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Estonian Review 11-17 February 2009
20.02.2009
FOREIGN NEWS
DEFENCE NEWS
DOMESTIC NEWS
ECONOMIC NEWS
FOREIGN NEWS
Estonian Head of State Met with President of Tajikistan
13 February - "Tajikistan is an important partner for the West in achieving success in the Afghanistan operation and combating the illegal narcotics trade in Central Asia," President Toomas Hendrik Ilves said at a meeting with Emomali Rahmon, the head of state of Tajikistan who was on a working visit in Estonia.
The Estonian head of state acknowledged Tajikistan's long-standing support for the battle against the extremist Taliban forces operating in Afghanistan and said their contribution was strategically very important. "Also important is your recent decision to open an air corridor for non-military transit, which could be used to supply the NATO forces operating in Afghanistan, Tajikistan's neighbouring country," President Ilves said. "The success of the Afghanistan operation is in the interests of both the NATO member states and Afghanistan's close neighbours. After all, this would mean that the world would gain another stable country, and an important barrier against the spread of extremism in the region would be established."
The Estonian president stressed that this is not an endless "foreign project". "We hope to see Afghanistan established as a nation that is able to cope with the maintenance of stability and the guarantee of domestic security. However, this assumes that we all pay greater attention to political issues in Afghanistan." The Tajik president recognised and thanked Estonia for its efforts in the stabilisation of the situation in the military conflict area and noted that keeping peace in Afghanistan was very important for the whole Central Asian region.
The topics discussed at the meeting between Presidents Ilves and Rahmon also included the common efforts of the international community and Tajikistan to prevent the narcotics trade originating in Afghanistan and ending in Russia and Western Europe. Several countries and international organisations, including the European Union, are supporting the efforts of the Tajik authorities to prevent narcotics smuggling.
"Tajikistan, as a border country, has a special role to play, because your efforts and the international assistance provided to you will essentially determine the success of the attempt to restrict the narcotics trade based in Afghanistan," the Estonian head of state said.
President Ilves confirmed that a politically stable and economically successful Tajikistan, which is increasingly interested in democratic reforms, is in the interest of Estonia and the rest of the European Union.
The Estonian head of state recalled that Tajikistan places second among Estonia's trading partners in Central Asia, after Kazakhstan. Thus far, this is based on transit trade in aluminium, but this is the time for entrepreneurs in the two countries to think about diversification.
"If you feel that Estonia has experiences that are useful to Tajikistan, we are naturally willing to share them with you," the Estonian head of state said to President Rahmon. President Ilves mentioned information technology as a field where Estonian enterprises are interested in closer co-operation with partners in Tajikistan.
Estonian and Spanish Foreign Ministers Discuss Relations, Conclude Visa Representation Agreement
11 February - Foreign Minister Urmas Paet, in Spain on an official visit, met with Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos and chairman of the European Union Affairs Commission Miguel Arias Cañete.
At their meeting, Paet and Moratinos signed a visa representation agreement between Estonia and Spain, as a result of which Spain will begin to represent Estonia in Algeria, Argentina, Brazil, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Puerto Rico, Uruguay, and Venezuela. Estonia wishes to maintain close relations with Spain, one of the EU's largest member states, said Foreign Minister Paet. The network of Estonia's foreign representations is not vast, therefore it is important for us that Spain will be representing Estonia in 14 nations, Paet emphasised.
Paet and Moratinos agreed that it is important to intensify the Eastern Dimension of the European Neighbourhood Policy. Paet stated that a stable European Union neighbourhood, good governing standards, and generally accepted business practices act as a security assurance for our neighbours as well. The Estonian and Spanish foreign ministers also emphasised the need to reach an agreement on extending and strengthening the mandates of the ceasefire monitoring missions in Georgia.
At the meeting, EU-USA and EU-NATO relations were also discussed. Relations with the USA and NATO must remain priorities for the EU. Only in co-operation with nations and organisations that share our values can we be successful in strengthening energy security and backing stability in Afghanistan and the Middle East, said Paet.
Paet also introduced Estonia's plan for joining the euro-zone to Moratinos.
