Estonian Review: July 26 - August 1, 2006

04.08.2006

FOREIGN NEWS
DEFENCE NEWS
DOMESTIC NEWS
ECONOMIC NEWS
CULTURE AND EDUCATION

FOREIGN NEWS

FM Drew at EU Foreign Ministers Meeting Attention to Georgia

"Unfortunately it can happen in the shadow of major conflicts that there are other areas where attempts are made to take advantage of the world's attention being focused on one region," Paet.

Paet referred to Georgia, where the situation has become tense during the last week and a half when everybody's attention has been on the Middle-East.

"This is one more reason why a settlement is needed in the Middle-East," Paet said.

Also Marko Mihkelson, member of the oppositional Res Publica Party, recommended to Paet that he draw attention to the situation. Besides, also Mart Laar, former Estonian Prime Minister and Chairman of the Pro Patria Union and the present adviser to Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili also referred to seriousness of the situation.

Estonia Appointed Ambassador to Montenegro

Jul 28 - President Arnold Rüütel appointed Karin Jaani Estonia's ambassador to Montenegro. The ambassador will reside in Tallinn.

Jaani, who at present works as Director General of the Foreign Ministry's 2nd Political Department, headed Estonia's diplomatic representation in Russia in 2001-05 and represented Estonia at the Council of Europe in 1995-99.

Estonia was the first country to establish diplomatic relations with the newly-independent Montenegro in June.

Montenegro is the 144th country with which Estonia has formally established ties.

Estonians Accept Balkans in the EU

Aug 1 - Only one third of the respondents are against enlargement of the EU at the expense of Western Balkan countries. The support for Turkey is much lower.

In a Eurobarometer poll people were asked whether they would support or otherwise accession of countries wishing to join the EU after the given country had met all EU criteria.

Support to Western Balkan countries' accession to the EU is considerably high. The only difference compared with the EU is that in Estonia opposition to the Western Balkan countries' EU membership seems to be somewhat lower than the EU average.

Nearly one in two, 49 percent of Estonian residents aged 15 or older interviewed said they were against Turkey's accession even if the country met all the criteria. Only 35 percent were in favour of Turkey's accession to the EU on these terms.

Justice Ministers of Estonia, Luxembourg Backed Adoption of EU Charter

Jul 26 - The Justice Minister of Estonia and Luxembourg are for the adoption of the stalled Constitutional Treaty of the European Union.

The visiting Luxembourgian minister, Luc Frieden, underlined in a meeting with his Estonian colleague Rein Lang the importance of the EU charter.

Lang said it is highly significant that when speaking about European future both ministers expressed strong support for the Constitutional Treaty. "Enforcement of the Constitutional Treaty is immensely important for the future of the EU," he stressed.

Both Luxembourg and Estonia have ratified the treaty.

Regarding the EU, both ministers highlighted the fact that in discussions around a common table small countries like Estonia and Luxembourg are equal with great powers such as Germany or Britain.

According to Lang, both countries' opposition to the fragmentation of Europe was emphasized in the meeting. "A situation where some countries are left out of certain forms of cooperation should not arise. All member states should after all eventually reach one and the same point," he said.

Frieden praised Estonian IT achievements in judicial and internal matters.

Supporters of Israel Hold Rally in Tallinn Synagogue

Jul 26 - People siding with Israel in the Middle East conflict held a meeting in support of the Jewish state at the Tallinn synagogue; also, the Jewish community in Estonia has opened a bank account for Israel.

Estonia's chief rabbi Shmuel Kot read a prayer at the meeting, and the head of the Jewish congregation Boris Oks and the leader of the Jewish community Alla Jakobson, among others, spoke in support of Israel.

The Jewish community opened an account at SEB Eesti Ühispank into which people can make donations for Israel. The account number is 10220059822012, and the contributions should carry the explanation "Donation in support of Israel."

Estonian Embassy in Netherlands Move to New Premises

Jul 28 - The Estonian embassy in the Netherlands is moving to new premises; last week also a new Ambassador to the Hague was appointed.

The acquisition and conversion of the building for the embassy cost 30 million kroons (EUR 1.9 mln).

The new address of the diplomatic representation in the Hague is 92 Zeestraat. The telephone and fax numbers remain unchanged.

The relocation has reached the final stretch and should be completed by Aug. 2.

Estonia Established Diplomatic Ties with Cameroon

Jul 28 - Estonia and Cameroon established diplomatic relations. The joint declaration on the formal establishment of ties was signed in Brussels by Estonia's Ambassador to Belgium Malle Talvet and her colleague from Cameroon, Isabelle Bassong.

