According to Raag the initiative came from the local youth, who had learned that Raag had been part of the teaching staff at university. Consequently Raag spoke to the youth about their responsibilities and appraisals as well as the ending the cycle of violence and chain of revenge.
“This is part of my assignment here. We are here to promote reconciliation and the peace process and this process has military and non-military components. Among other things the locals have expressed the desire to participate in various educational projects,” Lieutenant Raag said.
Raag added that the participants asked many questions, mainly about the removal of weapons, repairing the communication and promoting mutual understanding between the Christian and Muslim communities.
Estonian Defence Forces have been serving in the Central African Republic since the beginning of May and conduct security and support operations to free up the African Union peace keeping mission and assist in the immediate operations of the French units. The EU operation is scheduled to last until the end of this year with Estonian contingent returning in August. France, Estonia, Spain, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Italy, Finland, Romania, Poland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, United Kingdom and Georgia participate the mission.
Ilmar Raag is an Estonian film maker, media executive, screenwriter, best known for his socio-critical film The Class. He has served as a CEO of Estonian Television from 2002 to 2005. He is well known columnist in many prestigious Estonian newspapers Postimees, Eesti Päevaleht. Raag’s film shot in France, “Une Estonienne a Paris” features Jeanne Moreau and Laine Mägi in leading roles. His most recent film “Kertu” was released in 2013.