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Estonian Review: 12-20 September, 2007
24.09.2007
TOP NEWS
FOREIGN NEWS
DEFENCE NEWS
DOMESTIC NEWS
ECONOMIC NEWS
TOP NEWS
Government Refused Survey for Gas Pipeline
Sep 20 - Estonia refused to give Nord Stream a permission to conduct an undersea survey.
According to North Stream's request, the planned extensive surveys would cover a large part of Estonia's exclusive economic zone and continental shelf in the Gulf of Finland. Also, the survey area extends into the territorial waters of the Republic of Estonia. Since studies of the continental shelf also require drilling and would provide information on the amount and utilisation possibilities of Estonia's natural resources, the state has the right to refuse to give permission for the surveys.
First of all, the laws allow us not to grant permission if drilling is involved, Foreign Minister Urmas Paet said. Specialists have assessed that there would be drilling and use of drilling machinery in the course of the survey. The second reason is that the survey would provide information on the amount and utilisation possibilities of Estonia's natural resources which is also a basis for forbidding the survey, Paet explained.
The third reason is that, taking into account the coordinates provided by Nord Stream, part of the survey area would have been in Estonian territorial waters. In this case the coastal nation has complete sovereignty and the right to forbid surveying work.
We have also repeatedly said, is that the proper search for an alternative is not to look for another route through the Baltic Sea, he continued. Taking into account the fact that the International Maritime Organization has certified the Baltic Sea as a sensitive sea region, our stance is that the best solution for this project is not for it to go through the Baltic Sea, but to go over the mainland, and such possibilities must be studied.
Nord Stream AG submitted the application for a survey permit in the exclusive economic zone to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 31 May 2007. Estonian government has time to respond to the request until the end of September.
FOREIGN NEWS
New Ambassador to the United States Presents Credentials
Sep 18 - The new Estonian ambassador to the United States, Väino Reinart presented his credentials to President George W. Bush.
In the conversation that followed the ceremony, Bush and Reinart spoke about relations between the countries, including matters related to visa-freedom, possibilities for cooperation on international missions, and relations between the European Union and the United States.
The president and the ambassador stated that relations between Estonia and the United States have been good and close throughout the 85-year history of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
Reinart thanked the United States for the cooperation of so far and expressed hope that as a result of common efforts visa-free travel for Estonian nationals to the United States will become possible already in the near future.
The US president voiced appreciation of the activity of Estonia on the NATO operations in Afghanistan and Kosovo as well as on the mission in Iraq, describing Estonia as a good and reliable ally.
Bush also recalled his visit to Estonia in November 2006, adding that Estonia has been successful in carrying out reforms and can now support new democracies by sharing its experience.
The Estonian president appointed Reinart as ambassador to the United States in June.
Reinart came to work as adviser at the Foreign Ministry in 1992. In 1994 he became director of the first political office and in 1995 adviser of the political department.
In 1995-1999 Reinart was Estonian ambassador to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe in Vienna, in 1991-2001 he worked as director-general of the Foreign Ministry political department and was deputy secretary-general of political issues in 2001-2002.
From 2002 onwards Reinart served as Estonia's ambassador to the EU in Brussels. President Toomas Hendrik Ilves has also signed an order to appoint Reinart as Estonia's ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary to Mexico, in which post he will serve based in Washington.
Estonian President, Speaker of Czech Senate Discussed Cooperation
Sep 13 - Estonian President Toomas Hendrik Ilves and the president of the Czech Senate, Premysl Sobotka, during their meeting in Tallinn discussed cooperation between the two countries in the European Union and NATO.
Among other things, the participation of the Czech Republic in the missile shield to be set up by the United States was talked about.
Relations between Estonia and the Czech Republic have historically been very good and the two countries are also linked together by similar foreign policy priorities in the process of enlargement of the European Union and NATO, Ilves said.
Ilves highlighted the need for a common energy policy of the EU as one guarantee of security.
"Only when the energy market has been liberalized and opened to competition will the European Union be able to negotiate with one voice with the countries from which energy is being bought," the president said.