DEFENCE NEWS

NATO Took Over Command of Peacekeeping Mission in Southern Afghanistan

Jul 31 - NATO took over command of the security mission in the restless southern part of Afghanistan. Liaison officer Capt. Taavi Tuisk said the change of command was a very important event.

He said many countries were taking part in the Afghanistan mission because it was carried out under NATO command. "For a soldier, change of command of the mission does not change very much; at the same the approach on the strategic level will change," he said.

The NATO International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), which is gradually taking over command of the security mission from the United States, currently consists of military from 37 countries, and countries not belonging to the alliance are represented in it side by side with NATO member countries.

The Estonian Defence Forces are taking part in the operations in Southern Afghanistan in the composition of the NATO mission. Estcoy-2, a currently platoon-sized Estonian infantry unit, a military observation team, a reconnaissance and an ordnance clearance team and staff officers operate in the composition of the British battle group. At the moment there are a total of 78 members of the Estonian Defence Forces serving in different parts of Afghanistan, and by the end of the year their number will apparently increase to 120.

British, US soldiers to Train for Afghanistan in Estonia

Jul 29 - At the end of September a military training will take place in Estonia in which besides the Scouts Battalion also around 250 soldiers from Britain and the United States will take part.

The purpose of the drills codenamed Kalev Express is to improve Estonian troops' skills of interoperation with other NATO member states' forces and practice having command of international units.

"In the course of practical training the Scouts Battalion and British soldiers are going to practice actions for an Afghanistan-type mission, such as patrolling together," Estonian Defence Forces said.

As Estonian military personnel have to work together with Americans in Afghanistan, a platoon of US soldiers is going to join the drills.

The exercise begins with a two-day basic preparation followed by practical training in the course of which also anti-terror actions will be practiced.

The plan and exact location of the training will be decided at the beginning of September, but most of the action will apparently take place in the Harju County surrounding the capital Tallinn.

Spanish Fighter Planes Arrived in Lithuania for Baltic Airspace Policing Mission

Jul 28 - Four supersonic fighter planes Mirage F-1 from Spain landed at the Lithuanian Air Force base in Zokniai to take over patrolling of the Baltic skies.

Spain is sending to Lithuania 84 military specialists and pilots who will be guarding the airspace of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania on four Mirage F-1 fighters manufactured by the French company Dassault. This is the first time this type of supersonic fighters are present in Lithuania.

The Turkish Air Force contingent has been guarding the Baltic airspace with US-made F-16 Fighting Falcon fighters.

The Spanish contingent will be performing the tenth NATO mission since the alliance took over the guarding of the Baltic airspace in March 2004.

Defence Minister Opened Erna Retk Competition

Aug 1 - Estonian Defence Minister Jürgen Ligi opened the international military competition Erna Retk 2006, which this year marks the 65th anniversary of the landing of the original Erna group at North Estonia's Salmistu.

Twenty-nine teams from ten countries were lined up in Kaarli Puiestee in central Tallinn for the opening of what is regarded as one of the world's most difficult military competitions. Canada and Croatia will be represented for the time.

The defence minister said Erna Retk had proved its sustainability over the years.

"The spirit by which men went to save civilians in the Kautla bogs has come down to our days. But our men are no longer alone, as Estonians have found reliable partners from all around the world," the defence minister said.

The minister said that this year the event had been made more attractive by the circumstance that all those interested can observe the competition also from the Internet. "Although the tracking device included in the competitors' equipment is intended above all to ensure their security, it will certainly bring the competition closer to the public.

The Erna group was a scout unit formed of Estonian participants in the Finnish Winter War of 1939-1940, which landed in the Red Army rear at Salmistu in the summer of 1941 and moved on from there to Kautla where it engaged in a battle with overwhelming enemy forces.

In summer 1993 a group of enthusiasts followed the route of the historical Erna group and set up the military athletic Erna association. In 1994 the association started to regularly organize the Erna competition, which by today has become one of the world's longest and most difficult military races.

DOMESTIC NEWS

New Act to Simplify EU Citizens' Settlement in Estonia

Aug 1 - A new act to simplify the settlement of citizens of the European Union and members of their families in Estonia entered into force.

Based on an EU directive, the new EU Citizens' Act uses new terminology, the Citizenship and Migration Board (KMA) said. The term right of residence, not residence permit, will be used with respect to EU citizens and their spouses, residents of third countries.

