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Estonian Review: 12-18 March, 2008
20.03.2008
FOREIGN NEWS
DEFENCE NEWS
ECONOMIC NEWS
SPORTS NEWS
FOREIGN NEWS
European Union Needs More Visible Presence in Afghanistan
Mar 14 - Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Paet participated in the European Union's Spring Council. At the meeting of foreign ministers, the situation in Afghanistan and EU-NATO co-operation were discussed.
Foreign Minister Urmas Paet emphasised that even though the European Union's contribution to Afghanistan's development and stabilisation is noteworthy, the residents of Afghanistan still know fairly little about it. We need to increase both our role and our visibility. The EU's presence must be felt so that everyone will know that the European Union takes its responsibilities very seriously, said Foreign Minister Paet. Then both the Afghan people and our international partners would have more confidence in our activities, he added.
The foreign minister also acknowledged that Estonia's experience in Helmand province has proved the importance of co-operation between military and civil forces is. Co-operation with the UN, NATO, the USA, and Afghanistan are equally important for co-ordinating our strategic plans. We need a comprehensive analysis based on what has already been done that produces an overview of possible future steps. By the Paris conference in June, there should be a uniform understanding of how the EU and other international organisations will move forward, Paet stated. He added that Afghanistan, like Kosovo, is a clear example of the necessity of EU-NATO co-operation. We need to overcome obstacles that have hindered this co-operation until now.
Estonian Foreign Minister Denounces Attacks against UN, NATO in Mitrovica
Mar 18 - Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Paet has condemned attacks in Mitrovica, Kosovo, against UN policemen and NATO forces.
"Attacks against international organisations are impermissible and we hope they will end," Paet said.
The minister's stance was provoked by Serb attacks against UN policemen and NATO forces in Mitrovica, where numerous representatives of the United Nations and NATO have been injured and a Ukrainian member of the United Nations police forces has been killed.
Paet said that it was important in these circumstances that the civilian mission of the European Union in Kosovo would launch its operations at the scheduled time and in the manner as it was planned.
Estonia is planning to despatch seven experts to the 2,000-strong police and justice mission in Kosovo.
Estonian experts will advise the newly independent country in police, border guarding, and tax and customs issues.
Paet underlined that in order to avoid a vacuum the United Nations should not retreat, but the UN police force must conclude their mandate.
According to a plan endorsed in February the EU will take over from the present UN mission in Kosovo duties connected with the police, judicial and civilian administration after the expiry of the 120-day transition period.
Estonian President: Missile Shield Should Cover All NATO Member Countries
Mar 18 - Estonian President Toomas Hendrik Ilves said a missile defence solution should be found that would cover the territories of all the NATO member countries.
Estonia expects a clear decision at the NATO Summit in Bucharest, which will implement the development of the political principles related to missile defence, as well as for the consultation mechanisms and burden-sharing, Ilves said during his conversation with his Polish colleague Lech Kaczynski. It is important that solutions also be found for the defence of those NATO allies in Europe who are not covered by the U.S. national defence system. Thus our goal should be a uniform integrated system that protects the entire NATO territory, the Estonian president added.
Ilves and Polish President Kaczynski, who paid a one-day visit to Estonia, adopted a joint declaration appealing to the governments of European countries to discuss the opportunity of setting up an international committee for the investigation of crimes against humanity committed under Communism and violation of human rights.
During the meeting bilateral relations, the future of Europe, NATO enlargement, EU neighbourhood policy, energy security, developments in Kosovo, international operations, and relations with Russia were discussed.
The presidents also expressed support to the continuation of NATO's open-doors policy. "Presuming that the candidate countries, Croatia, Macedonia and Albania, continue the necessary reforms, we are in favour of giving invitations for accession to all the three countries at the forthcoming NATO summit," Ilves said. "Neither should our enthusiasm wane in supporting Georgia's and Ukraine's further Euroatlantic integration, whereas third countries cannot have any, not even indirect right of veto over decisions of the alliance."
Speaking about energy security, Ilves and Kaczynski underlined that the European Union must speak in one voice about those issues. Ilves found it necessary that it should become obligatory to inform the European Commission and other member countries of security and energy supply security projects pertaining to the whole community.