Ilves and Sobotka both said that matters of history need to be opened up in more detail and the sufferings caused by communism have to be brought to light.
"In view of all the people who had to suffer from the crimes of communism, the sole right step would be to condemn communism on the international level," Ilves said.
Sobotka also met during his stay in Estonia with Prime Minister Andrus Ansip and speaker of the parliament Ene Ergma.
Estonia in Favour of Visa Facilitation Agreement with Georgia
Sep 14 - Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Paet said Estonia was in favour of starting talks over a visa facilitation agreement with Georgia.
"The European Union should launch talks on the issue of a visa facilitation agreement with Georgia as soon as possible, as it benefits both the sides," Paet said at a meeting of Georgia's Friends in Vilnius.
The foreign minister added that strengthening of contacts between people was essential also for the growth of mutual credibility between the European Union and its neighbours.
Foreign Ministers of the Georgia's Friends group of countries also discussed Georgia's aspirations to accede to the European Union and NATO and solution of Georgia's frozen conflicts.
Paet said that Estonia was in favour of granting the NATO Membership Action Plan (MSP) to Georgia already at the next NATO summit in Bucharest.
"Georgia has been carrying out successful reforms and MAP would be a significant sign of NATO support and future plans," he said.
Paet added that the so-called frozen conflicts, or the issue of Southern Ossetia and Abkhazia, should not become an inhibiting pretext in Georgia's further integration with NATO.
The aim of the Georgia's Friends group of countries set up in 2004 is to help Georgia in aspirations on the NATO and European Union course. Other members of the group are Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, Romania, Bulgaria, Sweden and the Czech Republic.
Georgian, Estonian Border Guard Authorities Signed Cooperation Accord
Sep 18 - The director general of the Georgian border police, Badri Bitsadze, paid a visit to Estonia to sign a cooperation agreement with the Estonian border guard.
Bitsadze and his Estonian counterpart, Roland Peets, visited the Estonian border guard college at Muraste near Tallinn, the Narva border guard base and a road border checkpoint.
The Georgian guest also visited the headquarters of the Border Guard Board and the centres for operational information and maritime surveillance.
The cooperation agreement on exchanges of know-how and information in various areas related to border control was signed.
DEFENCE NEWS
Germany Ready to Take Part in Activity of Centre for Cyber Defence in Estonia
Sep 18 - Germany's defence chief Gen. Wolfgang Schneiderhan, who paid a visit to Tartu as part of his working trip to Estonia, said Germany was ready to take part in the work in the NATO Centre of Excellence in Cooperative Cyber Defence to be set up in Estonia.
Meeting with the German general, commander of the Estonian defence forces Maj. Gen. Ants Laaneots offered an overview of Estonia's national defence and its directions of development.
Gen. Schneiderhan expressed support for the plan to develop the Estonian national centre for cyber defence into an NATO centre of excellence. He also expressed readiness on the part of Germany to contribute to the activity of the centre of excellence.
The parties stated that constructive cooperation between the countries continues both in officer training as well as in the area of equipment. Germany will continue sending its experts to teach at the Baltic Defence College in Tartu and supporting Estonia in the training of ground intercept controllers.
Gen. Schneiderhan also spoke at an international conference on Baltic defence issues in Tartu, focusing on the political and strategic goals of NATO in Afghanistan.
NATO Assistant Secretary General Backs Centre of Excellence in Estonia
Sep 17 - Commander of the defence forces Maj. Gen. Ants Laaneots presented to Peter C. W. Flory, NATO assistant secretary general for defence investment, the priorities of development of the Estonian defence forces and spoke about the establishment of a NATO centre of excellence on cyber defence here.
"The NATO assistant secretary general supported the plan of Estonia to develop the national centre for cyber defence into a NATO centre of excellence," Laaneots said.
Flory voiced appreciation of Estonia's rapid and adequate response during the attacks of late April, stressed the importance of the topic and promised to do everything on his part so that as many countries as possible would join the project of the NATO Centre of Excellence on Cooperative Cyber Defence.
The commander of the Estonian armed forces spoke to the visiting NATO assistant secretary general about the resources available to the Estonian defence forces and the equipment used in operations. Also talked about were the security situation in Europe and the NATO decision making mechanism.
