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Estonian Review: 9-15 April, 2008
18.04.2008
FOREIGN NEWS
DEFENCE NEWS
ECONOMIC NEWS
FOREIGN NEWS
Estonian and Danish Prime Ministers Hope for Lisbon Treaty to Enter into Force
Apr 11 - Estonian Prime Minister Andrus Ansip met with his Danish colleague Anders Fogh Rasmussen, with whom the main topics of discussion were the ratification of the Lisbon Treaty in the Member States, the European Union Climate and Energy Package, and in relation thereto, the goals of the UN Climate Conference that will take place next year in Copenhagen.
The results of the NATO summit held in Bucharest, as well as the NATO mission in Afghanistan were also discussed.
When talking about the ratification of the Lisbon Treaty, Andrus Ansip expressed hope that the Riigikogu will ratify the Treaty during the spring session. On 9 April, the first reading of the draft act for the ratification of the Treaty was held at the Parliament. The government heads of both countries stated that the successful ratification of the Treaty allows for continuing with the institutional reform of the European Union, which is in the interests of all Member States and a strong European Union.
The issues related to the energy and climate package covered at the council of the European Union held in March were also discussed in detail. Andrus Ansip explained to his Danish colleagues the positions of Estonia in relation to the change in the system for greenhouse gas distribution quotas as of the year 2013. Estonia supports the goals set in the Energy and Climate Package. We must also keep the energy security of the region in mind, Ansip noted. Rasmussen said he understands the Estonian position on energy security. Rasmussen also stated that Denmark sets high hopes for the Climate Conference to be held in December of next year in Copenhagen, where an environmental agreement to replace the Kyoto Protocol is planned to be adopted. The goals that Denmark sets for promoting environmental care are very high, said Rasmussen. Andrus Ansip stated that Estonia regards the reduction of the pollution of the environment as an important goal.
Estonia Supports the Clearing of Land Mines in Afghanistan with 200,000 Kroons
Apr 10 - The Estonian Foreign Ministry donated 200,000 kroons to the UN Voluntary Trust Fund for Assistance in Mine Action. The sum was allocated from the Foreign Ministry's budget for membership fees in international organisations.
Afghanistan is one of the most mine-damaged countries in the world, said Foreign Minister Urmas Paet. By donating to the demining efforts, Estonia is supporting the restoration of a normal and safe living environment, he added. An estimated 700 million square meters of ground in Afghanistan are covered by mines and other undetonated explosives. In accordance with the Ottawa Convention, which forbids the use, storage, production and passing on of infantry mines and requires their destruction, Afghanistan must clear its mine fields by 2013.
Estonia has actively contributed to Ottawa Convention efforts in recent years. From 2003-2007, an Estonian rescue team worked to clear mine fields in Afghanistan. In 2006 Estonia was a co-reviewer on the Ottawa Convention's stockpile destruction committee, and in 2007 Estonia served as co-chairman of the same committee.
Estonia Opened third Honorary Consulate in Brazil
Apr 16 - Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Paet opened the new Estonian Honorary Consulate in Rio de Janeiro on Wednesday, 16 April. Estonia's honorary consul in Rio de Janeiro is Oskar Metsavaht.
At the opening of the honorary consulate, Foreign Minister Paet emphasised the importance of honorary consuls in countries where Estonia does not have diplomatic representation. Estonia is now more visible in Brazil, said Paet. Estonia currently has three honorary consuls in Brazil, which is becoming more and more popular as a travel destination for Estonians. These consuls help to intensify the economic and cultural ties between the two countries, Paet added.
Oskar Metsavaht was born in Caxias do Sulis in 1961. He graduated from the University of Rio de Janeiro with a degree in medicine and worked as a sports doctor. Metsavaht has been involved in entrepreneurial endeavours for over 20 years, as he is the owner of the well-known company Osklen, which produces sports clothing in Brazil. Oskar Metsavaht has also been Brazil's representative in UNESCO and is currently vice chairman of the Association of Entrepreneurial Friends of UNESCO.
Brazil is one of the few countries in South America where Estonia opened an honorary consulate already in the 1930's. In addition to Oskar Metsavaht, there are two other Estonian honorary consuls in Brazil-Jüri Saukas in the consular region of Sao Paolo and Parana, and Flemming Patrick Rickfors in Santos.
