Other events in Baltic States

Estonian defence ministry sent on Friday to other institutions for approval a draft Riigikogu decision, according to which Estonia would contribute to the NATO response forces with minesweeper Admiral Cowan in the second half of this year, LETA/Postimees Online reports.

According to the international military cooperation law, Riigikogu decides upon using Defence Forces for fulfilling the international obligations of the Estonian state.

According to the decision, Admiral Cowan with up to 45 military would be used from July 1 this year to June 30, 2011 in the NATO NRF-15 (NATO Response Force, NRF) if need be.

Admiral Cowan NATO would then be part of the Standing NATO Response Force Mine Countermeasures Group 1 (SNMCMG1).

NRF-15 is in an up to five-day readiness period from July to December 1 this year. Since NRF can be activated at the end of the NRF-15 readiness period, the Riigikogu mandate will last till June 30, 2011.

Admiral Cowan’s participation in NRF-15 will cost, in addition to the base costs of the ship, 14.3 mln kroons which is prescribed in the defence ministry 2010 budget.