Estonia sends police to Lithuania ahead of NATO Summit

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
7 Jul 2023 10:06

The Estonian Police and Border Guard Board sends a unit to the Lithuanian-Belarusian border ahead of the NATO Summit.

A security guard blows out a candle as police officers talk with a man who placed it next to a destroyed Russian T-72B3 tank installed as a symbol of the Russia Ukraine war to mark the first anniversary of the Russian Special Military Operation in Ukraine, in Freedom Square in Tallinn, Estonia, Wednesday, March 1, 2023. (AP)

To maintain security on the Lithuanian-Belarusian border, the Estonian Police and Border Guard Board announced, on Thursday, according to the press office of the board, that it sent a police unit to Lithuania ahead of the NATO Summit scheduled for July 11-12.

On the website of the press office of the board, it was underscored that "The Estonian Police and Border Guard Board has sent a 14-member police unit to Lithuania. Its mission is to participate in ground patrols and drone surveillance on the Lithuanian-Belarusian border during the NATO Summit, which will take place in Vilnius on July 11-12."

Moreover, the statement also noted that the Estonian mission in Lithuanian will last until July 13.

In turn, Egert Belitsev, the deputy director general for border management at the Estonian Police and Border Guard Board, said in the statement that it was important for Estonia to practice cooperation with both Lithuanian law enforcement as well as law enforcement of all allies.

Belitsev reaffirmed that Tallinn's decision was aimed at ensuring that the NATO Summit "takes place safely," adding that "the Lithuanian-Belarusian border is the external border of the European Union and NATO, which therefore affects Estonia's internal security."

Zelensky in Prague in a quest for NATO bid, more weapons

As Kiev presses for membership in the military alliance and seeks more weapons, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in Prague on Thursday.

As part of his discussions over NATO membership and military deliveries with Bulgaria, a significant ally and ammunition supplier, Zelensky paid an official visit to Sofia on Thursday.

He then traveled to Prague to meet with his counterpart from the Czech Republic, Petr Pavel, before Friday's meeting in Istanbul with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

According to Zelensky's claims, the slow delivery of weapons to Ukraine prevented Kiev from launching its anticipated counteroffensive, which allowed Russia to fortify its defenses in occupied territory.

During his one-day stay in Sofia, Zelensky met with President Rumen Radev and the prime minister of Bulgaria, Nikolay Denkov.

Zelensky's trip to Bulgaria was criticized by the Kremlin as it accused the Ukrainian President of attempting to "drag" other nations into the conflict.