The parties also discussed intensifying business relations between Estonia and Spain. Spanish businesses formed a Spain-Estonia Chamber of Commerce this January, said Paet. The chamber's plan to facilitate businesses that are interested in participating more actively in the Baltic market is extremely welcome. Estonia is definitely interested in investments from Spanish companies, Paet noted.
Another topic addressed by Paet and Moratinos was opportunities for reciprocal support for candidacies in international organisations. We hope to have Spain's support for Estonia's candidacy to the UN Human Rights Committee for 2012-2015 and to be an elected member of the UN Security Council from 2020-2021, said Paet.
Estonia Commends Extension of OSCE Presence in Georgia
13 February - Foreign Minister Urmas Paet stated that the decision of the Permanent Council of the OSCE on Thursday to extend the presence of monitoring officers in Georgia until 30 June 2009 is encouraging for both the status of representatives in international missions and for strengthening stability in Georgia.
The role of an international presence in Georgia and access to Georgia's entire territory are extremely valuable in terms of stabilising the nation, said Paet, emphasising that the monitors must be allowed access to all of Georgia's regions. Hopefully the OSCE Permanent Council's decision will give greater assurance than before that the humanitarian situation in Georgia will improve, he added.
Estonian Government Backs EU Economic Stimulus Proposal
12 February (BNS) - The Estonian government today approved the European Commission proposal to invest an additional five billion euros over the next two years to give a stimulus to the European economy.
The European Union executive proposes to invest in key energy projects, extending and upgrading of high-speed internet in rural communities, and tackling new challenges of the Common Agricultural Policy such as climate change, renewable energy and biodiversity.
Provided the proposal gets the green light, Estonia and Finland stand to receive up to 100 million euros each for the construction of a second underwater power cable, the Estlink-2.
Minister and Officials Talk about First Year in Schengen Visa Space
13 February - Foreign Minister Urmas Paet, Undersecretary for Legal and Consular Affairs Aino Lepik von Wirén, and director general of the Foreign Ministry's consular department Lauri Bambus spoke at the tourism fair Tourest 2009 about the activities of the Foreign Ministry's consular department in 2008, Estonia's first year as part of the Schengen visa space.
Foreign Minister Urmas Paet stated that the primary purpose of consular services is to provide Estonians, and in some cases citizens of other countries, aid and consular support, as well as to give suggestions about how to avoid unexpected problems while travelling. This past year almost 425 000 Estonian residents travelled abroad and nearly 1 200 required consular aid. For every workday last year an average of two Estonian citizens needed temporary travel documents, and every six days our consuls helped an Estonian citizen who had become ill or injured, Foreign Minister Paet offered as examples of consular situations.
Foreign Minister Urmas Paet also mentioned that 2008 will go down in consular history because Estonia was faced with many new challenges. Last year we had to deal with the battle against piracy and saving an Estonian citizen held hostage for the first time, and we also carried out our first-ever large-scale evacuation from a nation in a state of war, listed Foreign Minister Paet. The Foreign Minister and the Estonian Embassy in Tbilisi worked together to evacuate 141 Estonian citizens and 11 citizens of other European Union member states during the conflict in Georgia in August.
Last year was the first year for Estonia in the European Union's common visa space. The enlargement of the Schengen area was not only eagerly awaited by citizens of Estonia and other newer member states, but it was a significant event for all visitors to Europe who previously would have required visas, said Foreign Minister Paet. To simplify the visa application process in nations where Estonia does not have a representation, we have concluded visa representation agreements with seven European Union member states, he added. Hungary, Finland, Germany, Slovenia, Latvia, the Netherlands, and Spain represent Estonia for the issuing of visas in 52 countries. Currently preparations are underway for signing such agreements with Slovakia, France, Austria and Poland.
DOMESTIC NEWS
Ruhnu Islanders Find Old Shipwreck
13 February (BNS) - Residents of Estonia's Ruhnu island discovered the remains of a ship in the sea off the island; it is believed that the wreck could be a of a vessel from the Swedish fleet that was hit by storm when it left from Riga for Stockholm about 400 years ago, the newspaper Meie Maa reported.
