Estonian Review: 10-16 September, 2008
19.09.2008
The European Union is Ready to Send 200 Civil Observers to Georgia
15 September - Foreign Minister Urmas Paet participated in the session of the EU General Affairs and External Relations Council (GAERC) that took place in Brussels on Monday, 15 September.
The foreign policy leaders of the European Union approved the decision to dispatch a 200-member European security and defence policy civil observation mission to Georgia on 1 October. Foreign Minister Urmas Paet stated that the European Union civil observers' area of activity will include all of Georgia's territory. Estonia is prepared to send as many as nine observers to Georgia, said Paet. Currently 19 nations have notified of their intention to contribute to the observation mission.
The Estonian Foreign Minister confirmed that it is necessary for the European Union to continue co-ordinating the distribution of humanitarian aid in all areas of Georgia that have been damaged by the military conflict. An international donors' conference should gather in October, in order to prevent the collapse of Georgia's economy, Paet stated. The regions devastated by the conflict must receive support quickly for restoring infrastructure and re-building the economy, he added. The European Union will support Georgia with 500 million euros over the next three years.
Foreign Minister Paet believes that it is essential to strengthen the EU's relations with Georgia. The union could begin negotiations for visa facilitation and free trade agreements before the end of this year.
In discussing the situation in Belarus, the EU foreign ministers acknowledged that developments towards democratisation are being made, in light of the release of the final hostages being held there. However, the European Union is still concerned about ensuring freedom of speech and human rights in Belarus. Urmas Paet stated that the foreign ministers will discuss the situation in Belarus again after the parliamentary elections on 28 September, and if possible they will begin to review the existing sanctions.
In its conclusions, the foreign ministers' council approved the plan to establish a European Union co-ordination centre in Brussels, so that member states could be co-ordinated in their efforts to combat piracy in Somalia and exchange information with one another.
The EU foreign ministers also discussed the situation in the Western Balkans, focusing primarily on developments in Serbia's co-operation with the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY), which is a pre-requisite for more intense co-operation with the European Union.
FOREIGN NEWS
Visa-Free Perspective for Ukraine is Essential
15 September - Foreign Minister Urmas Paet and the other Nordic and Baltic foreign ministers met with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Volodymyr Ogryzkoga on Sunday, 14 September. The meeting took place within the framework of the European Union General Affairs and External Relations Council (GAERC) meeting occurring in Brussels.
Foreign Minister Urmas Paet said it is very important that during the European Union-Ukraine summit on 9 September an EU-Ukraine visa dialogue was initiated with the goal of giving a visa-free travel perspective in the European Union to the citizens of Ukraine. Ukraine must also continue its homework and intensify co-operation regarding all immigration issues, in order to prevent immigration to the EU upon achieving visa freedom, noted Foreign Minister Paet. The Russia-Ukraine border must be regulated, emphasised Paet.
In the wake of the European Union-Ukraine summit, the foreign ministers discussed how to more effectively draw Ukraine closer to the European Union. We hope that the association agreement negotiations, which will strengthen co-operation in very different sectors, will continue successfully and reach a conclusion next year, said Foreign Minister Paet.
The foreign ministers of the Nordic and Baltic countries confirmed that Ukraine is a very important country for the European Union, and its efforts to implement reforms should be supported. The ministers feel that in order to have true co-operation with the European Union, it is essential that Ukraine can participate in European Union policies, programmes, and agency work.
Ukraine has shown its desire to work together through its readiness to participate in the observation missions projected for both Kosovo and Georgia.
President Ilves Met with Montenegrin Head of State
13 September - President Toomas Hendrik Ilves and Montenegrin Head of State Filip Vujanović discussed Montenegro's integration with Europe. President Ilves was in Montenegro on a working visit.
Europe will be stable and perfected once all the countries that wish to and are capable of living according to common values and rules are assembled in the European Union, the Estonian head of state said, affirming support for the continued enlargement of the Community.
The same applies to NATO-everyone who has the wish and ability to participate in building a stable world should have the opportunity to do so, President Ilves said.
Estonia has supported many of the reforms that have been carried out in Montenegro to date by sharing its experiences with specialists from the Ministry of Finance and the Border Guard, as well as those dealing with the statistical system, information technology, and the legal system.
The Montenegrin head of state thanked Estonia for its assistance so far and expressed hope that Estonia will continue to provide consultations on the development of governmental structures, as well as on the harmonisation of laws with the legislation of the European Union.
Baltic Foreign Ministers Met with NATO Secretary General
12 September - Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Paet, Latvian Foreign Minister Maris Riekstins, and Lithuanian Foreign Minister Petras Vaitiekūnas emphasised that Article V of the North Atlantic Treaty and collective defence are still the most important bases for NATO co-operation during their meeting with NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer in Riga.
After the meeting between the Baltic foreign ministers and the NATO Secretary General, Urmas Paet noted that within the framework of NATO's reformation process and developing its existing capabilities, more attention than ever before must be paid to the need for collective defence in NATO.