During his visit to Brazil, Paet also met with his Brazilian colleague Celso Amorimi. Paet raised the subject of reciprocal visa freedom, since at the moment Estonian citizens need visas in order to visit Brazil, but Brazilians are not required to have visas to visit Estonia. The ministers agreed that this issue should be resolved as soon as possible. They expressed hope that an answer would come quickly from co-operation between the European Union and Brazil, and that Estonian citizens would be granted the chance to travel visa-free to Brazil.
The foreign ministers also touched upon environmentally friendly renewable energy sources, such as bio fuels and hydropower, as well as issues related to climate change. They also spoke about the development of the strategic partnership between the European Union and Brazil and the desire of Latin American nations to create a union similar to the EU called UNASUR (Union of South American Nations).
Estonia Assumes Chairmanship of OSCE Security Cooperation Council
Apr 9 - Estonia opened its period of chairmanship of the security cooperation council of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).
The period of Estonian chairmanship was opened at a session of the council in Vienna by Defence Ministry Secretary-General Lauri Almann.
The main issues of Estonian chairmanship are dealing with the traditional issues on the agenda of the council, strengthening the security dialogue in spheres important for OSCE and improvement of the application of existing solutions and treaties.
Besides, preparations to the annual OSCE security review conference and to the ministerial council to take place in Finland in the fall will be addressed during period of Estonian chairmanship.
In addition to these traditional issues Estonia is planning to raise the cyber security issue in the OSCE during its chairmanship. Estonia wishes to raise member countries' awareness of the threat and explain what the role of OSCE could be in fighting cyber dangers.
The period of Estonian chairmanship of the OSCE security cooperation council will last until August. For the period of the Estonian chairmanship the Defence Ministry dispatched to the Estonian permanent representation at OSCE in Vienna its expert Kai-Helin Kaldas.
The spheres of activity of the security cooperation council are promoting arms control, reduction of arms, confidence and security building measures, security cooperation and anticipation of conflicts.
Periods of chairmanship of the council are divided between three countries every year and they closely cooperate with each other. From this January to March the council was chaired by Spain and Finland will take over the chairmanship from Estonia in September.
President Ilves: Closer Cooperation Between Member States will Guarantee the Competitiveness of the European Union
Apr 14 - During his visit to Ireland, President Toomas Hendrik Ilves met with Prime Minister Bertie Ahern, which focused on the Lisbon Treaty, the European Union's global competitiveness and neighbourhood relations, as well as issues related to energy security and climate change.
Speaking of the Lisbon Treaty, President Ilves stressed that a smooth ratification process is in the interests of all the member states. Whereas, he believes that the greatest challenge finding a balance within the European Union leadership- the President of the European Council, the Union's highest representative for the foreign and security affairs, and the President of the Commission. It should be considered that the first distribution of roles will create a precedent for the future, President Ilves said, adding that for Estonia, like for other smaller countries, it is important that a geographic and demographic balance is found and that the roles of these institutions are not duplicated.
Speaking about increasing the competitiveness of the European Union, President Ilves and Prime Minister Ahern recognized that there is no clear vision of how to proceed after 2010 when the current strategy ends.
Estonia feels it is important to increase the competitiveness of all European Union regions through closer cooperation and more thorough integration, President Ilves said, therefore we plan to actively contribute to the intensification of cooperation in the Baltic Sea Region.
At the meeting between the Estonian Head of State and Irish Prime Minister, energy- and climate-related topics were also under discussion. President Ilves stressed that the energy security of the European Union is directed related to energy and climate policies. The import of electricity from third countries is one of the main risks for the domestic market and security of the European Union, the President noted, adding that this is closely related to global climate negotiations. In a situation where, in the future, the European Union's energy producers must buy their entire CO2 quota at auction and third country producers do not have such an obligation, the production of third countries will clearly be more competitive.
After the discussion and lunch with Bertie Ahern, President Ilves had meetings with Senator Pat Moylan, Chairman of the Senate, and Brendan Howling, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives.
This evening, Irish President Mary McAleese will organize an official dinner in honour of President Ilves and Evelin Ilves.
President Opens Estonian Business Seminar in Dublin
Apr 15 - Estonian President Toomas Hendrik Ilves inaugurated a business seminar titled "Doing Business in Estonia" in Dublin.
"When an Estonian business delegation meets in another country with entrepreneurs of the same scope it is a big thing in itself, as they see what our mentality, understanding of the world and economic policy is, and this in turn will deepen trust in Estonia as an investment environment," The president of the Estonian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Toomas Luman said.
He said that Irish investments in Estonia are modest at this point if compared with those of Finland, Sweden or major European nations. Investments now are limited mostly to the sectors of wood and agriculture, whereas the volume of direct trade is small too owing to the long distance.
