Estonian defense leaders to visit USA
26.11.2007

TALLINN, Nov 25, BNS  - Estonia's Defense Minister Jaak Aaviksoo and general secretary of the Defense Ministry, Lauri Almann, are to pay a working visit to the United States this week to discuss cyber security, military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, and NATO transformation.

On Tuesday Aaviksoo is to visit the Norfolk, Virginia-based NATO transformation and development headquarters whose task is to bring the alliance's concepts and force capabilities into line with today's requirements, spokespeople for the Defense Ministry said.

The Estonian minister is to meet with his US counterpart Robert Gates and his deputy Gordon England at the Pentagon on Wednesday. Aaviksoo will meet in Washington also with Assistant Secretary of Defense for Networks and Information Integration John Grimes.

On the same day Aaviksoo is going to make a speech on cyber defense at the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies.

On Nov. 29 the Estonian minister will visit the US Strategic Command in Omaha, Nebraska, and on Nov. 30 he will acquaint himself with the Air Force Cyber Command.
Aaviksoo will return to Estonia on Saturday, Dec. 1.

Almann will during his stay in the United States attend a cyber security conference of the Air Force at Shreveport and speak about the Estonian experience and prospects in this field.