President Rüütel noted that the operation carried out from May 22 to June 2 already now can be regarded to be successful. "For now, already over 70 explosives have been discovered in the course of the operation and Estonia's coastal waters have become correspondingly safer. The Estonian Navy has coped well with planning and carrying out this international operation," the President of the Republic said.
President Rüütel observed the operation in an area to the north of Naissaar, where mines have been discovered in particular abundance. Aboard the staff-support ship Admiral Pitka, also an alert exercise with crew combat readiness was staged. The chief of the operation, Acting Commander of the Estonian Navy Lieutenant Commander Ahti Piirimägi, gave an overview of how the operation had run so far.
The international minesweeping operation MCOPEST 2004 is the first military operation to be led by Estonia as a NATO member. 13 vessels from 10 countries take part in the operation, during which mines are looked for primarily in the area of Tallinn and Narva Bays.
Public Relations Unit of the Office of the President
Kadriorg, May 30, 2004