NATO member states are certain that Article V works. To show this, NATO's visibility in Estonia is important. Today we see it in the form of the air surveillance operation. There should be more similar programmes in the future, added Paet.
Estonian Foreign Minister Paet, Latvian Foreign Minister Riekstins, and Lithuanian Foreign Minister Vaitiekūnas met with NATO Secertary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer to discuss, among other things, the situation in Georgia and NATO-Russia relations.
The ministers also talked about collective defence and the topics that should be addressed in defence plans in order to ensure its effectiveness. These plans will be discussed further at the informal meeting of NATO defence ministers from 18-19 September, the foreign ministers' meeting in December, and at the 2009 NATO summit in the spring.
The meeting took place within the framework of the NATO secretary general's visit, during which he also visited the international mine-clearing operation Open Spirit 2008.
Ambassador Tiido Visits Afghanistan
15 September - Estonian Ambassador to Afghanistan Harri Tiido visited Afghanistan from 7-13 September. Ambassador Tiido met with Afghanistan's foreign minister, deputy economic minister, and opinion leaders, as well as special representatives of the UN, NATO, and the EU and the ambassadors of many other countries. Tiido also met with Estonia's civil experts and soldiers that are currently in Kabul.
The goal of the visit was to gather information and assessments of Afghanistan's security situation and private sector reform from Afghan leaders and the representatives from Western nations working in Afghanistan. Ambassador Tiido shared information about Estonia's own reforms and discussed possibilities for sharing more of Estonia's experiences in Afghanistan.
Afghan Foreign Minister Rangin Dadfar Spanta thanked Estonia for its contribution in building up Afghanistan. Ambassador Tiido passed along an invitation for the Afghan foreign minister to visit Estonia from Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Paet.
At their meeting, they also talked about the situation in Helmand province in Afghanistan. The activities of Helmand's governor Mangal are helping along with development in the province considerably, but he needs more support from Kabul, said Ambassador Tiido.
The Estonian ambassador to Afghanistan resides in Tallinn.
European Union Supported by 84 per cent of Citizens
11 September - According to the survey done by research company TNS Emor, support for Estonia's membership in the European Union remains consistently high in September of this year - 84 per cent of voting-age citizens of Estonia support membership. Support has remained at the same level since May 2007.
Estonia's membership in the European Union is not supported by 13 per cent of the people, and 3 per cent cannot answer the question.
The percentage of Estonians and other nationalities that are citizens of Estonia and support the European Union is equal.
The adoption of the common European currency in Estonia is supported by 47 per cent of all inhabitants aged 15-74. Among Estonians, the support for the Euro is higher (51 per cent) than among other nationalities (41 per cent).
There are fewer people opposed to the Euro than those who support the Euro - 45 per cent.
The level of support for the adoption of the Euro in Estonia was the highest at the end of 2007, when 52 per cent of all people aged 15-74 expressed their support.
TNS Emor conducted the phone survey between 2-9 September, among 500 people aged 15-74. 393 of these were voting-age citizens of the Republic of Estonia.
The survey was ordered by the State Chancellery.
The President of the Republic Recognised Olympic Medal Winners
16 September - President Toomas Hendrik Ilves received Gerd Kanter, who won gold medal at the Beijing Olympics, and Jüri Jaanson and Tõnu Endrekson, who won a silver medal, along with their coaches and family members.
It is hard to put your achievements into words. Only you, your coaches and families know the actual price of your medals. For the rest of us, allow us the opportunity to acknowledge and thank you, the head of state said. Therefore, I want to thank you-thank you once more for the proud feeling that your moments of victory generated in the people of Estonia.
According to President Ilves, the attitudes toward life, lifestyles and achievements embodied by the Olympic medal winners set an example for thousands of young people. This is the agreeable burden of an obligation that you certainly bear with pleasure. Because your status requires it of you, the president added.
The head of state said that 42-year-old Jüri Jaanson has a profound message for others-that strong desire, experience, and team spirit can destroy the most powerful age-related cliché that already labels an athlete an old master at the age of 35.
Gerd Kanter and Tõnu Endrekson, both 29, are reaching their maturity as top athletes, where it is the mental equilibrium, experience, and self-confidence of a winner that achieve success in the battles with ever younger competitors, the head of state stated.
A month ago in Beijing you already proved your winning character to the whole world and tens of thousands of fans in Estonia. Therefore, I wish you new Olympic victories four and eight years from now, President Ilves said.
I also want to thank the coaches, sports associations, supporters and the Estonian Olympic Committee. Two medals from the Olympic Games is a great achievement. This was achieved thanks to your help and behind-the-scenes work, the head of state said.
President Ilves presented a gift of a mini-sculpture of glass and stone by glass artist Jelena Kapparova to Gerd Kanter, Jüri Jaanson and Tõnu Endrekson.
You are strong men, like stones. The opportunity to win, on the other hand, is fragile like glass, and you had sufficient strength to seize the moment, the head of state said.
