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Estonian Review 11 - 17 March 2009
20.03.2009
FOREIGN MINISTER VISITS AFGHANISTAN
FOREIGN NEWS
DEFENCE NEWS
ECONOMIC NEWS
FOREIGN MINISTER VISITS AFGHANISTAN
Paet Confirmed Estonian Support for Afghanistan's Reconstruction
12 March - At his meetings with Foreign Minister of Afghanistan Rangeen Dadfar Spanta and Parliament Speaker Mohammed Yunus Qanon in Kabul, Foreign Minister Urmas Paet confirmed that Estonia plans to continue contributing to rebuilding and guaranteeing security in Afghanistan.
The international community feels a long-term interest and responsibility to help Afghanistan, but Foreign Minister Paet stated that even more attention must be turned to the battle against the spread of narcotics and corruption prior to the upcoming presidential elections. Paet said that the first positive results have been seen in the fight against narcotics in Afghanistan and that this year narcotics production will be reduced by as much a quarter compared to previous production, but this is just the beginning of a complicated process. The cultivation of narcotics is clearly tied to the security situation, and intensified anti-narcotics activities will place a greater strain on stabilising the security circumstances, he added.
While talking about Estonia-Afghanistan co-operation, Paet said that Afghanistan is Estonia's priority development co-operation partner. In its Afghanistan develop co-operation activities, Estonia also takes into consideration the priorities of the Afghan government and focuses first and foremost on health care, improving the situation of women and children, and promoting good administrative practices, stated Paet.
Paet and Spanta discussed possibilities for developing political and economic contacts between Estonia and Afghanistan. A representation of Afghanistan in Northern Europe would certainly add momentum to relations, said the foreign minister. Paet issued an invitation for Spanta to visit Estonia. The Estonian foreign minister also made a proposal to his Afghan colleague that young diplomats of the Afghan Foreign Ministry attend training at the Estonian School of Diplomacy next year.
Estonian Health Care Aid in Southern Afghanistan Lowers Death Rate
11 March - Deputy Governor of Helmand Province Abdul Satar Mirzakwal and the chief doctor of Lashkar Gah's Bost Hospital Dr. Enaytullah Ghafary confirmed in their meeting with Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Paet that Estonia's contributions to building up the health care system in Helmand Province are very necessary and they would like for the aid to continue.
Foreign Minister Paet stated that Estonia has focused on the development of Helmand Province's medical care services with its aid projects. By sending a health care expert and implementing health care aid projects, we have managed to help the further development of medical care services in Helmand. However, there is still a lot to be done-for example, the death rate among women and children is still tragically high. Also, there are 70 000 narcotics addicts in Helmand, as well as many people injured in accidents or attacks, Paet added.
Deputy Governor of Helmand Mirzakwal also said that he hopes first and foremost for help in reducing the death rate among women and children, treating drug addicts, and providing additional training for doctors.
Paet stated that Afghanistan is Estonia's primary destination for development aid and that among its aid projects the medical care system is most important, because it will allow real improvement in the quality of life of Afghan people.
Right now one of the projects going on with the help of our health care expert is the creation of Bost Hospital ambulances, the goal of which is to have four ambulances and ambulance teams starting work over the next two years, added Paet.
Since March 2008, an Estonian health care expert has been working in the city of Lashkar Gah´, whose responsibility it is to consult for Helmand's medical sector and co-ordinate the arrival of international aid.
Paet and Mirzakwal also addressed the political and security situation in southern Afghanistan prior to the upcoming presidential elections.
According to the deputy governor, the number of people who have registered to vote exceeded expectations and maximum security needs to be guaranteed during the elections.
Paet said that the addition of 17 000 US soldiers to the region will help to improve the security situation in Helmand. Others things that are essential are the battle against narcotics and enabling locals residents to grow other kinds of crops. It is also necessary to begin negotiations with all the moderate societal groups in order to achieve a lasting peace, said Paet.
Estonia Supports Presidential Election in Afghanistan
11 March - Foreign Minister Urmas Paet met with the leader of the Independent Election Commission of Afghanistan and representatives of the UN Development Programme ELECT Project in Kabul, Afghanistan. During the meeting, he informed them of Estonia's decision to support the implementation of the elections in Afghanistan. Estonia will support the 2009 elections for president and municipal leaders in Afghanistan with 512 000 kroons (32 700 EUR).
