Eesti keeles
Joint Meeting of the United States and Estonian Bilateral Working Group
on Defense and Military Relations
The United States and Estonian Bilateral Working Group on Defense and Military Relations Matters will meet in Tallinn on May 4-5 to hold a full range of discussions on regional and bilateral
security and defense issues. The United States delegation is headed by Mr. Frederick C. Smith, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs in the Office
of the Secretary of Defense. Mr. Smith will be supported by high level officials from the Policy and Acquisitions & Technology Directorates in the Department of Defense, the Defense Security
Assistance Agency, the Department of State, United States European Command, the United States Mission to NATO, the Defense Intelligence Agency and the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
The important role that the U.S. and Estonian Bilateral Working Group plays in fostering cooperation between the United States and the Republic of Estonia was recognized by President Meri and
President Clinton on January16, 1998, when they signed the Baltic Charter and affirmed that "the Partners intend to continue mutually beneficial military cooperation and will maintain regular
consultations, using the established Bilateral Working Group on Defense and Military Relations."
Next month, Deputy Secretary of State Strobe Talbott will meet in Riga with senior officials of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania to review the work of this Bilateral Working Group and of the
U.S.-Estonian Bilateral Working Group on Economic Affairs, which will be held in Washington on May 11.
Bilateral Working Group meetings here will focus on regional developments, on Estonia's defense planning and its ongoing efforts to build forces that provide for the legitimate self-defense of
Estonia and contribute to regional security, on U.S. security assistance, on the U.S. European Command's role in the region and its work with Estonia, and on developments at NATO. The United
States and Estonia will continue in the years ahead to build on our work here and to deepen our security cooperation.
Attention: There will be a press conference with participants in the Bilateral Working Group, Deputy Chancellor for the Estonian Ministry of Defense Margus Kolga and Mr. Frederick C. Smith,
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs in the Office of the Secretary of Defense, on Tuesday, May 2, 1998 at 4:45 p.m. at theMinistry of Defense
(Sakala St. 1). For additional information, please contact United States Information Service: ph. 6 312 210.
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