Tallinn. November 23. INTERFAX - Estonian President Alar Karis received at his residence on Monday military personnel who will go to Mali to participate in Operation Barkhan.
"Even the most distant conflicts affect security outside their region. The spread of terrorism, instability and related migrant flows sooner or later threaten European security. Mali and the Sahel region as a whole are one of the key regions in this regard," the press service of the head of state quoted him as saying.
He stressed that Estonia is participating in the operation in Mali to support its allies, and this, in turn, is "an additional reason to support us."
Karis noted that currently the French military are serving as part of the NATO combat team and "they are ready to defend the security of Estonia here in our homeland, just as we stand side by side with them in Mali."
The Estonian contingent includes the infantry unit BKN-11 ESTPLA, which will replace the soldiers participating in Operation Barkhan from August this year.
