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The President of the Republic at the Conference on Combating Terrorism On 6 November, 2001, in Warsaw
06.11.2001


President Kwasniewski,
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen

On behalf of the Republic of Estonia I would like to sincerely welcome the Polish initiative to summon a conference for heads of states of Central and East European states to co-ordinate joint combat against expanding international terrorism. The Polish initiative is even more significant because Poland has recently acceded NATO, an organisation that carries the main responsibility in fighting against terrorism.

The tragic events of September 11 in New York and Washington did not leave the democratic world any other choice but to gather its forces decisively against terrorism and related organised crime. We can be successful in this fight only if common objectives are supported by unanimous international coalition. This is the way to reduce terrorists' possibilities to establish necessary bases to prepare criminal actions, to avoid the reproduction of assets and collection of funds.

I would like to stress that terrorism and organised crime have used similar action plans and undercover networks, being often intertwined. We, the Central and East European countries protecting common democratic values have to upgrade our tactics in combating drug trafficking, illegal immigration, money laundering, corruption and other types of organised crime. Decisiveness should be the key word of our new approach.

I would also like to underline the importance of decisiveness in combating corruption which maybe has not been adequately focused upon. Increasing funds at the disposal of international criminal groups are of great concern, providing criminals a real opportunity to use politicians and officials in their interests and to undermine public alertness. We have to take steps already today to avoid this threat.

As Estonia supports all constructive initiatives to restrain international terrorism and crime, we have introduced a number of measures as our contribution to achieve common goals.

Firstly, our co-operation and exchange of information with our neighbours and allies has become more efficient as the timely sharing of information is extremely significant in fighting against terrorism and its financing.

Secondly, anti-terrorist state structures in Estonia are in the state of heightened alertness. The Security Committee of the Government of the Republic has approved of an action plan.

Thirdly, Estonia has tightened its border control through more efficient exchange of intelligence with neighbouring countries. In October Estonia concluded a co-operation agreement with Europol in order to enhance the police co-operation with all European countries.

Fourthly, the government of Estonia has submitted for ratification to the parliament two UN conventions against terrorism (on terrorist bombings and on preventing financing of terrorism) signed by Estonia on 6 April 2000. All necessary measures have been taken to implement Resolutions of the UN Security Council No 1333 and 1373.

Fifthly, Estonia has enhanced combating money laundering and applied additional measures to prevent money laundering. The Bank of Estonia has checked the existence of accounts belonging to suspects and suspect organisations in our commercial banks. The check showed that Estonian banks have no relations with terrorist organisations or individuals. The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) considered Estonia's anti-money laundering legislation to be efficient.

Estonia participates also in regional anti-terrorist programmes. Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia have jointly drafted measures to prevent potential terrorist attacks and to give a co-ordinated response in case of a terrorist attack. Both the EU and the USA have been informed of these measures.

Estonia welcomes the EU initiative in adopting new legislation, focusing on ensuring international security and increasing the efficiency in combating terrorism. The EU joint anti-terrorist measures formulated as a final document and action plan were approved of at the Extraordinary European Council on 21 September. Estonia together with other associated countries acceded to the document. Estonia would also like to give its contribution to the preparation and implementation of action plans by OSCE and Council of Europe.

The declaration of the conference expresses clearly our political will and readiness to participate actively and in a co-ordinated way in combating international terrorism. We express our solidarity with the military actions of the United States, United Kingdom and also of Italy in Afghanistan. Their aim is not to fight with the Afghan people or Islam but with terrorists who run the international criminal network from the Afghan territory facilitated by the Taliban regime.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I believe I express our common readiness to give our utmost in order the twenty first century would not become a century of new conflicts and wars. We have paid a high price for our freedom and regained independence and we can also defend it. If we can offer added value to action plans already prepared or still under preparation, the Republic of Estonia would unhesitatingly do so giving its contribution to the fight for democratic ideals of the world.
Thank you for your attention.


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