Warranting Estonia's security and joining NATO are among the priorities of the Government of the Republic of Estonia. Within the Membership Action Plan (MAP) to prepare for NATO membership, Estonia's Annual National Programmes (ANP) contains among other priorities a task to notify the Estonian public of the NATO accession process and conduct regular polling of the public opinion.
As of January 2000 the ES Turu-uuringute AS, commissioned by the Ministry of Defense has carried out regular public opinion polls, most recently in October 2001, focussing on three main issues:
attitudes towards joining NATO,
attitudes towards Estonian national defense and readiness to participate personally in the national defense,
opinion on the defense spending.
The latest poll showed that since the terrorist attacks that took place in USA on September 11 the support for NATO from the entire Estonian population has grown. When in June 2001 61 percent of the Estonians supported joining NATO, then in October the support had risen to 66 percent. Among non-Estonians the support for joining NATO has grown even more: when in February and June of 2001 the support was a stable 20 percent, then in October 2001 it jumped to 31 percent. The total support for joining the Alliance in Estonia is presently 54 percent.
Steadily, the support is above average among younger (up to 30 years of age) Estonians as well as non-Estonians, likewise among respondents with higher education.
It appears from the figures of the latest poll that although people feel the arrival of high-strung times in the world, the basic attitudes towards the Estonian national defense have not changed in substance.
The defense forces remain among the most trustworthy state institutions, ranking third after the president and the border guard. At the same time the trustworthiness of the defense forces has significantly risen among non-Estonians (from 45 percent in June to 49 percent in October 2001).
The will of Estonia's inhabitants to defend themselves is continuously high: 64 percent of all respondents consider armed resistance necessary also in case the outcome is not clear; 23 percent expressed the opinion that it should not be done. The will to defend has throughout the year 2001 remained stable - over 60 percent.
Personally 59 percent of those responding are ready to participate in defense activities (in June 61 percent). In February 2001 58 percent of the population was defense-minded. Despite the strained international situation, the will to defend oneself has remained stable in Estonia.
Based on research it could also be said that a majority of the Estonian population has approved the raising of defense spending or keeping it at the present level. Estonia has set as a goal to raise defense spending to 2 percent of the GDP by 2002. In October 2001 69 percent of all respondents supported the raising of defense spending or keeping it at the present level (in comparison with 65 percent in February and 72 percent in June 2001). Only 15 percent considered it necessary to cut the spending on defense, which is comparable to respective figure in February and June of this year (16 percent).
Additional information is available at the home page address of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs http://www.vm.ee/eng/nato/index.htm.
PRESS SPOKESMAN'S OFFICE
Tel (372) 6317654