Violence Cannot Solve the Situation in Tibet
Mar 18 - Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Paet has condemned the violence used in Tibet and underlined that use of force could not be a solution of the problem.
The minister said that the problem would have to be solved peacefully, by democratic means and dialogue in which both the Chinese central authorities and the Dalai Lama would take part.
When the situation in Tibet became tense Estonia asked for an explanation from the Chinese embassy in Tallinn and made an appeal to avoid from resorting to violence and to find solutions by means of dialogue.
Paet said that the next step after ending the violence for the Chinese central authorities would be coming to an understanding that smaller cultures and nations do not split the society but enrich it.
He added that unity of the international community in that issue would contribute to such a development, because economic and other interests must not dominate over human rights and democratic values.
Ansip: Estonia's Priority Is the Energy Security of the European Union
Mar 14 - The heads of the governments of the Member States of the European Union agreed on the main principles for shaping the climate and energy policy of the Union.
Prime Minister Andrus Ansip, who attended the summit, expressed his satisfaction with the developments in the European Union energy policy, stressing the importance of addressing the energy issues uniformly.
Estonia's priority is the energy security of the European Union, Ansip said. The establishment of the domestic energy market and gradual transition to low carbon economy increase both the competitiveness of the European Union economy as well as energy security. For Europe, it is important to decrease its energy dependency on third countries.
Based on the proposal by Estonia the European Council decided that the European Commission must take into account the situation and needs of small and isolated energy markets when shaping further measures.
Estonia is interested in preventing carbon leakage, that is, the transfer of high emission energy production to third countries, and the subjecting of electricity imports to clear rules, said Ansip.
Ansip stressed that unfair competition must not be allowed. In a situation where the energy producers of the European Union must purchase their entire carbon dioxide quota from auctions and third country producers do not have such obligation, the production of the latter is clearly more competitive.
Urmas Paet Met with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Vladimir Titov
Mar 12 - Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Paet met with Deputy Foreign Minister of Russia Vladimir Titov in Moscow.
The ministers talked about bilateral treaty projects, the 5th World Congress of Finno-Ugric Peoples taking place in Khanty-Mansi in June, and the Council of Baltic Sea States summit in Riga.
The bilateral agreements under discussion were the social insurance agreement, the agreement for the prevention of double taxation, the economic and trade co-operation agreement, the intergovernmental commission agreement, and the war graves protection agreement.
Foreign Minister Paet expressed hope that Estonia and Russia will continue to co-operate in order to expand the base of economic and social treaties. We are talking about co-operation between two nations that will benefit the citizens of both countries, said Paet.
Foreign Minister Paet was in Moscow for celebrations in honour of the 90th anniversary of the Republic of Estonia. In the evening, the minister participated in a formal concert in Moscow's Novaja Opera Theatre dedicated to Estonia's 90th anniversary and directed by Eri Klas.
The foreign minister also gave an interview to the radio station Ekho Moskvy. The minister said it was very important to spread truthful information about Estonia.
Estonia, Turkey Bound by Long-term Co-operation
Mar 17 - During his meeting with his Turkish colleague, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Estonian Prime Minister Andrus Ansip underlined that Estonia and Turkey were bound by long-term co-operation.
Diplomatic notes for the conclusion of the Estonian-Turkish visa agreement were exchanged. After the agreement enters into force Estonian citizens can stay visa-free in Turkey up to 90 days during half a year.
The prime ministers also discussed bilateral relations, enlargement of the European Union, and the forthcoming NATO summit in Bucharest. The same issues were considered during the meeting with Turkish President Abdullah Gul.
"Estonia and Turkey are distant geographically, but this does not set limits to good relations between the countries," Ansip said. He underlined that close relations between Estonia and Turkey were established already before World War II and now continued as those of allies in NATO.
The Estonian prime minister confirmed his country's support to further enlargement of the European Union.
"I believe that the fact how far the European Union enlarges depends above all on countries wishing and prepared to respect European values. Turkey has made its choice for movement in that direction. I am convinced that by the Estonian presidency in ten years' time membership of the European Union will have grown at the expense of new members," Ansip said.
