Cablegate: Estonia's Reaction to New Afghanistan

VZCZCXYZ0010
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHTL #0536 2291148
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 171148Z AUG 07
FM AMEMBASSY TALLINN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0085
INFO RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS
RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO 1214
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0321
RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL 0034

UNCLAS TALLINN 000536

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PINS PREL MARR MOPS SNAR NATO AF EN
SUBJECT: ESTONIA'S REACTION TO NEW AFGHANISTAN
COUNTERNARCOTICS STRATEGY

REF: A) STATE 110089

(SBU) On August 8, we delivered reftel points to Arti
Hilpus, MFA Director for Security and Arms Control
Policy, on the rollout of the new Afghanistan counter-
narcotics strategy. On August 15, we met with Hilpus
and provided an additional briefing. Hilpus thanked us
for the briefing and told us that the Government of
Estonia (GOE) considers the new strategy timely and
appropriate. However, Hilpus cautioned us that "the
question of possible aerial spraying of poppies should
be approached with extreme caution," as Estonian troops
are participating in a UK-led PRT in Helmand province,
the epicenter of Afghanistan's poppy production.

PHILLIPS

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