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Estonian Review: 14-20 January 2009
23.01.2009
FOREIGN NEWS
DEFENCE NEWS
DOMESTIC NEWS
ECONOMIC NEWS
FOREIGN NEWS
Foreign Minister and President of UN General Assembly Discuss Expansion of UN Security Council
15 January - Foreign Minister Urmas Paet and President of the UN General Assembly Miguel d´Escoto Brockmann agreed during their meeting in New York that the rapid reform and expansion of the UN Security Council is essential in order for the organisation to better respond to changes in the world.
During his meeting with d`Escoto Brockmann, Paet discussed the UN's activities for achieving a truce in Gaza, alleviating the effects of the global financial crisis, and UN Security Council reform.
At the meeting, the president of the UN General Assembly announced that he would call together a session of the UN General Assembly to express once more the need for an immediate cease-fire in Gaza. Paet stated that it is very important for the international community to clearly convey its desire to achieve a truce and continue the Middle East peace process.
Paet and d`Escoto Brockmann both felt it was important for the UN Security Council to be reformed as quickly as possible. Paet said that it is in the interest of international security to improve the UN's capability to resolve and prevent conflicts. It's a good sign that intergovernmental negotiations about the Security Council reform are beginning in February, Paet added. Estonia belongs to the Eastern Europe group, and during the course of the reform this group should get an additional elected member position in the Council, said Paet.
During his meeting with the Estonian foreign minister, the president of the UN General Assembly confirmed that the UN should further address alleviating the effects of the global financial crisis. D`Escoto Brockmann stated that the UN is organising a high-level conference on the topic of the global financial and economic crisis.
Paet said that restoring the credibility of the financial sector is necessary for international co-operation on every level. Solutions formed on an economic basis should be chosen, and over-regulation, unnecessary government interference and protectionism should be avoided, he asserted.
Paet added that the UN plays an essential role in addressing and resolving the reasons behind the financial and economic crisis.
Estonia Becomes Vice President of UN Economic and Social Council
17 January - Estonia was chosen to be a vice president of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) at UN Headquarters in New York. The function of vice president will be filled by Estonia's permanent representative to the UN, Ambassador Tiina Intelmann.
The Economic and Social Council addresses many subjects that are important to Estonia, such as development co-operation, human rights, and humanitarian issues. Membership in the ECOSOC gives Estonia an opportunity to increase its visibility in the international arena, intensify relations with developing countries, and focus on the humanitarian aid sector. Estonia will also be able to continue making equal rights and the advancement of women more prominent in the UN's development activities.
The ECOSOC's mission is to advance economic development, the protection of human rights, and international co-operation in various social areas, as well as to co-ordinate the activities of UN special agencies, programmes and funds. The Council initiates or implements studies, offers suggestions, prepares conventions and organises international conferences. The 54 members of the ECOSOC are chosen by the UN General Assembly.
In addition to Tiina Intelmann, the other vice presidents of the ECOSOC are representatives of Malaysia, El Salvador, and Mauritania.
Estonia's membership in the ECOSOC began on 1 January 2009 and will last for three years until 31 December 2011.
Estonia has also announced its candidacy to become a member of the UN Human Rights Council in 2012 and the UN Security Council in 2020.
Ship Hijacked by Somali Pirates and Carrying Estonian Sailors Has Been Released
16 January - Early in the morning on Friday, 16 January, the vessel MV CEC Future, which is operated by the Danish company Clipper Group, was released by pirates along with its crew. Five of the 13 crew members are Estonian residents.
Foreign Minister Urmas Paet stated that the shipping company Clipper Group announced the news early this morning that the ship carrying Estonian sailors that had been hijacked by Somali pirates had been released. According to the shipping company, all of the crew members are unharmed and feeling well. It brings tremendous joy and relief to be able to report this to the crew members' families, said Foreign Minister Paet.