Luman said he sees cooperation in the tourism and IT sectors as having big potential.
"I believe that Estonia is an interesting destination for the Irish, just like Ireland is for Estonians," he said, adding that this could be attributed to a similar mentality and history.
Also visiting Ireland is Bank of Estonia governor Andres Lipstok, who met with the governor of the Bank of Ireland, John Hurley.
Estonian MPs Promise Support to Burmese Monks
Apr 11 - Members of the Estonian parliament who met with Burmese months expressed readiness to raise the Burmese issue in international organizations.
Chairman of the foreign affairs committee Sven Mikser, chairman of the all-party Burma group Silver Meikar and deputy chairman of the group Andres Herkel who met with the Burmese monks Sadayaw U Panya Vamsa and Ashim Sopka, promised to indicate to mass violation of human rights and repressions in that South-East Asian country.
"It is important for Estonia to support all initiatives against the Burmese junta and to raise the Burmese issue in the human rights dialogue between the European Union and China," Meikar said. "The role of China is the biggest in that the Burmese junta can carry out its blood-thirsty politics."
The Burmese monks and Maureeen Aung-Thwin, leader of the Burmese project of the Open Society Institute's Asian initiative, referred to a referendum being planned in Burma for the endorsement of a new constitution, which in their opinion will not bring any democratic changes in Burma and which democratic forces should therefore not support.
They also said it was necessary to prevent the sale of arms to the Burmese junta. According to their statements, mainly China, but among others also Russia supplies Burma with weapons.
The visitors also referred to the fact that after the disturbances started by Burmese monks about 2,000 monks are missing until today, with nothing known about them.
Also an incident involving 121 Burmese who fled to Thailand, but of whom 54 died from suffocation in a refrigerator truck and 21 were injured in the inhuman conditions.
The Burmese are in Estonia at the invitation of the Open Estonia Foundation.
Mart Laar Awarded Turgot Prize
Apr 10 - At a festive ceremony at the French Senate foremer Estonian Prime Minister Mart Laar, was awarded the Liberty Prize conferred on him by the Turgot Institute.
Laar was awarded the prize for Estonia's radical and successful economic reforms, which have been used as a model also in other transition countries, as well as for his activity as adviser of Georgia's economic renewal.
In his speech at the reception of the prize Mart Laar said that the main thing one needs to carry out radical and successful reforms is the courage to decide.
He said that unfortunately courage had been replaced by political correctness in the Western world. "If the fall of the Soviet empire largely began from Ronald Reagan's courage to call it with its right name, the empire of evil, then in today's Europe people are even afraid to speak in a loud voice about crimes of Communism, referring to them as "crimes of totalitarianism," Laar said.
"Political correctness has become a real danger to the future of the West, it is taking more and more courage to break through it," he added.
The Turgot Institute Prize was this year awarded also to former French President Edouard Balladur, Peruvian economist Hernando de Soto and Peruvian writer Mario Vargas Llosa.
Anne Robert Jacques Turgot (1727-1781) was the head of French finances in 1774-1776 whose aim was transition from regulated economy to free market economy. During his period of services he managed to do away with guilds and scrap interior customs barriers in grain trade.
Moldova Planning to Open Embassy in Estonia
Apr 11 - Moldova is soon planning to open an embassy in Tallinn; at present the ambassador resides in Riga.
During a visit of the European affairs committee of the Estonian parliament to Moldova this week Andrei Stratani, the foreign and European integration minister confirmed Moldova's intention to the Estonian delegation.
The present Moldovan ambassador to Estonia, Eduard Melnic, resides in Riga and the Estonian ambassador to Moldova Jaan Hein in Kiev.
The parliament's delegation visited Chisinau in order to discuss with Moldovan politicians cooperation between the two countries, considering Estonia's reform experience and integration with the EU and NATO.
The parties represented in the Moldovan parliament agree in the need of accession to the European Union, while there is no unity in the NATO issue.
Marko Mihkelson, chairman of the parliament's European affairs committee, invited members of the respective Moldovan committee to Estonia in order to get acquainted with the work of the Estonian parliament and cooperation between the parliament and the government in settling European issues.
Montenegrin Ambassador Hands over Credentials in Estonia
Apr 9 - The Montenegrin Ambassador to Estonia Milorad Scepanovic, who is also deputy foreign minister of the country, handed over his credentials to Estonian president Toomas Hendrik Ilves.
The president expressed delight at Montenegro's decision to appoint an ambassador to Estonia saying that the move would certainly bring the two countries closer to each other.
