Between May 4-5, 2003 the Minister of Defence Margus Hanson participated in the NATO-Ukraine consultations in Washington. The leading topic of the consultations was perspectives of Ukraine to strengthen co-operation with NATO. The participants decided that NATO should continue defence and security co-operation with Ukraine.
Estonia’s input into the further elaboration of Ukrainian security- and defence cooperation is focusing on sharing expertise and experience in defence related legislation and Annual National Plan development areas.
During the consultations in Washington the Baltic Ministers of Defence had a meeting where the sides specified details and conformed their platforms before the 3 + 3 (the Baltic states + Germany-Denmark-Poland) meeting in Copenhagen between May 7 – 8.
Discussing the Iraqi issue the Baltic Defence Ministers declared unity concerning further activities, not excluding possible Baltic co-operative mission, but that not before the end of the first rotation period i.e. in six months.
The Baltic meeting was also attended by US Minister of Defence Donald H. Rumsfeld who thanked the countries for their willingness to participate in the post conflict Iraq with their soldiers. It was decided to continue with further consultations.
Hanson’s visit to Washington was the first foreign and business visit as the Minister of Defence after the elections of the Parliament Riigikogu this March. The visit to Washington was a unique possibility to meet with numerous colleagues from NATO full member as well as candidate countries.