The fight against piracy is an important part of co-operation in the international community. To help with this endeavour, the European Union began a military operation for battling piracy off the coast of Somalia in December of 2008. This is an important step forward, as is the UN Security Council's decision that allows the international community to fight piracy not only in Somali waters, but also on the mainland, said Paet.
If the need arises, the Foreign Ministry is prepared to offer whatever aid is necessary to get the Estonian crew members home. The Foreign Ministry offered support and aid in communicating with and passing information along to the crew members' families. The Estonian Embassy in Copenhagen has been in constant contact with the shipping company and followed all developments in the release operation for the crew of the hijacked ship.
On 7 November 2008, the crew of the vessel MV CEC Future, which belongs to a Danish company and was sailing under the Bahamian flag, fell into the hands of pirates off the coast of Somalia. Among the crew were five sailors that live in Estonia.
Moldovan Economic Seminar Organised in Tallinn
19 January - An economic seminar introducing Moldova entitled Target Market - Moldova will take place in the Estonian Chamber of Commerce in Tallinn Tuesday, 20 January. The seminar was organised by the Estonian Embassy in Moldova, the Estonian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and Enterprise Estonia.
The event will be moderated by the economic diplomat working in the Estonian Embassy in Kiev, Margus Solnson. The presenters will be Ambassador of the Republic of Moldova to Estonia Veaceslav Dobîndâ, First Secretary of the Embassy of Moldova Carolina Perebinos, chairman of the Moldova delegation in the European Parliament Marianne Mikko, director of the Agency for the Development of Moldovan Investments and Exports Andrei Timuš, the representative for Pricewaterhouse Coopers in Moldova Svetlana Ceban, and Estonian entrepreneurs with ties to Moldova.
Moldova's political and economic development will be discussed at the seminar. Investment opportunities in various sectors will be introduced and an overview will be given of Moldova's taxation system and other factors that affect businesses. Co-operation and development opportunities in Estonia-Moldova economic relations will also be discussed.
Moldova is a border country of the European Union that is drawing the interest of more and more businesses. During recent years, the country has carried out economic reforms that facilitate business activity. Moldova's growing economy, good geographical location and favourable climate are factors that increase the nation's attractiveness for both producers and investors.
Pihl: EU Needs IT Strategy in Security Issues
15 January - Speaking at an unofficial meeting of EU justice and interior ministers in Prague, Estonian Interior Minister Jüri Pihl said that the EU needs a common information technology strategy in the domestic security sphere.
Pihl said that the main challenge in that sphere was the strategic and consistent approach to the introduction of new technologies.
"It is difficult to overestimate the use of IT solutions in increasing domestic security, but it is also necessary to be contemplative and consistent in doing so," Pihl said.
He said that use of new technologies in the domestic security sphere was closely connected with the fundamental rights and liberties of people and mistakes made may pay back bitterly later.
The interior minister underlined the need for a general IT strategy in the interior and justice issues sphere that would make it possible to better determine aims and better co-ordinate the introduction of new technologies.
He also found it was necessary to establish a central co-ordinating institution on the European Union level for the administration of projects in the domestic security sphere. The minister quoted as an example the Estonian practice where competence and projects connected with interior security had been brought under one institution.
"The information technology and development center in the sphere of administration of the Interior Ministry has helped to considerably improve the implementation of projects," Pihl said.
The European Union has in recent years worked on several information systems that have the aim of simplifying the movement of people and addressing the accompanying security risks. There are plans to adopt a new pan-European visa information system and a new Schengen information system and to apply biometric identification in the Schengen area and on the external border of the European Union.
Estonian Ambassador to Russia Presents Credentials
16 January - Estonian Ambassador to the Russian Federation Simmu Tiik presented his credentials to President Dmitri Medvedev.
In his speech to the ambassadors, President Medvedev expressed hope for constructive co-operation with Estonia among other countries, and also addressed the need to improve economic co-operation.
Relations between Estonia and Russia can be repaired and advanced with the help of practical co-operation, for example by concluding agreements related to the cultural and social sectors, said Ambassador Tiik.
