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PRESS RELEASE nr. 79 Estonia and Norway to discuss bilateral defence co-operation

9. April 2003 - 9:46
Today, on August 26 the delegations of the Estonian and Norwegian Ministry of Defence will meet in Oslo to analyze bilateral defence co-operation in the past and to determine priorities for the coming year. The delegations will also sign the annual co-ope

Today, on August 26 the delegations of the Estonian and Norwegian Ministry of Defence will meet in Oslo to analyze bilateral defence co-operation in the past and to determine priorities for the coming year. The delegations will also sign the annual co-operation plan for 2003.

In addition to annual bilateral co-operation issues the sides will discuss NATO enlargement and Estonia’s preparations for integrating into the structures of the Alliance, developments arising from the changes in the EDF structure and defence co-operation in the Baltic Sea Region in general.

The Estonian delegation led by the Director of Defence Policy and Planning Department of Estonian Ministry of Defence Tiit Noorkõiv will return from Norway on Monday evening.

Estonian-Norwegian Bilateral Defence relations:

Norway as Chairman of the BALTSEA Steering Group starting from 2002 has been very active and concrete, especially in the framework of BALTNET and BALTRON projects.

Estonia and Norway signed the memorandum of mutual understanding on defence in August 1995. By the year 2000 the first annual co-operation plan between the two countries was put together. During the meeting between the Estonian Minister of Defence Sven Mikser and the Norwegian ambassador Per Kristian Pedersen this February the sides concluded that the possibilities to broaden co-operation would happen after Estonia’s possible acceptance into NATO.

To assure commitment for long-term defence co-operation Norway has declared its decision to send staff members to BALTDEFCOL until 2008-09.

In the framework of bilateral co-operation safe data transfer and classified information protection are also important areas to be developed.