A Strong Signal

The meeting of the NATO Military Committee in Tallinn was a strong signal of the alliance's presence in Estonia, Chairman of the Military Committee Gen. Harald Kujat said. "That the session took place namely in Tallinn is a strong and visible signal that Estonia is a part of NATO and NATO has responsibility for security and stability in Estonia," the General said after the meeting of the Military Committee. Commander of the Estonian defence forces Vice Adm. Tarmo Kouts said hosting such a high-level meeting was a big challenge for Estonia. The Military Committee discussed the alliance's ongoing missions in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Afghanistan, Kosovo and Iraq, matters related to airspace patrolling and further development of NATO's military capabilities. Kujat said the national defence chiefs gave their guidelines for continuing of military planning in Brussels. At the session of the Military Committee in November concrete decisions will be adopted and proposals made to the alliance's political authority, he added. Apart from the commanders of national defence forces of NATO countries, member states' military representatives to NATO and strategic commanders of the alliance took part in the meeting. In all, some 60 Generals and Admirals gathered for what was the highest-level meeting The Chairman of the Military Committee also met with Estonian President Arnold Rüütel.