Estonia Mulls Russian Proposal to Discuss Air Security Issues

Estonian Defense Ministry has not yet worked out its position regarding the Russian invitation to discuss air security issues, Deputy Head of the Estonian Defense Ministry's Strategic Communications Department, Artur Jugaste said Sunday.

TALLINN (Sputnik) — On August 1, Russian Deputy Defense Minister Anatoly Antonov said that the Russian Defense Ministry is ready for military consultations with all neighboring countries to avoid incidents on sea and air. He noted readiness to conduct joint incident prevention work on the basis of bilateral agreements, as well as consultations with the defense ministries of Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Poland, Sweden and Finland to address mutual concerns related to military activities in the border areas.

"Estonia has not yet established its position on this issue. We have received the proposal. We are now conducting a thorough analysis. Undoubtedly, we will conduct the negotiations with our NATO allies, as well as with Finland and Sweden. That is, [to find out] how they refer to the subject. After that, we will formulate our position and will give our response to Russia," Jugaste told the Estonian public broadcaster (ERR).

On August 4, Estonian Prime Minister Taavi Roivas said his country will not negotiate with Russia on cooperation in the defense field, as it should discuss such an issue with its allies,

In July, Russian President Vladimir Putin accepted his Finnish counterpart Sauli Niinisto’s proposal to develop aviation security measures in the Baltic region.