“The United States is proud to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Estonia as allies and friends,” states the letter Obama wrote to President Ilves. “I extend my heartfelt congratulations to the people of Estonia on the occasion of the fifth anniversary of your nation’s accession to NATO.”

Unfortunately Obama’s words did not come during one of the easiest time ever as for a country that does not perform as people would like, as for an Atlantic Alliance too much influenced by the stomach of its historical rival, Russia.

“The least NATO wants in order to restore confidence in its relations with Russia is that it stops bullying its neighbors,” said the Estonian President in an interview with with Austria’s Der Standard on Friday giving his view on the development of the Alliance and that international order Ilves sees as significantly changed after the Georgian conflict.

An order which the new NATO Secretary General, mr. Rasmussen, will have to preserve and enhance, maybe even using Estonian example as the American President suggested:” W e must continue to support those who aspire to join NATO; Estonia’s success stands as a strong example for others to follow”.

[Estonian Free Press]