If an EU citizen had to turn to the KMA to receive a residence permit, then in order to be granted term right of residence the EU citizen must register his or her place of residence with the local government within three months since his or her entry into Estonia.

An EU citizen must turn to the KMA within one month after the registry of his place of residence, in order to apply for an ID card proving his or her term right of residence.

The EU citizen's family member who is a citizen of a third country must turn to a KMA office to register his or her term right of residence. Term right of residence is granted for up to five years.

As of August 1, citizens of EU countries and members of their family can apply for permanent right of residence.

EU citizens and members of their families are generally entitled to apply for permanent right of residence, if they have permanently lived in Estonia on the basis of their right of residence for at least five years.

To register his permanent right of residence an EU citizen or member of his family will have to turn to a KMA office or submit an application by mail.

According to the new act, EU citizens living in Estonia on the basis of a residence permit as of August 1 are regarded as having the right of residence. The documents issued to them will remain in force unil their date of expiry and they will not have to turn to the KMA before expiry of the document.

Estonia to Pump out Tanks of Gulf of Finland Wreck

Jul 26 - Estonia intends to pump out the tanks of a cargo ship that sank off the Gulf of Finland island of Vaindloo in March to avoid environmental pollution.

Estonia plans to empty the fuel tanks of the Runner 4 to prevent pollution even though the owner of the vessel denies such a threat, Lind said.

The Runner 4 sank off the Estonian island of Vaindloo in the Gulf of Finland the night into March 6 after another ship in a convoy led by a Russian icebreaker crashed into it.

Estonian War Veterans' Reunion Passed Peacefully

Jul 29 - A reunion of veterans of the World War II battlefield in north-eastern Estonia passed peacefully.

The veterans unveiled two new memorials at Sinimäed, the site of one of the fiercest WWII battles on Estonian soil, one to Belgian and the other to Dutch soldiers who fought side by side with the Estonians there.

Two years ago a monument to the fallen of the 20th division was inaugurated at Sinimäed. From earlier times, a ringed cross commemorating all the fallen and memorial stones for the Dutch, the Norwegians and others who fought on the German as well as those who fought on the Soviet side stand on the site.

Almost 6,000 Wildfires Recorded in Estonia in 2006

Jul 28 - Since the beginning of this year already 5,965 forest and landscape fires have occurred in Estonia, the Rescue Board reported.

76 out of Estonia's 194 rural municipalities and the towns of Narva and Keila have imposed restrictions on people's movement in forests which will be valid until further notice.

ECONOMIC NEWS

Currency Rates in Kroons
(Bank of Estonia)

Survey: Estonia One of the Least Corrupt of New Member States

Jul 28 - Estonia is one of the least corrupt of new member states of the European Union in Eastern Europe; it appears from a World Bank study of developments in fighting corruption in 2002-05.

According to the survey released on Wednesday, less than one-fourth of firms in Estonia consider corruption a problem.

Regarding the incidence of bribery, the situation is the best in Slovenia and Estonia where less than 5 percent of firms say they have to pay bribes frequently.

Firms in Estonia pay an estimated 0.25 percent, in Latvia 0.75 percent and in Lithuania 0.8 percent of annual revenue in bribe tax. Unlike the other Baltic states, Estonia has some sectors in which bribery is in firms' estimates practically nonexistent, notably the tax service, customs and courts.

"Strong leadership is a key weapon in the fight against corruption. Every country that has made measurable progress in reducing corruption has had a strong champion who made transparency and accountability top priorities," Cheryl Gray, co-author of the study, said.

The World Bank surveyed 26 countries in Central and East Europe and Asia. The study, the third in a series of reports, for the first time compared the surveyed countries with five non-transition European countries - Germany, Greece, Ireland, Portugal and Spain, as well as Turkey.

Percentage of Customs Declarations Filed Online in Estonia Doubled within Year

Jul 27 - In the second quarter of this year, 72 percent of customs declarations in import and 92 percent in export in Estonia were filed over the Internet, with the percentage of online declarations doubling in one year, the Customs Board said.

In transit shipments, 99.7 percent of the declarations were filed online.

"The result cited above shows that Estonia has made rapid progress toward meeting the EU goal of switching to paper-free clearance in customs," said Dmitri Jegorov, deputy director general of the Customs Board.

In 2006, the tax returns of 502,000 private individuals in Estonia came in over the Internet. In comparison with last year the number increased by more than 30,000, while the number of tax returns filed on paper dropped by 23,000.

A total of 82 percent of the people who declared their income in 2006 did so via the e-tax board, compared with respectively 76 percent and 59 percent in the two previous years.

