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 You are in: Under Secretary for Political Affairs > Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs > Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs Releases > Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs Remarks > 2002 > November 

Estonian Government Commission on Military Pensioners

Stephan M. Minikes, U.S. Ambassador to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe
Statement delivered to the OSCE Permanent Council
Vienna, Austria
November 21, 2002

Released by the U.S. Mission to the OSCE

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The United States would like to joint the European Union in warmly welcoming Captain Mahrenholtz [OSCE Representative to the Estonian Government Commission on Military Pensioners] to the Permanent Council today.

We would also like to commend him and the Expert Review Commission on Military Pensioners for their recent efforts to address concerns of retired pensioners and their families. We are confident that the new Chairperson of the Commission, as well as the new staff, will continue the constructive work his predecessor pursued with the OSCE. We are also encouraged by the efforts being made to assist military pensioners and their dependents who are unable to obtain residence permits.

As we have consistently stated, the situation regarding residence permit applications by participants in the USAID's [U.S. Agency for International Development] Russian Officer Resettlement Program is still problematic. The solution to this problem will most likely be long in coming. However, we do commend the Commission's decision-making process and praise their rational means of deliberation.

In conclusion, Mr. Chairman, I should simply like again to offer our thanks to Captain Mahrenholtz for his selfless service to the OSCE and wish him all the best in his future efforts. I thank you.


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