"The relations between Estonia and Montenegro are good in all respects but there is room for closer contact at all levels. Our economic relations are certainly in need of revival," Ilves said.
He said opening of a Montenegrin representation in Tallinn would contribute to this.
Ambassador Scepanovic resides in the Montenegrin capital of Podgorica.
Montenegro, which earlier formed a joint state with Serbia, declared its independence on June 3, 2006 after 55.5 percent of participants in a referendum had supported independence of the country.
On Jun 13, 2006 Estonia established diplomatic relations with Montenegro, becoming the first world country to do so, and appointed its ambassador to the country. The Estonian ambassador to Montenegro is Karin Jaani who resides in Tallinn.
DEFENCE NEWS
Nearly Three in Four Estonians Support Membership in NATO
Apr 10 - Estonia's membership in NATO is supported by 73 percent of Estonian residents, whereas among ethnic Estonians 90 percent are in favour of the country being a member of the alliance.
The pollsters say that support to membership in NATO had been rather stable during the past two or three years. In the last four years support has fluctuated between 78 and 71 percent.
ECONOMIC NEWS
Currency Rates in Kroons
(Bank of Estonia)
Number of Foreign Tourists Staying in Estonian Accommodation Establishments up in February
Apr 15 - In February 72,000 foreign tourists stayed in Estonian accommodation establishments, which is 7,000 more than in the same month last year, Statistics Estonia reports.
Compared to February 2007, the number of tourists from Finland, Russia, Latvia and Lithuania increased, the statistical office said.
Typically of winter months, Estonian residents made up half of accommodated tourists. Their number grew by about 4,000 compared to February 2007.
In February 678 accommodation establishments with 16,200 rooms and 34,400 beds were available to tourists.
Frozen Foods Maker Premia Group's Q1 Sales up 50 Percent on Year
Apr 15 - Sales of the frozen foods maker Premia Tallinna Külmhoone Grupp totalled 143.6 million kroons (EUR 9.2 mln) in the first quarter of this year, up by 50 percent from the same period in 2007.
First-quarter sales of the Estonia-based Premia Tallinna Külmhoone were 86.4 million kroons, the company said.
"The growth originated mostly in Latvia and it's the Latvian market where we see potential for future growth as well. Premia maintains the leading position on the Estonian ice cream market with a share of 40 percent and our lead over Balbiino in second position is by now already 10 percent. In Lithuania we're staying on course with a 25 percent market share," CEO of Premia Tallinna Külmhoone Kuldar Leis said.
The Premia Tallinna Külmhoone group belongs since December 2005 to Amber Trust II S.C.A. and the management of the company.
Eesti Energia Braces for Selection of Route for Estlink 2
Apr 10 - The Eesti Energia transmission network subsidiary Põhivõrk (Main Grid) has launched a tender to find a consultant who would help it with preparations for laying a second underwater power cable between Estonia and Finland.
According to the invitation to tender, the consultant must make the selection in principle as regards the route of Estlink 2, draw up the tender documents for a sea bottom survey, advise the company on matters regarding maritime surveys and obtain the necessary base data.
Estlink 2 is planned to have a capacity of 635 megawatts and cost approximately 250 million euros. It is due to be completed in 2013.
The first such cable, the 350-megawatt Estlink 1, went into operation in early 2007.
Narva Power Plants to Start Using Bio Fuel
Apr 10 - AS Narva Elektrijaamad (Narva Power Plants), the electricity generating subsidiary of the Estonian state-owned energy group Eesti Energia, is planning to start burning biofuel in combination with oil shale at one of its two large power plants.
Ando Leppiman, director of the unit for renewable energy at Eesti Energia, said that the new generating unit using the circulating fluidized bed technololgy at the Baltic Power Plant is suitable for burning fuel of low combustion value and that up to 10 percent of bio fuel can be burned alongside oil shale in its furnaces.
Given that the electricity output capacity of the reconstructed generating unit is 215 megawatts, implementation of the plan would provide Estonia additionally with more than 20 megawatts of capacity based on renewable sources of energy.
Besides, an estimated 150,000 tons less oil shale would be needed annually.
It would create a stable and long-term demand on the market for wood chips and other low-value biomass.
The Baltic Power Plant, one of the Eesti Energia generating subsidiary's two large oil shale fueled power stations in the Narva area, works in an electricity and thermal power co-generation regime for most of the year, supplying the border city of Narva with thermal energy. The share of Bio fuel in Estonia's energy production currently is about 10-12 percent.
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