The prime minister underlined that the scope of enlargement would above all depend on the candidate countries' own readiness, while the European Union should stick to earlier agreements.
Discussing central issues of the NATO summit, Ansip underlined that Georgia has made considerable achievements in approaching NATO to which a response should be due from NATO.
Erdogan emphasised that Turkey had always supported the policy of open doors in NATO. It was stated at the meeting that potential new members should be encouraged to move on and this should be taken into consideration in the position taken at the NATO summit in Bucharest in April.
Estonian Prime Minister Inaugurated the First Estonian ICT Showroom abroad
Mar 17 - The first Estonian ICT Showroom was inaugurated at the Estonian Embassy in Ankara, by Estonian Prime Minister Mr. Andrus Ansip during his official visit to Turkey.
This ICT Showroom is the first of its kind worldwide to be located in an embassy.
The aim of the showroom is to stimulate interest in Estonian ICT products and know-how (national ID-card, e-business-solutions, e-Government, e-Elections, wireless networking, etc.) among Turkish entrepreneurs and public institutions, and to promote further cooperation between Estonian and Turkish businesses working in this sector.
Prime Minister Ansip noted that this ICT showroom is a very good example of collaboration between the Estonian public and private sectors in promoting Estonian products and know-how abroad.
The opening of the Estonian ICT Showroom was organized by the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in cooperation with Artec Group.
Estonian Finance Minister Meets with President of World Bank
Mar 14 - Estonian Finance Minister Ivari Padar met in Iceland with Robert B. Zoellick, President of the World Bank, and discussed development co-operation with Nordic and Baltic countries' representatives of the World Bank.
Economic support to developing countries, issues connected with climate change, and giving women more right of economic decision were discussed in the framework of the annual meeting, the Finance Minister said.
During the meeting, Zoellick gave an overview of changes made in the bank, new strategic guidelines, and welcomed in his speech the Baltic countries' participation for the first time in financing the International Development Association.
The World Bank's role in issues connected with climate change was discussed in closer detail.
During the meeting the finance minister also met with Iceland's Finance Minister Arni Mathiesen and central bank governor Eirikur Gudnason. The countries' economic development and outlooks were discussed at the meetings. Padar said there were many common features in the development and problems in Iceland and Estonia and therefore exchange of experience was very useful.
The World Bank is a development bank, which has the aim of supporting countries with a low or average income by means of loans, strategic consultancy, technical assistance and experience above all in order to reduce poverty and improve the people's living standards.
Historian Norman Davies Receives Estonian State Decoration
Mar 15 - Estonian Ambassador to the United Kingdom Margus Laidre presented historian Ivor Norman Richard Davies with the Order of the Cross of St Mary's Land 3rd Class at the Estonian Embassy in London.
The high Estonian state decoration was bestowed on the distinguished Professor of the University of Oxford on the eve of the Estonian 90th Anniversary by the Estonian President Toomas Hendrik Ilves.
Ambassador Laidre stressed in his speech that this honorary award recognises Professor Davies's great work throughout the years. His research on Eastern-Europe has been particularly important explaining the past and present Europe. Professor Davies's approach to European history considers the continent as a whole for the first time, said the Ambassador.
Accepting the award Norman Davies thanked Estonia for the great honour.
Last autumn Professor Davies participated in the BBC World Service radio programme Europe Today which was guest edited by President Ilves. Davies commented on the impact of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact on Europe and the three Baltic countries.
DEFENCE NEWS
Poland Highly Interested in Estonia's Cyber Defence Activities
Mar 14 - The Polish Minister of National Defence Bogdan Klich, who was in Tallinn on one-day visit, confirmed his keen interest in the development of bilateral defence co-operation to his Estonian colleague.
Issues related to air policing of the Baltic States, NATO's collective missile defence, cyber security, European Union Battle Groups, and bilateral co-operation within the framework of the Baltic Defence College were discussed during the meeting with Jaak Aaviksoo.
According to Jaak Aaviksoo, Estonia and Poland have very close views regarding defence policy and have a rather common way of sensing the potential risks.