Foreign Minister Paet stated that the presidential election will play a tremendous role in shaping the future of Afghanistan. If the elections are honest and free, then the conditions will be right for getting a president and government with a clear mandate into office, Paet said. We also feel it is important for the European Union to send a full-scale election monitoring mission to Afghanistan, he added.
Foreign Minister Urmas Paet also met with UN Special Representative for Afghanistan Kai Eide on Wednesday. Paet emphasised the UN's crucial role in election preparations.
Paet and Eide also talked about the co-ordination of international aid in Afghanistan. Paet recognised Kai Eide's work as the UN Special Representative for Afghanistan and expressed support for the activities of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA). We think it is a very positive thing that regardless of difficulties due to the security situation, UNAMA has decided to expand its presence in Afghanistan, Paet stated. UNAMA's presence in Helmand, where an Estonian health care expert works, would be extremely important, as it could facilitate the participation of intergovernmental organisations in the development of the province.
Foreign Minister Paet also visited the National Archives of Afghanistan, which collect important documents and manuscripts pertaining to Afghanistan's history and culture. Paet said it was a positive surprise to see that many of the valuable documents have been preserved in spite of the past 30 years of war. However, help is still needed for restoration and further preservation. Estonia has begun a co-operation project with the National Archives of Afghanistan, he added.
Foreign Minister Urmas Paet also met with EU Special Representative for Afghanistan Ettore Sequi and Head of the European Commission Delegation to Afghanistan Hansjörg Kretschmer, with whom he discussed increasing the European Union's visibility and role in Afghanistan and intensifying co-operation between the UN and NATO.
Estonia to Increase Contribution to EU Police Mission
13 March - During his meeting with Head of the EU Police Mission EUPOL Afghanistan Kai Vittrup in Kabul, Foreign Minister Urmas Paet stated that Estonia will soon be contributing a rule of law expert to the mission in addition to its police instructors.
The goal of EUPOL is to help Afghanistan build up its police force. Foreign Minister Paet said that the European Union should dispatch the 400 planned experts as quickly as possible. Currently EU member states have sent 216 experts. The European Union must fulfil its obligation, because a police force that is respected plays a vital role in increasing the Afghan peoples' trust in their state, said the foreign minister. Paet stated that the current status of the Afghan police is poor, since about 70% of Afghan police officers are illiterate, and there are also problems with narcotics addiction and corruption. EUPOL's task is to change the situation as quickly as possible, he added.
Paet also met with Deputy Chief of Staff Operations for the NATO International Security Assitance Force (ISAF) General Tucker to discuss changes in the security situation in Afghanistan. Tucker thanked Paet for the very good service of Estonian soldiers in Afghanistan.
Foreign Minister Paet stated that the US decision to send an additional 17 000 troops to the southern part of Afghanistan will create a situation in which the military could be successful in getting the southern Afghan border with Pakistan, which the Taliban uses to transport equipment and narcotics, under control. Getting the border of Afghanistan and Pakistan under control is essential to making a noticeable difference in the security situation in Afghanistan, particularly in the southern regions, where Estonian soldiers are serving in international missions, Paet added.
FOREIGN NEWS
Parliament Committees Confirm Support for NATO Enlargement
17 March (BNS) - At a joint session on Tuesday, the standing foreign affairs and state defence committees of the Estonian Parliament discussed the future of NATO and its new strategic concept, expressing support for the extension of the alliance, among other things.
Sven Mikser, the Social-Democrat chairman of the foreign affairs committee, said that NATO had thoroughly changed after the terror attacks of 11 September 2001 and the fight against terrorism had become one of its parts. NATO's essence, he said, had also been significantly shaped by the allied forces' activity in Afghanistan and Iraq, as well as new challenges like cyber defence and energy security, the parliament's press service reported.
In Mikser's opinion, Article 5, which pertains to thedefence of member countries, should become the central part of the new strategic concept and also political unity is of decisive importance for the future of the organisation.
The Reformist chairman of the state defence committee, Mati Raidma, spoke in his report at the joint session about the participation of Estonian units in peacekeeping missions and NATO operations, underlining the importance of the Defence League mission in Kosovo as well as co-operation between the three Baltic countries and the opportunity to take part in joint exercises in the composition of NATO response forces.
