EXCLUSIVE: Estonian representative in the UNGA comments on cyberespionage threats by the U.S. and more
Al-Jazeera
Amid the third day of the 73rd session of the First Committee of the UN General Assembly, the representative of Estonia, Danillo Azevedo, to the UN conceded an exclusive interview to Al Jazeera about the ongoing discussion about cyberwarfare as a threat to international security.
The statements include the country’s stance in response to the intimidating declaration issued by his American counterpart regarding the use of controversial means — such as cyberespionage — to defend the U.S. from foreign threats. Read the complete transcription below:
Al Jazeera: What was your impression on the first few session about this topic?
Mr. Azevedo: Well, these first sessions on this second topic were quite a bit focused on the definitions which we should use in the next sessions. We are establishing the most precise formulations to discuss the subject and basing ourselves on the opinion of specialists, experts et cetera. There is not a consensus yet on quite a few basic, foundational terms, but we are now approaching what seems to be, at least, a common understanding of the subject.
AJ: Do you think the proposed definitions of the terms that will be used in the resolution are in line with the policy of Estonia regarding cyber-related issues?
Mr. Azevedo: Well, Estonia’s position… We were the target of some cyberattacks in 2007, and this attack was a landmark case in which the whole understanding of the international community about cyberattacks was transformed. Our vital infrastructure was impaired by this attack, which was probably orchestrated by the Russian government. Since then, Estonia has become a global powerhouse, a leading country on this field of cybersecurity, and since then we have hosted the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence, on cybersecurity. We also host annually the NATO Locked Shields exercises, which convey some hundreds of experts on cybersecurity to simulate an exercise on cybersecurity. These initiatives, which Estonia has always promoted with the support of NATO, are very important and they can only be made with the sponsoring of some twenty countries that sponsor such initiatives.
AJ: You mentioned the cyberattack probably made by Russia, a state actor, yet most of the work [of the First Committee on conceptual definition] might be on non-state actors. Do you think that the proposed definitions are able to make this distinction between cyberattacks coming from state actors and non-state actors?
Mr. Azevedo: Hmm… Well, I think the committee is a bit afraid of getting into the subject of regulating state activity. We have, in retrospect, some malicious activities by state actors regarding cyberattacks, and I think the Committee is, right now, a little bit afraid of getting into this touchy subject, but I think it would be good if we had a little more courage to start some proposals about regulating state activity.
AJ: It seems that if this portion of the issue, the portion of cyberthreats or attacks coming from state actors, is not thoroughly addressed by the Committee and by the resolution, how effective would the resolution be? Would it not be lacking something?
Mr. Azevedo: Yes, I do agree that a resolution that would not comment on state activity, that would only focus on non-state activity, would be not as effective. I think that the Committee should work, and Estonia will work, towards [addressing] this issue of cyberattacks made by state actors.
AJ: One shocking thing that happened in the last section, about which I was informed by other representatives, was that the United States representative declared that if the country were to feel threatened by another state, it would employ all the necessary means, including cyberespionage, to end this threat. The other representatives responded in a very incisive manner, as it was a threatening declaration, and it also falls into this theme of cyberthreats by state activity. Could you comment a bit about this situation?
Mr. Azevedo: Yes. I was not following closely the discussions at this moment, but Estonia remains a solid advocate for digital freedom and the protection of civil liberties, including in the cyberspace.
AJ: Since there seem to be different positions regarding the issue in general, either by countries that have been affected by cyberattacks by non-state or state actors, and countries that are willing to use all the necessary means to end this threat to them, including employing cyberespionage mecanisms, do you think that, as in the last topic, it would be possible to adopt a resolution without taking a vote?
Mr. Azevedo: Well, I think the discussion on the topic A was quite a bit surprising, it was a surprising turn of events how a consensus was formed at the last stage. I think, well, we are waiting to see if the Committee has this last minute courage to form a positive consensus on those issues.