We highly value, both from a political and defence-related point of view, Poland's contribution to ensuring the air policing of the Baltic states. Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania are to start joint discussions to achieve full airspace control as of 2018. It's too early to mention any specific solutions but we do not exclude Poland's future participation in the project, said the Estonian Minister of Defence.
According to Bogdan Klich, the solution used for the purposes of air policing of the Baltic states within the NATO framework has established a strong bond between the countries, a bond that is worth developing. On the morning of 15th March, Poland officially took over the responsibility for ensuring the air policing of the Baltic states with four MiG-29 fighters from Norway.
As for the missile defence system, devised in Europe, Estonia sees having it developed according to NATO's collective defence principles as an important issue. Estonia sees the current development as positive and wants the future missile defence system to represent an essential part of the capability to protect all the NATO countries against possible threats, Aaviksoo said.
At the meeting, the Estonian Minister of Defence provided an overview of the preparations made for the establishment of NATO Centre of Excellence on Cooperative Cyber Defence in Estonia and invited his Polish colleague to join the project.
According to the Polish Minister of Defence, they are very interested both in Estonia's experiences with repelling cyber attacks and proposals regarding the development of the relevant capabilities of the armed forces.
When speaking about the European Union Battle Groups, both parties found that the battle groups represent an initiative important for the common security and defence policy of the EU. It was admitted that the principles for deploying these units need more explicit elaboration.
Poland's participation in the Baltic Defence College serves as a good example of bilateral defence-related co-operation between Estonia and Poland. According to the feedback given by the Polish students who studied in the college, the level of education provided by the college is very high. The Minister of National Defence Klich proposed to develop the co-operation between the Baltic Defence College and the relevant educational establishment of Poland, and above all, the National Defence Academy of Poland.
Bogdan Klich's programme for his visit to Estonia also involved a meeting with the chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Parliament Mikser, and the Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Matti Maasikas.
Eight Countries to Take Part in NATO Cyber Defence Centre in Estonia
Mar 17 - Eight countries will be taking part in the work of the cyber defence centre, while the posts of chief and chairman of the supervisory board will be filled by Estonians.
The countries are Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Italy, Germany, Spain, Slovakia and the United States.
In May defence forces commanders of these countries will sign a co-operation agreement on the establishment of the centre.
An Estonian representative will fill the post of chairman of the supervisory board of the cyber defence centre. According to non-official information Johannes Kert, currently the Estonian representative on the steering committee of the cyber defence centre will become chairman of the council.
An Estonian will also be appointed as chief of the cyber defence competence centre. As of August 1, the defence forces commander has appointed to the post Lt. Col. Ilmar Tamme.
Some countries that earlier said they did not want to take part in the work of the centre have recently shown interest in it.
The preliminary condition of the accreditation of the NATO competence centre is official participation of three member countries of the alliance and signing of an international co-operation agreement. The term of getting an accreditation to the centre is January 1, 2009.
Estonian Government Forms Northeast Defence District
Mar 13 - The Estonian government ruled to unite an artillery regiment, an antiaircraft battalion and a pioneer battalion based at Tapa and the Viru Infantry Battalion based in Jõhvi into one structure, the Northeast defence district.
The Northeast defence district will beside operational duties also fulfil training and administrative duties.
The proposal to the Defence Ministry to regulate the command structure of the armed forces came from the commander of the defence forces, Lt. Gen. Ants Laaneots.
The ministry said staffs of existing defence districts have no operational duties and the planning capability necessary for fulfilling them, units subordinated to them in peacetime and cohesion with higher command levels.
The establishment of the Northeast defence district creates a clear and simple structure which possesses clear subordination to the chief of the Army and units necessary for performing both wartime and peacetime duties.
So far both defence districts and the peacetime training centres in their territories were subordinated to the Army chief.
High hopes for the improvement of the mobilisation system are also pinned on the Northeast defence district. Plans are to bring both the keeping of reserve records and planning of mobilisation resource under the district staff.
The formation of the Northeast defence district is a pilot project. If it gets successfully off the ground similar reforms will be carried out next year in the West, South and North defence districts.