The session was held together with the Czech, Hungarian and Polish embassies to mark the two last waves of accession, and the idea remained ringing in the air that the enlargement of NATO must continue and that no country not belonging to NATO could make decisions about that. The accession of Albania, Croatia and Macedonia and the granting of the NATO Membership Action Plan to Ukraine and Georgia was supported.
In addition to Mikser and Raidma, Krzysztof Lisek, chairman of the foreign affairs committee of the Polish parliament, Czech Ambassador Aleksander Langer and Gabor Horvath, deputy director general of the NATO department in the Hungarian Foreign Ministry, also read reports at the session.
Paet: European Economic Recovery Plan is Extra Investment in Energy Security
16 March - Foreign Minister Urmas Paet participated in a session of the European Union foreign ministers' council in Brussels. During the general affairs session the topic of discussion was Europe's economic and financial situation, which is also one of the primary topics of this week's European Council. The foreign ministers also discussed the initiative of the European Neighbourhood Policy Eastern Partnership. During the external relations session, the situation in the Western Balkans and transatlantic relations were discussed.
In the general affairs session, the foreign ministers discussed the implementation of the European Economic Recovery Plan. They analysed the proposed energy projects, which total 5 billion euros in value, and opportunities to finance them. We must not waste any time in reaching an agreement in terms of the 5 billion euro plan, which would also strengthen general energy security. Then the Council may approve it, thereby showing the European Union's desire and readiness to take the concrete steps necessary to alleviate the crisis situation, said Foreign Minister Paet.
The foreign policy leaders of the European Union discussed the initiative of the European Neighbourhood Policy Eastern Partnership, which is scheduled to be approved at the spring Council and is intended to support Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Belarus in carrying out reforms and growing closer to the European Union. The political and financial support of the European Union; the perspective to conclude an association agreement; concluding a free trade agreement with the European Union; facilitating the movement of people and the creation of contacts; moving forward with visa facilitation and readmission negotiations and a long-term goal of achieving visa freedom-this must all be reflected in the principles of the co-operation we offer to our eastern neighbours, Paet noted.
While talking about the Western Balkans, the foreign ministers focused on the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the greater role that the European Union will play there after the mandate of the High Representative of the international community ends. Foreign Minister Paet stated that in that situation, Estonia will support the strengthening of the mandate of the European Union Special Envoy and the consolidation of the tasks of the EU Special Envoy and the European Commission delegation leader.
The European Union foreign ministers are analysing the current status and development opportunities for transatlantic relations in light of the informal summit between the European Union and the USA taking place on 5 April in Prague. The Estonian foreign minister stated that partnership between the European Union and the United States of America is extremely important for global stability and ensuring security, and therefore the partnership could be made more effective in the economic and energy security realms.
Estonia President Encourages Croatia to Move Towards EU
17 March (BNS) - Arriving for an official visit to Zagreb at the invitation of Croatian Head of State Stjepan Mesic, Estonian President Toomas Hendrik Ilves encouraged Croatia, a candidate country of the Europe Union, to purposefully continue with the reforms necessary for accession, as this would also encourage change in the whole region. "Croatia's success in the construction of a democratic and successful state during the past one and a half decades is impressive and an example to all the countries of the region, President Ilves stated.
Ilves recalled that in 1995 the Estonian Defence Forces started their first peacekeeping mission in Croatia, but now Estonia and its allies could welcome Croatia to the NATO table because all the member countries of the alliance have ratified Croatia's accession.
Ilves also recognised the Croatian government's extensive information campaign that greatly increased the support of the people for NATO accession.
Speaking about the decisions necessary for accession to the EU, Ilves emphasised that decisions that looked painful or unpopular at first sight had fully been rewarded in the name of accession to the European Union and had given us self-confidence and helped shape Estonia's success story.
Ilves recognised Croatia's agreement on the settlement of the Croatian-Slovenian border problem with the mediation of an international expert group as suggested by the European Commission, encouraged them to use it effectively and recommended an approach dictated by Croatia's long-term interests.
The Estonian president also underlined that bilateral issues not pertaining to talks with the European Union should not be an obstruction in the accession talks and that chapters should be opened and closed according to the candidate country's progress.
The presidents spoke about the situation in the Western Balkans in wider terms, placing importance on the stability of the region and continued motivation of all the countries' Euro-aspirations.