Ambassador Simmu Tiik was born on 19 February 1959 in Tartu. He graduated from the history department of Tartu University. Ambassador Tiik has worked for the Tartu Public Library; since 1993 he has worked in the political planning department of the Foreign Ministry and in the Estonian Embassy in Copenhagen. Tiik has worked as an external advisor to the prime minister and served as the Estonian ambassador to Ireland, and before going to Russia Tiik was the director general of the Foreign Ministry's 3rd political department.
Tallinn to Sign Co-operation Memorandum with Florence
20 January - The Tallinn city government discussed a co-operation memorandum with Italy's Florence that calls for promoting ties between the two cities in culture, social affairs and economy.
It is planned that Vice Mayor Kaia Jappinen will be authorised to sign the document.
During the first working visit here by representatives of Florence in 2007, it was found that interest toward co-operation exists.
Since Florence occupies such a prominent place in European culture, Tallinn would like to work closely with that city when bearing the title of European Capital of Culture in 2011.
The Estonian capital wishes to promote ties with Florence in culture, youth affairs, heritage protection, art education and musical education, Jappinen said.
The potential co-operation partners in Tallinn are the faculty of cultural heritage and conservation of the Estonian Academy of Arts, the faculty of Romance languages of the Institute of Humanities of Tallinn University, the City Museum, and the Theater and Music Academy.
The council of Florence unanimously approved a decision in July 2007 to conclude an agreement of sister cities between Florence and Tallinn.
Co-operation ties between the cities came under discussion for the first time during a meeting in 2005 between the mayor of Tallinn and Estonia's Honorary Consul Luigi Cecchini, who lives in Florence.
In 2004, Tallinn was awarded the 22nd Florentine Award for Culture, issued by the Cultural Center Firenze-Europa "Mario Conti" since 1938.
DOMESTIC NEWS
Victory Day Parade to Be Held in Latvian Town
18 January - The Estonian Victory Day parade this year will be held in the northern Latvian town of Cēsis, near which the historic battle between joint Estonian-Latvian forces and the Baltic German Landeswehr took place in 1919. The battle was crucial for the independence of both countries.
The parade will be held in Cēsis at the proposal of Estonian President Toomas Hendrik Ilves, upon agreement with Latvian Head of State Valdis Zatlers.
Spokesman for the Estonian president Toomas Sildam said this is a worthy way to mark the 90th anniversary of the battle of Cēsis, or Võnnu as the town used to be known in Estonian.
"The battle of Võnnu, a battle important from the viewpoint of the independence of Estonia and Latvia, symbolises the brotherhood-in-arms of Estonia and Latvia and the joint fight of the two nations for their national independence," Sildam said, adding that the idea of holding the parade in Latvia has been discussed with the leaders of national defence of Estonia.
According to Tanel Rutman, spokesman for the Estonian Defence League voluntary corps, the parade will be dedicated to the battle of Võnnu as the crucial event in whose memory Victory Day is celebrated in Estonia every 23 June.
He said that the parade will bring together some 500 members from the Defence League units of southern Estonia as well as its youth organisations, plus about as many members of the Latvian counterpart organisation Zemessardze.
Unlike the Independence Day parade that is traditionally held by the Defence Forces in Tallinn on 24 February to commemorate the proclamation of Estonia's statehood in 1918, towns in Estonia have been taking turns hosting the Victory Day parade, which has been organised by the Defence League volunteer corps since 2000.
The first of the parades took place in the northwestern regional capital Haapsalu. In last year's parade in Tallinn, some 1 300 personnel took part.
Baltische Landeswehr (Baltic Land Defence) was the name of the armed forces of the United Baltic Duchy, a state imagined by the Baltic German nobility after the Russian revolution and German occupation of the parts of the Russian empire in World War I that used to be dominated by Baltic German nobility.
More symbolically, the victory by Estonian and Latvian troops over the Landeswehr marked the end of seven centuries of domination by Baltic German nobility, which started with the conquest of these lands by Teutonic knights at the beginning of the 13th century.
