First reading of the draft resolution of the Riigikogu (Parliament) entitled "Extension of the term of use of the Defence Forces in fulfilling the international obligations of the Republic of Estonia on the North Atlantic Treaty Organization mission in Iraq" (478 OE)
Session: 15th Riigikogu, 4th session, plenary sitting
Date: 2024-11-06 19:49
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 14
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 10m
AI Summaries: 14/14 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
First explanation: Agenda item 11 concerns the question of the first reading of draft resolution 478 submitted by the Government of the Republic to the Riigikogu, which pertains to the extension of the term of use of the Defence Forces in fulfilling the international obligations of the Republic of Estonia in a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) mission in Iraq. The presenter was the Minister of Defence, Hanno Pevkur, who described the nature of the mission, Estonia's contribution, and its economic aspects (a cost of approximately 100,000 euros per year). It was also important that Estonia plans to nominate a mandate for three officers, but with nine expressions of interest, a limited task will still be carried out with a single officer. In addition, discussions were held on how future continuation could be linked to Iraqi and broader, stricter security issues.
In the second section, questions and discussions took place, focusing on international law and its interaction with Estonia's participation in the US-Syria context. The commission's representative and the efforts made for the draft were aimed at placing the draft on the agenda of the Riigikogu’s sitting on November 6th for its first reading, and the first reading concluded. Furthermore, the Defence Committee was appointed as the Riigikogu’s representative to the Board of the Riigikogu for the representation of this draft and the deadline for submitting amendments was set for November 20th at 10:00.
Decisions Made 2
The National Defence Committee decided to include the bill under discussion on the agenda of the Riigikogu’s sitting of November 6th for the first reading and to conclude the bill’s first reading.
The National Defence Committee designated pQKBV_fEwKY as the National Defence Committee’s representative and set the deadline for submitting amendment proposals as November 20th at 10:00 AM.
Most Active Speaker
The most active speaker was a member of the Riigikogu and representative of the National Defence Committee, whose role was to lead the committee's representation and prepare the draft's procedure; in terms of personnel classification, he is described as "other" (neither right-wing nor left-wing).
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
11th item on the agenda concerns the Government of the Republic's draft Bill No. 478, in its first reading, to extend the period during which the armed forces may be used to fulfill Estonia's international obligations on the NATO mission in Iraq, and the presenter is Defence Minister Hanno Pevkur.
Kaitseminister Hanno Pevkur
AI Summary
Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur said that Estonia's contribution to the NATO Mission Iraq is currently one staff officer in Baghdad, and next year a mandate will be requested for three officers; the operation's annual cost is about 100,000 euros, and during 2025–2026 it will be discussed how to proceed after the end of Inherent Resolve.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Vice-chairman Arvo Aller invited Varro Vooglaid to answer questions.
Varro Vooglaid
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Varro Vooglaid notes that the draft bill is thematically very similar to the previous one, and that the Estonian army's presence in Iraq supports U.S. forces in the occupation of Syria, and asks whether this is not in conflict with their principles, given that the occupation of Ukrainian territory is unacceptable under international law.
Kaitseminister Hanno Pevkur
AI Summary
Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur said that Estonia responded to the US appeal and joined Inherent Resolve in Iraq, an effort whose aim is to train the Iraqi security forces, strengthen security structures, fight terrorism, and reduce ISIS influence for the sake of the country's stability, and in the context of Ukraine he stressed that discussions about aggression by the Russian Federation and mandates remain within the framework of the law.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
This is merely a short appeal to Varro Vooglaid.
Varro Vooglaid
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Varro Vooglaid asks whether Estonia must, before taking part in an international military mission, ensure that the mission is in accordance with international law and does not involve occupation, or may participate knowingly if it is not in accordance with international law.
Kaitseminister Hanno Pevkur
AI Summary
Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur said that they are not discussing here the global security situation or the Northern Cyprus issue or other territorial disputes, but in the fight against terrorism it is fully appropriate to take measures in accordance with international law, and the US request to the Estonian government is legitimate.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
There are no further questions; I thank the presenter and ask that Peeter Tali present the discussion that took place in the Steering Committee in his capacity as a member of the Defence Committee.
Peeter Tali
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
The National Defence Committee decided unanimously to place bill 478 on the agenda of the Riigikogu's November 6th session for its first reading and to conclude the first reading, appointed me, Peeter Tali, as the committee’s representative, and set the deadline for submitting amendments to November 30th at 10:00 AM, while simultaneously taking into consideration the overviews presented by the Defence Ministry’s headquarters and Defence Minister Hanno Pevkur, as well as officials from the Ministry of Defence, regarding the situation and risk assessments in foreign operation areas during the sessions held from October 14th to 22nd.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The vice-chairman Arvo Aller invited Anti Poolamets to ask a question.
Anti Poolamets
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Anti Poolamets emphasizes that these regions are remote and knowledge about them is limited, and he wants clarification in the Commission about what exactly the Syria-related part covers and how cross-border activity should operate.
Peeter Tali
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Peeter Tali explains that the draft bill concerns only the NATO training mission operating in Iraq, and in the committee the bases for its operation have been thoroughly discussed, but the draft contains no reference to Syria.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Negotiations with the factions have ended, and the first reading of Bill 478 has been completed; the deadline for submitting amendment proposals is 10:00 on November 20, and today’s 11th item on the agenda has been exhausted.