The Estonian president described as remarkable the Croatian contribution to the NATO-led ISAF operation in Afghanistan. In addition to its nearly 300 soldiers, Zagreb has also sent to Afghanistan instructor units for training Afghanistan's army and the police; they also train civilian officials in Kabul.
On Tuesday in Zagreb, Ilves attended the signing of the two countries' agreement on the exchange of classified information. He also met with Speaker of the Croatian parliament Luka Bebic and Prime Minister Ivo Sanader. Ilves also met with the Estonian friendship group of the parliament and leaders of the Croatian Academy of Arts and Sciences, and he will also pay a visit to the Zagreb city government.
In the evening, President Mesic will give an official dinner in the Estonian president's honour. On Wednesday Ilves will visit the city of Varadzin.
European Union Monitoring Mission in Georgia Needs Reinforcement
16 March - At a Georgia-focused meeting of foreign ministers in Brussels, Foreign Minister Urmas Paet said that the European Union Monitoring Mission in Georgia needs to be extended and strengthened. Paet stated that the OSCE and UN missions are in need of the same reinforcement, although the mandates for those missions end this year in June.
At the meeting, during which developments in Georgia as well as EU-Georgia and NATO-EU relations were addressed, it was agreed that both the EU and NATO should be paying even more attention to Georgia. Foreign Minister Paet stated that it is essential to quickly begin EU-Georgia free trade agreement negotiations without setting additional prerequisites. Estonia does not want for more to be required of Georgia than the EU has asked of other nations with whom it has initiated free trade agreement negotiations, he added.
Estonia also supports concluding an EU-Georgia visa facilitation and readmission agreement as soon as possible.
Also discussed was the progress of discussions in Geneva, which are addressing the situation in Georgia after the war. "These discussions must certainly not be a mechanism by which attempts will be made to legitimise the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia," said Paet.
While talking about NATO-Georgia relations, Paet said that Georgia has been one of NATO's most efficient partner states. "Georgia has the support of NATO. During the past few months a NATO-Georgia Commission and an annual national programme have been created for co-operation with Georgia. The national programme is Georgia's own document, which gives it freedom but also responsibility. Georgia's incorporation with the international forces in Afghanistan is also essential," Paet said.
Paet added that Georgia must continue to carry out democratic reforms. "Estonia has supported Georgia's reforms and will continue to do so," he asserted.
Other participants in the meeting on Georgia's developments were representatives of the USA, Great Britain, Turkey, Sweden, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, and Bulgaria, as well as Georgian Foreign Minister Grigol Vasadze and European Union Special Representatives Pierre Morel and Peter Semneby.
20 Years Since Fall of Iron Curtain to be Observed in Helsinki
13 March - On 23 March at 17.00, the Estonian Embassy in Helsinki will be hosting a history seminar called "Fear Behind the Wall" ("Pelko muurin takana"), which was organised in co-operation with the Latvian and Lithuanian embassies, the publisher WSOY, and the Finnish National Audiovisual History Archive. The seminar is marking 60 years since the passing of the March deportations and 20 years since the fall of the Berlin Wall and the Iron Curtain.
The Baltic ambassadors to Finland will present greetings, and researchers of crimes against humanity Toomas Hiio and Martin Arpo as well as specialist in Estonian history Seppo Zetterberg will be giving lectures. The second half of the seminar will feature political scientist Iivi-Anna Masso interviewing the editors of the article compilation being released that day "Fear Behind Us All" ("Kõige taga oli hirm"), authors Imbi Paju and Sofi Oksanen, and the director of the Audiovisual Archive Antti Alanen will introduce a a film programme about Stalinist terror in Eastern Europe at the Helsinki cinema Orion.
After the seminar, Jüri Reinvere's music and spoken word composition "Requiem" will be performed, and the presentation will be complemented by a film from Australian director Catherine Jarvis of documentary video clips from the years 1911 - 1940. "Requiem" is the message of those we have lost brought to today's audiences and is dedicated to the victims of Stalinism.
In addition to the aforementioned article compilation, Imbi Paju and Sofi Oksanen have also compiled a film programme entitled "Fear Behind the Wall", which will be shown in Orion from 24 March to 28 April. Films in the programme include "The Singing Revolution", "The Lives of Others", "The Soviet Story", and Paju's film "Memories Denied".
Foreign Ministry's "Estonia Quiz 2009" is Open
11 March - It is once again time for all those interested in Estonia to participate in the Estonian Foreign Ministry's Estonia-themed trivia quiz "Estonia Quiz 2009".
