Remarks by Ambassador Aldona Wos

Estonian Public Service Academy
October 13, 2004

Good morning. It is quite an honor to join you this morning and to deliver a few remarks. I would like to begin by thanking Rector Peeter Järvelaid and his staff for this warm introduction to your Academy and the opportunity to see your facility, meet some of the faculty and discuss the possibilities for cooperation in matters of mutual interest.

This opportunity comes at a time when I too am learning about the many levels of government and where exactly the United States and Estonia have forged strong working relationships, that are yielding successes every day.

Having said that, I must add that these are indeed troubling times in the world and these troubles spell big challenges for those who have chosen a career in public service.

As public service professionals, we find ourselves right in the middle of many difficult issues.

Sadly enough, sometime it requires a crisis to force us out of complacency and stimulate change.

I'll start with terrorism as an example: When the United States was attacked on September 11, 2001, it was not just an act of terror, but an act of war. The first attack on U.S. soil since Pearl Harbor. This incident disclosed our vulnerabilities as a free and open society.

Our citizens did not want to give up the liberties they love in an open society and they did not want to live in fear and terror. So in response, we made greater commitments to improving technology. Strengthen our defensive infrastructure within immigration/customs, airports and seaports, and we continue to build partnerships. At home this means insuring that our federal intelligence and law enforcement agencies communicate better with the more than 650,000 state and local law enforcement officers. And abroad - - with you - - because partnerships abroad equal security at home.

We also learned that what we do to help our partners and colleagues prepare for these threats is equally as important as what we do to prepare ourselves.

Another challenge is that governments small and large worldwide are being asked to play a larger role in war on international terrorism and peacekeeping situations. If you look at the situations that transpired in Bosnia, Haiti, Kosova, East Timor, and now Afghanistan and Iraq, you see a pattern emerging of international involvement. First military action, followed by law enforcement action and institution building. Because once the peacekeepers have finished their job, it is essential to institute and implement the Rule of Law in order to rebuild the political and economic infrastructures of a civilized and democratic society. Just as significant, are persistent fraud and corruption issues.

We have found over history that incidents of fraudulent practices such as the 1929 Stock Market Crash have resulted in legislation making theft, embezzlement and making false statements or reports a criminal offenses.

Accompanying legislation also called for stricter compliance of audits and government oversight.

In the past 20 years, our government has faced similar incidents requiring swift action to correct abuse.

In areas such as:

Defense Procurement Fraud,

Bank Failures,

Security Frauds,

Health Care Fraud,
And Fraudulent financial statement reporting by corporations.

In each of these incidents, specific and timely action was called for to identify and address the problem and impose new laws and rules aimed toward preventing abuses and restoring the public's faith.

These types of responses required law enforcement working closely with regulators and the Legislature to create meaningful legislation that gave law enforcement the investigative and prosecutive tools to be effective.

Estonia has moved swiftly to adopt legislation addressing all forms of transnational crime, including cyber related crime and money laundering. Banking regulations have also been implemented to prevent the use of Estonia's financial institutions as conduits for proceeds from criminal activities. Prosecutors, law enforcement officers and regulators now have the ability to utilize intrusive investigative techniques. These investigative techniques enable them to address these crimes more effectively and they are doing this successfully.

But with these powers come an responsibility. These powers are vested in us by a trusting public and conveyed through the authority of our governments. If we lose the public trust. We lose the moral right to these powers and the privilege of their authority.

Public service and law enforcement are the very cornerstones upon which the success of our governments are judged; public service is the action arm of the government.

Today we find ourselves in a world economy wherein our actions, or lack of action, are watched very closely by international companies wanting to do business in our countries and with our governments. Estonia is now a member in the European Union and NATO and very much a player in the regional economy of Northern Europe. Your well-educated professionals will spread out across Europe and return with valuable ideas and new business ventures. And Estonia is learning that access to global capital and investments carries with it certain responsibilities - - the expectation of fairness and transparency when dealing with government and financial institutions. Whether individuals, businesses or foreign investors, when there is a dispute, all expect to get fair treatment in a court of law.

We are government employees entrusted with the public interest. Responsible for taxpayer's dollar being well spent in procurements, for dispensing justice fairly for safeguarding the integrity of our industries. And for protecting our countries against all forms of threats.

We play a very important role in the continuing development of our governments and economies. We represent fairness and the transparency. We are on the front line in our government's efforts to combat corruption and fraud. I trust that you will use this power given to you with the discretion and integrity that will continue to make Estonia a proud country and people.

Thank you again for this opportunity to address you.