Estonian Residents Trust the Rescue Board
15 September - Of the various institutions of the state, residents in Estonia have the greatest trust in the Rescue Board, the border guard and the central bank, according to a survey by Turu-Uuringute AS.
These three institutions have the trust of 93 percent, 87 percent and 81 percent of residents of ages 15-74, respectively.
The police are trusted by 81 percent, the Tax and Customs Board by 78 percent and the defence forces by 76 percent. All these institutions have also enjoyed high trust ratings in previous surveys.
The president is trusted by 70 percent, the chancellor of justice by 68 percent, the State Audit Office by 66 percent of people, the European Union by 64 percent, local governments by 63 percent, courts by 63 percent, NATO by 61 percent and the church by 56 percent.
Of media, the public broadcasting company came ahead of private media by a wide margin of 18 points, having the trust of 73 percent of respondents compared with private media's 55 percent.
Like before, low trust ratings were scored by political parties (23 percent), parliament (43 percent), government (45 percent), NGOs (46 percent), the prime minister (48 percent) and trade unions (50 percent).
Trust in the government and the prime minister dropped to its lowest level in recent years in August. The parliament's rating suffered a slight fall early this spring and has since stayed at between 41-45 percent.
Ethnic Estonians have more trust in political institutions than Russian-speakers, the survey indicates. The sole exception to that rule are political parties, which are trusted equally little by both communities.
Estonian Minister Discusses Security with Former US Defence Secretary
12 September - Defense Minister Jaak Aaviksoo spoke about the security situation after the Russia-Georgia conflict with the visiting former US secretary of defence, William Perry.
At the meeting of Estonia's present and the USA's former defence minister, security policy issues and implications of the hostilities in Georgia were under discussion.
Aaviksoo said Perry asked him quite directly what the United States should do for the Georgian events not to recur and for Georgia to be able to continue developing on the road of its choice and what should be done to improve the security of the Baltic states.
The minister replied that from Estonia's point of view, the security situation should be reassessed and, based on changed risk evaluations, design adequate defence plans with regards to Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty.
Aaviksoo said this is also the message he will give to the NATO defence ministers at a meeting in London next week.
Perry served as secretary of defense of the Bill Clinton administration from 1994-1997. He is in Estonia on a private visit which is part of a tour of the Baltic states and Finland arranged by the alumni organisation of Stanford University.
Currency Rates in Kroons (Bank of Estonia)
Two Estonian Companies in Deloitte's 500 for Central Europe
11 September - Two companies from Estonia -- Tallink Grupp and Eesti Energia -- made it to the list of the 500 largest companies of Central Europe compiled by Deloitte.
On the scoreboard in which companies were ranked by their revenues in 2007, Tallink was in 228th place and Eesti Energia in 326th place.
The list was topped by the Polish energy giant PKN Orlen, with annual revenues of 16.9 billion euros, followed by the Hungarian energy group MOL and the Czech carmaker Skoda.
Companies that had posted 12-month revenues of more than one billion euros numbered 164.
There were five Latvian companies and seven Lithuanian companies in the Top 500 for Central Europe.
Hansabank Begins Name Change Process
15 September - Hansabank's switch to the name Swedbank has now begun.
The transition to the new common name and brand in all the three Baltic states is planned to be completed by fall 2009, the bank said.
Erkki Raasuke, the chief of Swedbank Group's Baltic operations, said the name change will involve no substantive changes for customers and employees.
In the coming months the bank's name and logo will be altered in online banking environments, signs on bank branches will be replaced, and the products will be advertised under Swedbank's name.
The bank's legal name will change in spring 2009.
Swedbank Group employs more than 22,000 people. The bank has more than nine million individual and half a million corporate customers on its home markets of Sweden, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.
The Swedish banking group acquired 100 percent of the shares in Hansabank in spring 2005.
The name change will cost around 10 million euros over a period of two years.
Nordea Aims to be in Top Three on Estonian Pension Market
15 September - Nordea Pank, which brought four pension funds to the market in Estonia, aims to become one of the three largest pension fund providers in the longer term.
The bank targets primarily young people entering the labour market as potential customers of its pension funds, as joining the second pillar of the pension system is mandatory for them. Every year more than 20,000 new employees enter the labour market in Estonia.
In addition, Nordea's pension funds target existing customers of the bank and also people who already are contributing into some pension fund but want to change it.
Another aim of the bank is for its pension funds to be among the three most successful ones in terms of yield as well.
CEO Vahur Kraft emphasised that Nordea is not late in entering the pension fund market, as the volume of local funds makes up around 5 percent of the gross domestic product compared to 66 percent in Finland.
The bank sees its network of offices and the Internet as the key sales channels of pension funds.
The funds offered in Estonia will be managed out of Finland by Olli Enqvist, who has 25 years of investment management experience. The bank feels that the system of global fund management gives Nordea a significant edge in competition. The fund manager is supported by a 300-strong investment team and independent experts from Standard & Poor's.
Nordea is currently the only provider of pension funds whose second-pillar pension funds do not carry an issuance fee.
The bank plans to start offering pension funds in Latvia and Lithuania soon as well.
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