The goal of the quiz is to introduce Estonia to citizens of other countries by offering participants new and interesting facts in an effort to motivate them to do further research into Estonia or even visit the country. The quiz consists of twelve multiple-choice questions that share information about various aspects of the country, from Estonian history to sports. Quiz participants are aided in finding the correct answers by the useful links provided on the quiz website, which point quiz-takers toward essential information.
All participants that answer all twelve questions correctly will be entered to win the grand prize- a trip for two to Estonia. The trip includes airfare, lodging in the best hotels, dinner in luxurious restaurants, and various tours and excursions. All the other participants will be entered to win holiday packets in Estonia. The prizes are made possible by the support of various Estonian businesses and establishments. This year's winner also will also have a wonderful opportunity to attend this summer's Song and Dance Festival.
The quiz can be taken in either English or Russian and the quiz will be up until 31 May 2009. It can be found at the address http://quiz.mfa.ee/.
This is the fourteenth web-based quiz organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Over the years, interest in these quizzes has grown steadily. Last year 4 788 people from 81 different countries participated in the quiz. The grand prizes went to winners in France and Moldova.
DEFENCE NEWS
Aaviksoo: Cyber Attacks Must be Collectively Condemned
17 March - Today in Vienna Minister of Defence Jaak Aaviksoo gave a keynote address at the workshop on cyber security organised by the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe, in which he emphasised the need to increase the national cyber security of states and the potential of the OSCE in promoting such co-operation.
At the cyber seminar held today in Vienna, Aaviksoo noted that in parallel with the increasing adoption of information technologies for making everyday tasks easier, countries should also concentrate on decreasing the vulnerability of cyberspace, which can only be done successfully through international co-operation.
Since many of the information systems in OSCE countries have been the target of wide-scale cyber attacks over the last couple of years, Aaviksoo raised the question of finding a balance in protecting cyberspace. The militarisation of cyberspace is not in the interests of the promotion of a free information space, Aaviksoo said. I believe the development of a global cyber-culture to be of importance - cyber attacks must be condemned collectively, and the ethical and morally responsible use of cyberspace must be guaranteed. The cornerstone of cyber security lies in international co-operation and in building the appropriate legal framework.
Aaviksoo called upon OSCE countries to develop national cyber security strategies and plans of action, and expressed Estonia's willingness to share its experience in that field. By increasing their national cyber security, countries are also helping to develop global cyberspace security, Aaviksoo assured, and invited OSCE countries to join the Council of Europe Convention on Cybercrime.
Minister of Defence Aaviksoo invited the countries to starting a discussion at the OSCE level and to share experiences on providing for the security of critical information infrastructures, with the goal of strengthening the security of information systems in the region as a whole.
The proposal to hold the OSCE cyber security workshop was made by Estonia last year, while holding the chairmanship of the OSCE
security forum. Today's seminar in Vienna was attended by security experts and officials from OSCE countries.
Estonia to Participate in EU Joint Helicopter Initiative
13 March - Minister of Defence Jaak Aaviksoo participated in the informal meeting of EU defence ministers in Prague, where the future of the EU's military operations was discussed.
For Estonia, one of the main topics at the meeting was matters related to the development of the EU's military capabilities, which centred on the so-called Helicopter Initiative that has the aim of increasing the availability of helicopters in operations areas.
Minister of Defence Aaviksoo said that it is important that the EU's defence and security policy be developed jointly. The joint development of military capabilities provides for better and more competitive defensive capabilities in our common security space. This consideration served as the basis for Estonia's decision to participate, to the extent of our capabilities, in the EU's helicopter adeptness development project, said the minister of defence.
The minister of defence noted that our participation in the project is possible thanks to the fact that the planning of Estonia's defence budget is based on a conservative policy, where costs intended for investments and personnel are balanced. Countries where personnel expenses in the defence sector reach up to 80% of the defence budget are in a more difficult position in the current economic climate, Aaviksoo said.
In Prague, the defence ministers were also given a thorough overview of the EU's ongoing military operations and the future of the operations was discussed. It was agreed that the situation in Bosnia has stabilised and that military operations have to be reformed, while training and consulting missions will continue.
The ministers also discussed the operations of the European Defence Agency as well as the relations and co-operations of the EU with its strategic partners NATO, the UN, and the African Union.