ECONOMIC NEWS
Currency Rates in Kroons
(Bank of Estonia)
Estonia's Bauhof Plans to Invest Over 50 Million in Lithuania
Mar 17 - The Estonian building and gardening supplies vendor Bauhof plans to invest this year more than 50 million kroons in expanding in Lithuania.
Bauhof plans to open at least eight stores in Lithuania in coming years and has already concluded contracts on the construction of the buildings, the company said.
In managing director Mart Vau's judgment, Lithuanians' interest in the market newcomer is high. "Bauhof adheres to the classical do-it-yourself concept widespread in Europe, and we believe it will go down well on the Lithuanian market," he said.
Bauhof's first Lithuanian store at Panevezys opened at the weekend. The next two stores selling building materials and gardening supplies will according to plan start work in Siauliau in the summer and in Klaipeda in the fall. Bauhof expects to open its first store in Latvia in the first half of 2009.
The company earlier announced plans to open more than 20 stores in Lithuania in the next three years and become the largest building materials supplier in the Baltic states.
The turnover of Ehitus Service OÜ operating under the Bauhof trademark was 1.013 billion kroons last year. The company belongs to the Swedish Askembla Asset Management and Nemor Invest of Estonia. Bauhof gives work to about 500 people.
Number of Outgoing Tourists Climbs 8 Percent in 2007
Mar 18 - The number of residents who used the services of tour operators and travel agencies in Estonia to travel abroad in 2007 climbed 8 percent year on year to nearly 515,600 people, it appears from figures supplied by the Statistical Office.
The number was 125,000 in the first quarter, 133,000 in the second quarter, 140,000 in the third quarter and 117,000 in the fourth quarter of the year.
Of countries of destination, Finland topped the list with 96,600 visitors served by Estonian travel agencies and tour operators during the year. Next was Egypt with 41,200, Sweden with 31,700 and Greece with 27,700 visitors. More than 20,000 Estonians visited also Spain, Latvia, Germany and Turkey.
Outgoing visitors served by Estonian travel agencies and tour operators spent overall 2.8 million days on travel.
Estonian Banks Earn 575 Million Profit in Two Months
Mar 17 - Estonian commercial banks made in the first two months of this year a combined profit of 575 million kroons.
The banks' profit in January was 273.7 million kroons, while net profit in the first two months of 2007 totalled 804.6 million kroons.
The banks' assets grew by 800 million kroons during February, totalling 322.5 billion kroons at the end of the month. In January assets increased by more than a billion kroons.
Banks' claims on customers declined by roughly 6.5 billion kroons last month to 253.1 billion kroons. Clients' deposits in commercial banks stood at 143 billion kroons at the end of February.
SPORTS NEWS
Prime Minister Ansip Raced the First Turkish Ski Marathon
Mar 16 - Prime Minister Andrus Ansip raced the first ski marathon in the history of Turkey in Anatolia, Arkut Mountains, and finished eleventh.
The marathon track ran through wonderful nature and amazing views. I hope that in Turkey, with such snow in the mountains for an average of five months a year, skiing will become a more popular field of sports, said Ansip after racing the 35 km track. The Prime Minister expressed hope that the marathon will become a tradition in Turkey, and that the Anatolian Ski Marathon could become a member of the Worldloppet series.
The first ski marathon in Turkey was won by Martti Himma, member of the Estonian national youth team, and second place was taken by Teet Jagomägi, who was a member of the business delegation during the visit of the Prime Minister. Third place was awarded to Turkish ski trainer Fikret Ören.
The marathon was also attended by several Estonian diplomats, including the Estonian Ambassador in Turkey, Märt Volmer, and Ambassador in Greece, Peep Jahilo.
The Anatolian Ski Marathon in Gerede was held in classic style and distances were 35 and 20 kilometres. The track ran in the central mountains between 1700 and 1800 metres.
The marathon was organised by Jaanus Teppan, who is training the Turkish national ski team, in co-operation with the Estonian Embassy. The purpose of the marathon was to introduce our skiing traditions within the framework of the celebrations of the 90th Anniversary of the Republic of Estonia.
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