The centre of excellence would be an international organization established within the framework of the NATO transformation program, the goal of which would be to promote cooperation in cyber defence between NATO and its member states as well as to set out the principles and implementation environment for conducting cyber defence.
Baltic Defence Ministers Signed Three Memorandums
Sep 14 - The defence ministers of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania signed three memorandums on defence cooperation among the Baltic countries.
Meeting in Kuressaare, capital of the Estonian island of Saaremaa, the ministers spoke about matters related to Baltic defence cooperation, air policing, joint procurements, and operations.
They also signed three extensive memorandums of understanding regulating the development of Baltic defence cooperation.
One of the memorandums deals with the organization of the work of the Baltic defence college, the other with air policing and the third with development of the Baltic battalion.
The ministers also signed a joint communiqué setting out guidelines for further work on the cooperation projects.
The previous meeting of Baltic defence ministers took place in Panevezys, Lithuania, in January this year.
DOMESTIC NEWS
President Ilves: The Victims of Communism Deserve Commemoration and Remembrance
Sep 18 - "I am proud, extremely proud, of the Otto Tief government. In the name of democracy and freedom they met their pre-determined fate, so that no one in the future could say that Tallinn was "liberated" in September of 1944. That the flag that the Red Army tore down from Tall Hermann Tower was the Estonian blue-black-and-white, not the Nazi swastika," said President Toomas Hendrik Ilves at the opening of a photo exhibition of the members of the Otto Tief government.
He recalled the Atlantic Charter announced by Franklin Roosevelt and Winston Churchill on August 14, 1941, which enumerated the principles of the Western Allies in case of their possible victory, and declared that they recognize the right of all peoples to decide their own system of government and to determine their own fate.
This declaration was very important to the occupied nations. It provided hope for restoring lost independence. It resulted in the belief that help would arrive from the Western Allies, said President Ilves.
The fate of the National Committee formed in February 1944 and the members of the Tief government that assumed office in September 1944 is very symbolic of the situation at the time, said the Head of State. First they were arrested by the German authorities. Thereafter, those who were not able to escape were arrested by the NKVD, some were killed, the rest imprisoned. Those who returned alive from Siberia suffered restrictions of their civic rights.
Seeing the fates of Estonia's democrats, there was no difference between the Nazis and Communists, said President Ilves. Neither tolerated Estonia or democracy, he said.
In his speech, the Head of State recommended that the Estonian state and people focus on how to immortalize the memory of the people who remained loyal to their professional and military oaths, ideals of the nation, freedom, democracy and independence, and who were therefore repressed.
I repeat my appeal to establish an honourable memorial to the tens of thousands who were victims of Communism in Estonia. Not only to the victims of Stalinism, because this would nullify the suffering of those who were imprisoned, repressed, and persecuted between 1953 and 1988.
Unfortunately, we still do not know the names of all the victims. Our job is to find out and chisel them in stone. By name. said President Ilves. I know that this is a very extensive undertaking. But the victims deserve it.
EU Science Commissioner Commends Estonia for Success
Sep 14 - Meeting with Estonian Prime Minister Andrus Ansip, Janez Potocnik, EU commissioner for science and research, expressed recognition to Estonia's activity in the area of science and research as well as to the Knowledge-based Estonia innovation strategy.
Giving an overview of science and research activity in Estonia, Ansip underlined that of EU member countries the growth of expenditure in the sphere had been the highest in Estonia.
"In the year 2000 373 million kroons (EUR 23.8 mln) was earmarked for science and research expenditures and last year the sum had risen to above one billion kroons, 1,392 million kroons," Ansip said.
The prime minister underlined that the share of these sums in the gross domestic product could not be the main indication of the results of science and research activity, but also the quality and effectiveness of the expenditures was very important.
Potocnik, who described the Estonian development plans as ambitious, praised both the impressive developments and expressed the conviction that implementation of the Knowledge-based Estonia keeps the country on the right course.
Potocnik also said that Estonia had examples to follow, as both Sweden and Finland were known as very successful innovation countries.