Estonian Biodiesel Co to Build EUR 19 mln Biofuel Plant

Jul 31 - The Biodiesel company will this autumn start building one of the Baltic states' largest biodiesel plants at the South Port of Paldiski representing an investment of almost 300 million kroons (EUR 19 mln).

The company will buy the equipment and technology from the Italian firm Desmet Bellestra.

The capacity of the plant is planned at 100,000 tons of biofuel annually.

Econmin for Resuming Rail Traffic between Tallinn, Riga

Jul 26 - Minister of Economy and Communications Edgar Savisaar said he backed the Latvian initiative to restore passenger train connection between the Estonian capital Tallinn and the Latvian capital Riga.

Meeting with Latvian Ambassador Rihards Mucins, Savisaar said that also several entrepreneurs who were not satisfied with the existing state of affairs were interested in having the rail link restored.

The minister added that the main obstacle to reopening the train route between the two capitals was the condition of the track between the south Estonian city of Tartu and the border town Valga. That section partially needs renovation.

Estonian Ministers: Aging of Population is Problem to Finance

Jul 27 - Economy Minister Edgar Savisaar and Environment Minister Villu Reiljan said that the aging of the Estonian population highlighted by the rating agency Standard & Poor's posed a problem for the state's finances.

The Minister of Environment, Villu Reiljan, said Estonia needs a major in-depth analysis of its financial and economic policy. The same was found by the minister of economy. "Our needs for investment are big, yet now attempts are being made to convince us that we shouldn't invest but save," Reiljan said.

Standard & Poor's said in a report published on Wednesday that without concerted policy and fiscal reforms, the aging Estonian population will lead to intense pressure on the public finances and the ratings on the sovereign.

The key conclusion of the study is that further reforms of the pension and health care system are needed to contain the rise of age-related expenditure.

Standard & Poor's underscored that the scenario held out for Estonia was not a prediction but a simulation that highlighted the importance of age-related spending trends as a factor in the evolution of sovereign creditworthiness.

Estonia's Foreign Trade Gap Narrows in May

Jul 26 - The shortfall in Estonia's foreign trade balance in May this year amounted to 2.9 billion kroons (EUR 185.3 mln), compared with 3.7 billion kroons in April and 2.6 billion kroons in May 2005, the Statistical Office said.

The turnover of Estonia's foreign trade in May according to preliminary figures was 23.1 billion kroons, of which export made up 10.1 billion kroons or 44 percent, having increased 27 percent over May 2005.

Imports in May came to 13 billion kroons, accounting for 56 percent of the volume of trade and being 24 percent bigger than in May last year.

The turnover of trade grew 26 percent in comparison with last May and one percent in comparison with April.

Estonian Patent Office Issues 671 Trade Mark Registration Certificates in H1

Jul 28 - The Estonian Patent Office issued 671 certificates on the registration of a trade mark during the first six months of this year, including 479 to Estonian private individuals.

During the period 1,029 trade marks were deleted from the register, 285 of which belonged to Estonian private individuals.

Applications for the registration of a trade mark handed in during the period numbered 897, 696 of which came from Estonian private individuals. As of the end of June the Patent Office was processing 2,464 applications.

Applications for the registration of patents numbered 21 in January-June. Twenty-four percent of the applications were filed in the field of chemistry and metallurgy. The Patent Office entered 79 inventions into its register in the six months and canceled the patents of 51 inventions.

Applications for the registration of useful models numbered 37, with 34 useful models entered into the register and nine deleted during the six months. In 2005, 1,737 applications for the registration of a trade mark were submitted, 1,550 trade marks entered into the register and 1,620 certificates issued.

First Marine Tanker Loaded in Sillamäe Port in NE Estonia

Jul 28 - Sillamäe Oil Terminal this week loaded the first marine tanker in the new port of Sillamäe in northeastern Estonia.

Sillamäe Oil Terminal is an independent operator of the oil products terminal in the Sillamäe port. The terminal's tank storage capacity is 157,500 cubic meters.

The terminal's infrastructure includes a double-sided railway pier for unloading 44 railway tank wagons simultaneously, as well as two deep-water quays capable of accepting the largest ships that can enter the Baltic Sea.

Volume of H1 Public Procurement Tenders in Estonia EUR 438 mln

Jul 26 - The total value of public procurement tenders carried out in Estonia during the first half of 2006 amounted to 6.86 billion kroons (EUR 438 mln).

In the course of the six months 4,070 tenders took place. In 53 cases the outcome of a tender was contested.

