09 March 2000
(Defense Minister Luik at RFE/RL briefing March 8) (480) A few years ago "discussion of NATO membership for the Baltic states was theoretical, but now it is a practical option," Juri Luik, Estonia's minister of defense, said during a discussion about his country's recent progress towards qualifying for membership in NATO. Speaking at a briefing sponsored by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/FL) in Washington, Luik said Estonia's governing coalition has taken "serious steps" to raise defense expenditures, and that a government commission is addressing issues of NATO membership and defense preparedness, according to a RFE/RL press release. He said that to bring its military forces up to NATO standards, Estonia is buying sophisticated radar and communications equipment, along with receiving small arms and other military equipment from Finland, Denmark, Norway, and the United States. Following is the text of RFE/RL release. (begin text) Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty March 8, 2000 ESTONIA TAKES "SERIOUS STEPS" TO NATO MEMBERSHIP (Washington, DC--March 8, 2000)- Estonia is substantially increasing defense expenditures and upgrading its military forces and equipment to NATO standards while still maintaining good relations with Russia, the country's Minister of Defense Juri Luik told a press briefing at RFE/RL today. Luik said that, over the past year, Estonia's governing coalition has taken "serious steps" to raise defense expenditures to 2 percent of GDP, the spending level recommended to new NATO members. Despite the legal restrictions of maintaining a balanced budget, defense expenditures will be raised by two-tenths of a percent each year, until they reach 2 percent of GDP in 2002. The increased funding will be used to improve the quality of life for military personnel, to improve communications capability and to strengthen air surveillance and defense systems. The Estonian military has received small arms and other military equipment from neighboring countries such as Finland, Sweden, Denmark and Norway, as well as the United States. The government itself is purchasing sophisticated radar and communications equipment to bring its forces up to NATO standards. Luik said that Estonia's Prime Minister Mart Laar recently created a government commission to better address issues of defense preparedness and NATO membership. The five-member commission includes the finance minister, so that funding issues are addressed before decisions are adopted. Luik also discussed the progress Estonia and the other Baltic states have made toward achieving NATO membership -- pointing out that a few years ago "discussion of NATO membership for the Baltic states was theoretical, but now it is a practical option." Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty is a private, international radio service to Eastern Europe and Southeastern Europe, Russia, the Caucasus, Central Asia and the Middle East funded by the US Congress. (end text) (Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State)