The wreck, lying one and a half meters deep on the sandy sea floor about 400 meters from the shore between Staknas and Parsi, was discovered by Kaarel Lauk, a member of the local council, and the local border guard Rainer Sosi when their fishing nets got stuck on the wreck. In Lauk's opinion the wreck could be of a large Viking ship 15 to 20 meters long.
Mart Kapsta, director of the Ruhnu Museum, suggested that the ship could go back to the period from 1650-1750 to which the wide planks of the ship refer to. He considered the planks too wide for a Viking ship.
The ship is not marked on old Ruhnu (Swedish: Runo) maps and if the ship is Swedish it could date from the year 1625. "Of 14 Swedish ships, ten were lost in the Gulf of Riga. They were sailing from Riga to Stockholm when they were caught in a storm," Kapsta said.
Vello Mass, researcher and underwater archaeologist with the Estonian Maritime Museum, did not rule out the possibility that the wreck could be that of a medieval Hansa cog. But the archaeologists will only be able to establish the origin of the wreck after its study on the spot, the paper wrote.
DEFENCE NEWS
Estonian Units Participate in Successful Operation Against Taliban
16 February (BNS) - Estonian troops along with the Afghan security forces and British units attacked Taliban positions in the central part of southern Helmand province last weekend.
The battle that erupted during the operation, which began on Saturday morning, lasted into the night and continued on Sunday morning until the enemy's retreat, military spokespeople said. The Estonian, British and Afghan troops suffered no casualties whereas the Taliban units sustained losses in both personnel and armaments.
The Taliban positions were also attacked by British combat aircraft and helicopters and the Estonian mortar unit. Taliban fighters were forced to abandon their positions and the areas under their control were cleared of the enemy.
The deputy commander of the Estonian infantry company, Capt. Eero Aija, said this was the unit's first experience of co-operation with Afghan armed forces and it went successfully. "The joint operation with the Afghan armed forces was fruitful and gave an experience that will come in handy in planning future operations," he said.
"The Estonian units too performed their tasks well. Commanders of subunits did a great job and led the men in a very professional manner. Due to that, the planned aims were achieved despite the complicated situation," the captain added.
The objective of the joint operation was to drive out the enemy from and ensure security in the Nawa area.
Estonian units are serving in southern Afghanistan in the composition of the British-led Task Force Helmand. Currently almost 150 Estonian military are stationed in Afghanistan.
The Estonian Defence Forces joined the NATO-led military operation in Afghanistan in 2003.
Defence Forces Commander Invites Slovenia to Join Cyber Defence Centre
12 February (BNS) - Commander of the Estonian Defence Forces Lt. Gen. Ants Laaneots invited Slovenia to participate in the work of the Baltic Defence College and the Tallinn-based NATO Centre of Excellence in Cyber Defence.
Laaneots, who was in Slovenia on an official visit, made a proposal to his Slovenian colleague Lt. Gen. Albin Gutman that Slovenia send its officers to take part in the work of the Estonia-based centre of excellence in cyber defence and the Baltic Defence College.
Lt. Gen. Gutman offered an overview to his Estonian colleague of the development of Slovenia's military national defence, its challenges and the security situation.
"Estonia and Slovenia have much in common; as a rule we've had good relations and relations of mutual support in international organisations, even though the security situation of Slovenia is considerably different from that of Estonia," Laaneots said.
The Estonian defence chief also met during his trip to Slovenia with President Danilo Turk, the country's minister of defence, and members of the parliamentary defence committee.
Slovenia's air space is policed by aircraft of NATO partners just like the air space of the Baltic countries of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, as none of the countries has fighter aircraft of its own.
Law Amendment Allows More Young People to Apply for Defence College
12 February (BNS) - The Government of the Republic today approved an amendment to the Institutions of Professional Higher Education Act, prepared by the Ministry of Defence, which allows candidates to apply for the Estonian National Defence College (ENDC) before passing the compulsory military service.