DEFENCE NEWS
Prime Minister Thanks Members of Defence Forces Who Participated in Foreign Missions
20 January - At a reception held at Stenbock House, Prime Minister Andrus Ansip thanked the members of the Defence Force who have served Estonia on foreign missions and the people close to them.
According to the prime minister, the country highly appreciates the work of the soldiers serving on foreign missions. You strengthen the defence capability and security of Estonia, said the head of the government.
The prime minister stressed that for the Estonian people, freedom is one of the most significant values. He also stated that this value does not last on its own. In order to keep Estonia independent, we must make an effort every day, said Andrus Ansip and thanked the military personnel for their hard work.
At one time, Estonia needed support, now we are the ones to provide this support to others. I am glad that this help has landed on fruitful soils. For example, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo or even Iraq, where there are fewer and fewer armed conflicts, said Prime Minister Ansip, pointing out the positive results of the participation of the members of the Defence Forces in foreign missions.
The prime minister also wished the members of the Defence Forces luck in their future service, and gave the book Eesti Vabadussõja mälestusmärgid, compiled by Rene Viljat, to them as a gift.
In total, 221 members of the Defence Forces who had served Estonia on foreign missions since July 2008 were invited to the reception together with companions. The infantry company Estcoy-6 who served in Afghanistan, the Close Protection Team CPT-5 and the Estonian National Support Element NSE-5 were invited, as well as staff officers and non-commissioned officers who served Estonia in Bosnia, Kosovo and Afghanistan, and the infantry unit Estpla-15 which served in Iraq.
Estonian Troops in Successful Battle in Afghanistan
19 January - Estonian military personnel serving in southern Afghanistan carried out a successful combat operation in the past week, suffering no losses.
In the operation conducted in the area of Nawa to the south of Helmand's regional capital Lashkar Gah, the Estonian unit attacked Taliban positions assisted by indirect fire support and air support, making the enemy retreat.
"When we came into contact, it could be seen that we're dealing with a highly motivated and disciplined enemy and that dealing with him will not be easy. Despite that, the unit managed to suppress the enemy and make him retreat," Lt. Jüri Pajuste, the Estonian commander in the battle, said.
Pajuste hailed his men's good training and high motivation as the reasons for success. The purpose of the operation was to ensure the region's security.
With indirect fire support from its own mortar unit and support from attack aircraft, the Estonian unit attacked enemy positions. As a result of the battle, which lasted until sunset, the Estonian unit moved through Taliban positions and cleansed the areas formerly controlled by the enemy. The Estonians didn't suffer any losses.
The Estonian contingent in southern Afghanistan is deployed as part of the British-led Helmand battle group. For the present Estonian contingent, service in Afghanistan began in November.
Estonia has been taking part in the NATO-led operation in Afghanistan since 2003. There are about 150 Estonian personnel serving in Afghanistan right now.
Political Directors to Discuss NATO Summit Issues
14 January - A meeting of political directors of NATO defence ministries will be held in Tallinn, where issues on the agenda for the Krakow meeting of the alliance will be discussed.
Political directors of all 26 NATO countries as well as representatives of Croatia and Albania will take part in the meeting.
The political directors will discuss issues on the agenda of the NATO defence ministers' meeting in February in Krakow, such as the general security situation, NATO operations, the future of the NATO Response Forces, and other matters.
The Estonian delegation and the talks will be chaired by Sven Sakkov, deputy state secretary of the Defence Ministry for defence policy.
Jiri Sedivy, assistant NATO secretary-general for defence policy and planning, will take part in the meeting.
In Estonian terms, the post of political director of the Defence Ministry corresponds to that of state secretary of the Defence Ministry for defence policy.
Planning Conference for Large-Scale Military Exercise Held in Tallinn
20 January - A conference held in Tallinn discussed plans for the communications and information systems joint exercise Combined Endeavour 2009 that will be held simultaneously in several countries this fall.
