7. June 2019
Cyber consultations between Estonia and the United States are held in Tallinn today; discussions cover norms of responsible state behaviour in cyberspace, cybersecurity threats, and the protection of critical infrastructure. Delegations are led by the Estonian Ambassador at Large for Cyber Security Heli Tiirmaa-Klaar and the Coordinator for Cyber Issues at the US Department of State Liesyl Franz.
“Estonia considers it important that states are subject to norms of responsible state behaviour also in cyberspace, and that a free and secure internet is preserved. Estonia has been an active advocate for cybersecurity on the global level, sharing its experience with other countries and promoting the application of existing international law in cyberspace. Meetings like the one we have today play an important role in advancing stability in cyberspace,” the head of the Estonian delegation Heli Tiirmaa-Klaar said before the meeting.
According to Tiirmaa-Klaar, the United States is a leading country on cybersecurity issues and Estonia considers cooperation with the US particularly important. “We share similar objectives with the United States: to protect a free, open and secure cyberspace. It is important for like-minded countries to cooperate. We are working closely together with the United States on cyber issues in international organisations, such as NATO and the UN, but also bilaterally to address common cyber threats,” she added.
The consultations serve as an important milestone in Estonian-US cybersecurity cooperation. The Estonian delegation includes representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry of Justice, the Estonian Information System Authority, and other agencies.