The law amendment will allow the cadet candidates to pass the matriculation tests, required for admittance to the Estonian National Defence College, before the compulsory military service, immediately after high school graduation. The passing of compulsory military service is still required to be matriculated for a student place, as it will give the future cadets basic military knowledge and an overview of everyday life in military service. In co-operation with the Defence Resources Board, all young people who successfully pass the entrance examinations will commence their compulsory military service in the same year. Therefore, young people should notify the Defence Resources Board of their wish to study in the Estonian National Defence College as early as possible.
The Estonian National Defence College is the only national defence high school that prepares well-educated and professional officers who will ensure the security and independence of the state of Estonia. The Basic Officer Training Course of the Estonian National Defence College gives the students basic officers' skills and applied higher education in the speciality of military command and Second Lieutenant's rank. The official study period for the Basic Officer Training Course in the Military Academy of the ENDC is three years in the Army field of study and three years in the Air Force field of study, the latter being launched in co-operation with the Aviation Academy.
After some years of service, the graduates of the course may continue their studies in the Advanced Officer Training Course - level two of military higher education; the graduates will receive the preparation of a company commander and junior staff officer and a master degree in the social sciences.
Police Chief to Join Volunteer Defence Corps
12 February (BNS) - Estonian Police Commissioner Raivo Kuut and director of the Central Criminal Police Eerik Heldna are scheduled to join the Kaitseliit volunteer defence corps.
Kuut in his remarks described the Kaitseliit and the police as linked by ties of long-term and effective co-operation.
"As a police officer I've been working very closely with the Kaitseliit and many Kaitseliit members in protecting public order for many years already, and in the course of this I've learned to respect the Kaitseliit's values and know its essence," Kuut said.
Heldna said that being a member of the Kaitseliit offered a good opportunity to avoid letting one's military skills rust.
"I believe that the Kaitseliit has an important role to play in ensuring internal and external security and the police and Kaitseliit can complement each other in this," said Heldna, adding that as a reserve officer he considers membership of Kaitseliit to be natural.
Both police leaders will join the Toompea unit of the volunteer corps.
The commander of the Kaitseliit, Lt. Col. Raivo Lumiste, said that accession of the police leaders to the Kaitseliit was setting a welcome example that added diversity, vigour and historic continuity to the volunteer defence corps.
The Kaitseliit has more than 10 000 members across Estonia, and together with its women's and youth organisations it brings together more than 19 000 volunteers.
About 1 000 adult members of the Kaitseliit have the status of assistant police officer.
Aaviksoo Emphasises General Laidoner's Contribution to Development of Estonian Nationhood
12 February - In his memorial lecture on the 125th anniversary of the birth of Johan Laidoner in the Viljandi House of Culture, Minister of Defence Jaak Aaviksoo emphasised the will to defend, as inspired by the general, and its importance for ensuring nationhood.
In his speech, Minister Aaviksoo compared the life of Johan Laidoner to the pre-war history of the Republic of Estonia. The life of a young military man and statesman developed and matured simultaneously with the establishment and development of the state, which began with the battles of World War I and ended with the tragic fate of the republic and General Laidoner himself.
Aaviksoo also mentioned Laidoner's important contribution to Estonia's international relations as an interesting part of the statesman's life and its relations with the present.
In 1920, Mr. Laidoner chaired the committee of the League of Nations, which settled the conflict between Turkey and Iraq over the Mosul region. As it happened decades ago, Estonia has today contributed, within the scope of its better abilities, to ensuring peace in Iraq.
Mr. Laidoner's sincere wish - to help his home country overcome hard times - was intertwined with his will to protect Estonia's independence. While building security in the modern world is much more complicated due to globalisation and new threats, such as terrorism and cyber security, we should bear in mind the very same defence will and spirit which inspired both Mr. Laidoner and the Estonian nation during the War of Independence and during the coup d'état attempt in 1924, said the minister of defence in his speech.
