National Defence Committee supports extending the term of office of Riho Terras by two years
At its today's sitting, the National Defence Committee of the Riigikogu (Parliament of Estonia) supported by consensus the appointment to office of Commander of the Estonian Defence Forces Lieutenant General Riho Terras for further two years.
In the opinion of Chairman of the National Defence Committee Marko Mihkelson, it is very important in the present security situation that no changes are made in the leadership of the Defence Forces and the Commander continues in his office. “Considering also the recommendations given to it, the Committee supported Terras by consensus,” Mihkelson said.
When making the decision, the Committee proceeded from the proposal of Minister of Defence Hannes Hanso, which was based on the Military Service Act. Hanso pointed out that Terras had been one of the leaders of the preparation of the National Defence Development Plan currently in force, and that Terras is also responsible for preparing of the next development plan.
Terras has developed the armoured manoeuvre capability and anti-tank capability of the Defence Forces. As the Commander of the Defence Forces, Terras was in charge of the preparation and conducting of the large-scale military exercise “Siil” (“Hedgehog”), which involved 14,000 participants, Hanso noted. The Minister also mentioned international communication and cooperation with the allies as the strengths of Terras.
According to the Military Service Act, the Government, on the proposal of the Minister of Defence and taking account of the position of the National Defence Committee of the Riigikogu, has the authority to appoint an active serviceman who is serving in the post of the Commander of the Defence Force to the post of the Commander of the Defence Forces for further two years after his or her five-year term of office has expired.
The five-year term of office of Lieutenant General Terras will expire in December 2016.
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