USA-ELECTION/BUSH-ESTONIA Jeb Bush says U.S, Europe can create 'deterrent effect' for stability in Ukraine, Baltics

Record ID: 150945

  • Title: USA-ELECTION/BUSH-ESTONIA Jeb Bush says U.S, Europe can create 'deterrent effect' for stability in Ukraine, Baltics
  • Date: 12th June 2015
  • Summary: TALLINN, ESTONIA (JUNE 12, 2015) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF NATO COOPERATIVE CYBER DEFENCE CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE FLAGS EXPECTED REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE JEB BUSH ARRIVING IN CAR BUSH ENTERING MEETING ROOM AND SHAKING HANDS WITH OFFICIALS FROM NATO CYBER DEFENCE CENTRE BRIEFING BY CHIEF OF STAFF OF NATO COOPERATIVE CYBER DEFENCE CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE, LIEUTENANT COLONEL J
  • Embargoed: 27th June 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Estonia
  • Country: Estonia
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA7RO6MHH3MU1CYA9ACA2TL1PXQ
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Likely presidential candidate Jeb Bush said in Estonia on Friday (June 12) that the United States aimed to work with Europe to "create a deterrent effect" to ensure regional security in the wake of the Ukraine crisis.
    Bush, who earlier in the week visited Germany and Poland, arrived in Tallinn earlier on Friday for talks on the digital security, the relationship between U.S. and Europe, and the safety situation in the region.
    "We're here also to talk about security. I've had a chance to visit with people that are on the front lines of dealing with the threats that are in this neighbourhood, and interestingly, I think, many of the people that we talked to today, their first concern was: 'How do we respond to Ukraine?'. That sends the signal this is not just a regional issue, it's a global issue. That if in partnership with Europe, the United States is resolute and is firm and is strong that we can create a deterrent effect that will bring more stability not just to Ukraine but also to the Baltics," he said at the NATO cyber defence centre in the Estonian capital.
    Relations between the Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania and Russia have been tense since the crisis over the pro-Russian separatist conflict in Ukraine erupted last year, stirring East-West tensions unseen since the Cold War.
    "I think we need to -- just for our own economic proposes -- accelerate the permitting of LNG projects that have been very slow to get off the ground and do whatever it takes to allow for that to happen at a far faster rate so that countries that are totally dependent upon sources of energy from Russia have an alternative source of supply that would help them with their security," Bush added.
    Republican candidates generally favour increasing economic sanctions on Russia, sending arms and economic aid to Ukraine, boosting NATO defences, especially in Poland and the Baltics, and increasing U.S. exports of natural gas to ease European dependence on Russian gas.
    Bush is expected to formally launch his campaign next week for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination.
    "Mrs. Clinton was the Secretary of State for four years under President Obama and she has a record, and it's a record that she'll have to defend," he said in Latvia about Democrat hopeful Hillary Clinton.
    Bush, who has planned informal meetings with Estonian President Toomas Hendrik Ilves and Prime Minister Taavi Roivas during his visit, praised Estonia's achievements in e-government and state's tax system.
    "For those that have been following us, I made a huge mistake back in the United States. I said that it takes five minutes to fill out a tax form, when you're filing your taxes in Estonia and it turns out it's only two minutes. So I'm really sorry about that, I apologise for showing the lack of respect that Estonia deserves. Tell you what, it would be pretty nice in the United State to be able to fill out tax return that quickly and that effectively," he said.
    Back in the U.S., polls show Bush has fallen from front-runner status to the middle of the pack in the crowded Republican field despite his financial advantage and famous last name, as the brother of former President George W. Bush and son of former President George H.W. Bush.
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