Defence Minister Aaviksoo, in drawing parallels with today, stressed the need for the consistent development of national defence. Military service was, during the time of Laidoner, and still is, one of the main principles of national defence in Estonia, enhancing our defence will and laying a foundation for our ability to defend the freedom we have gained. Aside from the development of national defence, it is also important to contribute to improving the international security situation. First of all, Estonia must not remain segregated and alone. Secondly, Estonia's contribution to Iraq and Afghanistan has stressed our wish to support the freedom, democracy and right of self-determination of other countries, while having strengthened our relations with our allies. The message of today's state of Estonia to General Laidoner could be the following - we have not forgotten the victims and sacrifices made for Estonia's freedom and we will do anything to restore our independence for the generations to come, said the minister.
Aside from Viljandi, the 125th anniversary of the birth of General Johan Laidoner will be celebrated in Viimsi, where the local school theatre will stage a play telling the story of Johan and Maria Laidoner entitled I'm Looking Out the Window of Eternity. This will be staged in the current war museum, which was once the family home of the Laidoners.
ECONOMIC NEWS
Currency Rates in Kroons
(Bank of Estonia)
Estonian Beer Gets Spot on Shelves in Swedish Alcohol Monopoly
11 February (BNS) - Sweden's state alcohol retail monopoly Systembolaget has picked Saku Kuld (Saku Gold) of the beverages maker Saku Õlletehas for the first Estonian beer brand to be given shelf space in its stores.
The first consignment of Estonian beer will under the agreement hit stores in Sweden in April and the target is to sell half a million litres in the first year, Saku Õlletehas said.
Sales director Margus Kastein said entry into the Swedish alcohol retail chain translates into a 15% jump in export volumes, which is especially important in view of contracting domestic demand.
In Sweden alcohol is sold exclusively in stores of the monopolistic state-owned retail chain. To be included in the assortment, the taste, quality and packaging tests of a 15-member panel have to be passed.
The 1850-founded Systembolaget runs 426 stores in 322 communities.
Saku Kuld has since 2005 also been in the product portfolio of Finland's largest brewery Sinebrychoff.
Sales by Retailer Prisma Up by Tenth in 2008
16 February (BNS) - The Finnish-owned retail chain Prisma in Estonia boosted its sales 10% last year in comparison with 2007 to a little over two billion kroons (EUR 128 mln).
The profit of the Estonian operation, AS Prisma Peremarket, totalled 65.3 million kroons.
The number of client purchases at Prisma's stores climbed 7.4% while the number of stores was unchanged from a year ago.
The aim for 2009 is to continue expansion and invest the profit accumulated over the years. In 2010 Prisma is planning to open a store in Narva, creating 100 new jobs.
The retailer operates five Prisma hypermarkets in Tallinn at this point, having a market share of 8% in Estonia, according to figures provided by the company.
Prisma is owned by the Nordic SOK group and has retail operations in Finland, Estonia, Russia, Latvia and Lithuania.
It gives work to approximately 700 people in Estonia.
Financial House Tavid Sells Over Two Tonnes of Gold in 2008
11 February (BNS) - The Estonian financial group Tavid-Tavex last year sold 2 159 kilograms of investment gold in four countries, a year-on-year increase of 53%.
The firm repurchased 482.6 kilograms of gold in the 12 months, three times more than in 2007, Tavid said.
Gold bars weighing one hundred grams and one-ounce coins, the most popular ways to invest in gold worldwide, accounted for 75% of the sales.
An ounce of gold cost 725 euros at the beginning of this month.
The price of gold rose to a record 1 023 U.S. dollars per ounce in March 2008 and 678 euros per ounce in October.
Tavid sells gold in Sweden, Finland, Estonia and Latvia.
Restaurants See Turnover Grow in Q4
13 February (BNS) - The net turnover of member restaurants of the Estonian Hotel and Restaurant Association (EHRL) grew in the fourth quarter of 2008 by 4% year on year to 121.2 million kroons (EUR 7.74 mln).
It appears from EHRL statistics that restaurants' food revenue increased by 5% in an annual comparison to 87.2 million kroons, while drinks revenue grew by almost 4% to 30.8 million kroons.
The number of restaurant seats meanwhile increased by 12% from the same period of 2007 to 5 453.
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