Other events in Baltic States

On Tuesday the minister of defence Jaak Aaviksoo met with his Afghanistan colleague Abdul Rahim Wardak in Kabul, writes EPL Online/LETA.

At the meeting the two ministers discussed the current situation and possible further developments in connection with the Presidential elections to take place in Afghanistan in 2009. Aaviksoo also informed Wardak of extending the mandate of the Estonian Defence Forces’ mission in Afghanistan until the end of the year 2009 and of increasing the Estonian contingency to up to 170 members of the Defence Forces.

Aaviksoo stated that the meeting with Wardak confirmed that over the course of the year, the defence forces of Afghanistan have become significantly stronger and area able to assume responsibility for the security situation in several regions in Afghanistan.

“This fully complies with our expectations regarding increasing the role of the Government of Afghanistan in guaranteeing the security of the Afghan peoples,” said the Estonian minister.

Wardak also recognised Estonia for its contribution thus far in Afghanistan.