of the necessary equipment, training of personnel and implementation of the corresponding procedures.
8. PARTICIPATION IN THE PARTNERSHIP FOR PEACE PROGRAMME AND SHARING OF REFORM EXPERIENCE. Estonia views the NATO PfP programme as a security producing international programme which will retain its importance for Estonia even after becoming a full Alliance member. In addition to the already existing co-operation formats, Estonia should focus on sharing with other states the experience acquired within the PfP framework e.g. in the course of building up her defence forces and establishing civil control over national defence, as well as in the overall NATO integration process.
9. CONCLUDING THE REFORM OF THE ESTONIAN DEFENCE FORCES HIGHEST COMMAND AND CONTROL LEVEL. The terms of reference and structure of the strategic-level headquarters - the General Staff, service staffs and the Joint Operational Command - must be adopted. When establishing the final tables of organization, Estonia will follow the principle that by the year 2005, 90% of the staff positions should be filled.
10. PERSONNEL RECRUITMENT AND PREPARATION FOR NATO-INTEGRATION. As member of the Alliance, Estonia will participate in the NATO decision making and planning process and take an active part in the organisation’s everyday activities. For this purpose, Estonian officers and civil servants will be assigned to work in NATO international structures and staffs. At the same time, national structures and positions in the Estonian Mission to the NATO Headquarters as well as at home must be staffed with competent personnel. During 2003, at least 40-50 officers and civil servants must be selected and trained to be prepared to fulfil the above mentioned tasks.
-ends-
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