In addition to issues of the development of science the prime minister and the commissioner discussed the effects of economic structure on labour productivity.
The prime minister stated that Estonia was inevitably faced with structural changes in the economy, because this was the only way to raise productivity and international competitiveness.
High-level Conference of FBI Academy Associates Held in Tallinn
Sep 17 - A high-level conference of the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) National Academy that started in Tallinn is attended by FBI Director Robert S. Mueller and the chief of Europol, Max-Peter Ratzel, among others.
Estonian national police chief Raivo Aeg described hosting the FBI international conference as a great honour and challenge for the Estonian police.
Contacts and cooperation between Estonian police and the FBI have continued already for years, he said. Fourteen police officers from Estonia have studied at the FBI National Academy and three experts from the Estonian police are now being trained at the FBI school in Budapest, Hungary.
Aeg, former Estonian police chief Kalle Laanet who heads the European Chapter of the FBI National Academy Associates this year, and Louis Quijas, adviser to the FBI director, underscored the importance of similar conferences as a forum for personal contact and exchange of experience for law enforcement officers from different countries.
Conference participants were welcomed on by Estonian President Toomas Hendrik Ilves. Apart from the FBI director, speakers included Estonia's Justice Minister Rein Lang, US Ambassador Stanley Davis Phillips and Europol Director Max-Peter Ratzel.
More than 200 law enforcement professionals are taking part in the FBI National Academy Associates European Chapter 25th Conference held from Sep. 17-19.
The main topics of the conference are the fight against organized crime and developments in forensic science.
The conference of the European chapter is held annually in some European location. During a similar event in Bern, Switzerland, four years ago, Estonia was given the opportunity to host the event as the first country from Eastern Europe.
From its inception in 1935, the FBI National Academy has been a vital element in the continuing improvement of law enforcement standards, knowledge, and cooperation throughout the world.
About 2,500 officers from countries other than the US have graduated from the academy.
ECONOMIC NEWS
Currency Rates in Kroons
(Bank of Estonia)
Estonian Air's Passenger Numbers up 16 Percent in August
Sep 14 - The number of passengers on Estonian Air's scheduled flights in August, at 66,546, was up by 16.2 percent year-on-year.
Including charter flights, the company carried 78,361 passengers last month.
If in the first half of the year the results were more modest then in the second half passenger numbers have grown on account of an increase in the number of flights and better availability of cheaper tickets, the company said.
The average load factor of regular flights rose in August to 76 percent, up by 7 percent compared to the same period last year.
In cooperation with tour operators, Estonian Air performed last month 102 charter flights or 20 less than in August 2006. The company scaled down charter operations in order to develop and increase scheduled flight opportunities.
Estonian Air is to launch four new services in September: Tallinn-Vilnius, Tallinn-Helsinki, Tallinn-Kuressaare and Kuressaare-Stockholm.
In 2006 the airline served 689,800 passengers. Estonian Air is owned by the Estonian state, SAS Group and the investment bank Cresco.
Estonian Energy to Redouble Oil Production in Coming Years
Sep 14 - The newly-released report on the previous business year of Eesti Energia (Estonian Energy) mentions the company's plan to build by 2010 a new liquid fuel plant and raise sale of shale oil to 500,000 tons a year.
Existence of domestic liquid fuel production capacity is an important security-boosting factor that allows to ensure the country's liquid fuel needs, the state-owned company said.
Eesti Energia further said the concern should invest in oil production in countries possessing raw material similar to Estonian oil shale. Interest in liquid fuels produced from shale is great everywhere and the company is at present studying a concrete project in Jordan as well as eyeing other perspectives.
In the business year ended in March Eesti Põlevkivi, the power utility's mining arm, sold more than 106,000 tons of shale oil at an average price of 3,508 kroons (EUR 224) per ton. Supported by the rise of fuel prices on world markets, the average price rose by a fifth compared to the previous business year.
Extracting oil from shale is Eesti Energia's most profitable activity. Sales revenue of the Narva oil plant was 451 million kroons and net profit, 207 million kroons or nearly 46 percent of revenue last year.
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