ECONOMIC NEWS
Currency Rates in Kroons
(Bank of Estonia)
Estonia May Adopt Euro Next July
12 March (BNS) - Estonian Prime Minister Andrus Ansip Thursday said that Estonia may adopt the euro on 1 July 2010.
Estonia will be able to meet the Maastricht criteria, the precondition for transition to the euro, this year, the prime minister said.
The prime minister said that meeting the state budget deficit criterion was in the hands of the government and the parliament and if it was necessary to draw up another negative supplementary budget, it was the duty of the government and Parliament to do so.
At the end of this year Estonia could request an extraordinary assessment of the criteria from the European Commission and the European Central Bank that would serve as the basis for transition to the euro. A regular assessment could take place at the beginning of next year.
The head of government said that the European Commission and the European Central Bank were prepared to bring the time of the assessment forward and the necessary procedural opportunity for it existed. "It is nothing out of the ordinary," Ansip added. "I have reason to believe that if Estonia asks for extraordinary assessment it will be granted."
Marten Ross, vice governor of the Bank of Estonia, said on Wednesday Estonia was very likely to meet all the Maastricht criteria at the end of this year and it was therefore possible that the euro would come into use in Estonia in 2011.
Estonian Financial Supervisory Authority Gets High Appraisal from IMF
11 March (BNS) - The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has given a high assessment to the work of the Estonian Financial Supervisory Authority, including of the professional level of the surveillance specialists' work.
It appears in information from the Financial Supervisory Authority that the IMF believes that strict capital supervision in the country deserves special attention.
The IMF said that the banking supervision of the authority, including assessment of the banks' capitalisation level, was fully in line with international standards and the European Union capital requirements directive.
The organisational structure of the Financial Supervisory Authority, the IMF said, permits effective supervision while taking into consideration peculiarities of the Estonian financial market. The report also said that the supervisory capability had considerably improved in the insurance and securities spheres.
The IMF presented its own recommendations for the improvement of the endowment pensions system and for the regulation of fund leaders' personal transactions. They also underlined the need to ban linking of the marketing of pension funds with other financial services.
The FSAP assessment mission of the International Monetary Fund took place from 18 to 27 February 2008 with a follow-up mission in December 2008.
The last time Estonia was assessed on the basis of the FSAP program criteria was in 2000.
In the framework of the IMF financial assessment programme organisation of banking, insurance and securities supervision, banking and financial sector strengths and accounting were analysed and an assessment was given to the Financial Supervisory Authority as an integral organisation.
Retail Sector IT Service Provider New Vision Boosts FY Sales 17 Percent
17 March (BNS) - New Vision, the company offering hardware and IT solutions for the retail and service sectors, saw its sales in 2008 surge 17% year on year to 173.7 million kroons (EUR 11.1 mln).
The company said the increase could be attributed to customers' interest toward solutions boosting effectiveness and optimising processes.
During the year the company was active presenting and introducing clerkless checkout lanes in Estonia, the manager of New Vision's Estonian operation, Taivo Saar, said.
The first four such lanes were installed at the Roomu Kaubamaja supermarket of the ETK chain in the north-western town of Keila and more are to be installed at the outlets of Estonian retailers this year.
New Vision has been active in the Baltic countries for more than 15 years.
Estonia's Amserv to Start as Peugeot Dealer in April
17 March (BNS) - Under a co-operation agreement signed with the Peugeot importer KW Bruun Baltic, Amserv Grupp will become a dealer for Peugeot from April.
Peugeot cars will be sold and serviced by the dealerships of Ascar, a holding of Amserv Grupp, in Tallinn and Tartu.
Raivo Kutt, CEO of Amserv Grupp, said Amserv added Peugeot to the list of carmakers it acts as a dealer for out of the desire to strengthen its market position in the segment of utility vehicles, where Peugeot has occupied the leader's position for years.
Amserv Grupp said in a press release it ranks as one of the largest car sale and service companies in the Baltic countries. Its 15 representations are located in Tallinn, Parnu, Tartu, Paide, Viljandi and Riga.
The addition of Peugeot will increase the number of brands represented by Amserv Grupp to seven, the other six being Toyota, Lexus, Opel, Chevrolet, Hyundai and Saab.
KW Bruun Baltic is the official importer of Peugeot vehicles to Estonia and Latvia.
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