The conference brought together representatives from the armed forces of 39 countries and two military organisations.
"What used to be a medium-size exercise has by now evolved into one of the largest exercises in communications worldwide, with nearly 40 permanent participants, and I'm pleased to say that Estonia has been taking part in the exercise since 1997," Estonia's Chief of Staff Col. Neeme Vali said in his opening remarks.
The exercise will be conducted in the fall in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Denmark and Holland.
The Tallinn conference is the second of four major planning conferences prior to the main drill.
Combined Endeavour is a US European Command-sponsored communications interoperability exercise. This is the 12th year for Estonia to take part in the exercise, and the country hosted planning conferences for Combined Endeavour also in 1997 and 2004.
Estonia to Receive Third Sandown Minehunter
17 January - The third Sandown class minehunter bought from the United Kingdom, Ugandi, will be formally delivered to Estonia this week.
The ceremony at the Babcock shipyard in Roslyn, Scotland will be attended by Secretary General of the Defence Ministry Riho Terras.
The first of the three minehunters, Admiral Cowan, was handed over to Estonia in April 2007 and the second, Sakala, in January 2008.
The three vessels constitute one of the biggest defence procurements for Estonia since the country's accession to NATO. The total price of the purchase is 800 million kroons (EUR 51 mln), which includes repair and maintenance works and training of the crews.
ECONOMIC NEWS
Currency Rates in Kroons
(Bank of Estonia)
Estonian Air to Increase Frequency of Flights Between Tallinn, Moscow
19 January - The Estonian national carrier Estonian Air is going to increase the frequency of its flights between Tallinn and Moscow, making five weekly flights instead of the present three from June.
Starting from 4 June, Estonian Air will increase the frequency of flights on the Tallinn-Moscow route, adding a Friday return flight departing at 13.25 from Tallinn and a Friday return flight departing from Tallinn at 7.05.
Estonian Air spokeswoman Ilona Eskelinen said Moscow was a destination where the growth in the number of passengers was among the highest.
At present, Estonian Air makes three weekly flights from Tallinn to Moscow -- on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
The additional flights will be serviced by a 88-seater CRJ NextGen aircraft.
Estonia to Take Part in Agricultural Fair in Berlin
15 January - Estonia traditionally takes part in the annual agricultural, gardening and food fair that takes place in the German capital of Berlin. The fair, Internationale Gruene Woche (Green Week), will last until 29 January.
A delegation of the Estonian Agriculture Ministry led by Secretary General Ants Noot has meetings scheduled with the ministers of Sweden, the German states of Schleswig-Holstein and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, and with the deputy minister of Kazakhstan.
On 16 January the secretary general will read a report about how accession to the European Union affected Estonian agriculture. Noot will also take part in an agriculture ministers' conference and summit on the sidelines of the fair.
Estonia is also represented this year by a stand promoting the country and presenting its local food. It also emphasises the uniqueness of Estonia as an attractive tourist destination.
The Green Week is a fair of long traditions, taking place for the 74th time this year. About 425 000 people will visit stands of the approximately 1 699 exhibitors from 52 countries. Some 300 forums will also take place during the ten days.
Estonia has been represented at the International Green Week since 1993.
GoRail Brings Thousands of Russian Tourists to Tallinn for New Year's
19 January - The Estonian train operator GoRail added additional trains to the Tallinn-Moscow and Tallinn-St. Petersburg routes during the New Year holiday season, bringing more than 5 000 Russian tourists to Estonia.
Silvia Parnmann, head of communications at Go Group, said that during the holidays trains of the maximum length of 16 cars travelled on the Tallinn-Moscow regular route, and 2 500 additional people arrived in Estonia in addition to the usual number of passengers.
Parnmann said 2 710 people arrived in Estonia on special trains from Moscow and St. Petersburg. Five special trains were added to the Moscow route and two to the St. Petersburg route.
GoRail operates one daily train of seven cars on the Tallinn-Moscow route and regular services between Tallinn and St. Petersburg ended last September.
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