In 2005, the value of public procurement tenders came to more than 12.4 billion kroons, with 7,569 tenders held.

For the first six months of last year the respective figures were 7.77 billion kroons and 3,650 tenders. The figures show that compared with the first half-year of 2005, the number of tenders this year has grown but their value decreased.

Estonia's Industrial Output up 6.3 pct on Year in June

Jul 31 - Industrial output in Estonia in June declined by 0.9 percent compared with May but increased by 6.3 percent in comparison with June 2005, according to seasonally adjusted figures, the Statistical Office reported.

Compared with May, industrial production in manufacturing dropped by 0.8 percent while year-on-year an increase of 6.2 percent was recorded.

The growth in manufacturing output was mainly influenced by an increase in the manufacture of food, metal products, chemicals and building materials.

Food output showed a growth of 1.1 percent month on month and 6.9 percent year on year. The output of metal products declined by 3.3 percent from May but soared 38.3 percent compared to June 2005.

Industrial output in Estonia has been showing an upward trend since 2000.

Port of Tallinn Ranked Third among Baltic Sea Ports by Freight Flows in 2005

Jul 31 - Ports in the eastern part of the Baltic Sea hold the top positions among all Baltic ports in terms of freight turnover, with the port of Tallinn ranking third among 25 major ports last year.

According to the scoreboard compiled by Poland's Baltic Transport Journal, the St. Petersburg and Primorsk ports of Russia handled more freight than Tallinn in 2005. Freight turnover of the port of Tallinn was 39.5 million tons compared to St. Petersburg's 57.5 million and Primorsk's

57.3 million tons.

By liquid cargoes, Tallinn, with 26.1 million tons, placed second after Primorsk, which transshipped 57.3 million tons of liquid cargoes last year. Gothenburg in third place handled 19.5 million tons.

Tallinn ranked sixth by bulk goods turnover, 13th by general cargoes and container goods, and fourth by ro-ro freight.

Nordea Pank to Open Seven New Offices in Estonia

Jul 31 - Nordea Pank, a subsidiary of the Nordic banking concern of the same name, is going to open seven new branch offices across Estonia in the coming months and expand the customer service area of its office in Tallinn's Hobujaama Street over the whole first floor.

The bank is set to open four new branches and substantially expand the existing one in the capital Tallinn. The first branch offices will open in Rakvere and Viljandi, and a second one, in Pärnu.

With the opening of the new branches, Nordea Pank will have 17 offices across Estonia. The bank at present has 52,000 customers and a workforce of 324 in this country.

Oliver Kruuda Left Management of Kalev Production Companies

Jul 26 - The leading Estonian confectionery maker Kalev is rearranging the management of the group, with Oliver Kruuda, a major owner of Kalev, stepping down from the boards of most production companies.

Kati Kusmin, the so far sales and services director, is taking over as Chairman of the Board of the subsidiaries Kalev Chocolate Factory, Kalev Jõhvi Tootmine and Vilma.

Kruuda will stay on as CEO of the group's parent company and keep his seat on the councils of most of the subsidiaries.

Pere Leib Tootmine Bakery Acquired Rape Oil Producer Werol

Jul 31 - The Estonian Agriculture Ministry and the Pere Leib Tootmine bakery concluded an agreement whereby the latter acquired the state-owned shares in the rapeseed oil producer Werol Tehased for the sum of 32.13 million kroons (EUR 2.05 mln).

Pere Leib Tootmine pledged to invest an additional 30 million Kroons in Werol's stock capital by the end of this year and guaranteed continued operation of the plant for at least three years.

The winning bidder for the rapeseed oil producer, Dovelin Baltic, had earlier announced it was dropping the plan to buy Werol shares because the situation had changed significantly since the placing of the bid. Dovelin Baltic, a company of the businessman Urmas Sõõrumaa, offered 52 million kroons for the shares.

The state holds 4,412,625 registered shares in Werol Tehased which make up 98.0583 percent of the stock capital.

The Agriculture Ministry announced the sale of the shares in March and received three bids, but a sales contract could not be concluded till now because of several ongoing court disputes.

CULTURE AND EDUCATION

First book about Estonia brought out in Japan

Jul 27 - A book about Estonia written by a Japanese businessman residing in this Baltic country hit shelves of Japanese stores in June.

The 246-page publication by Toshio Kawabe under the title "Estonia: The Most Interesting Foreign Country for Investment" had an initial print run of 3,000 copies.

The book, the first about Estonia in Japanese as far as is known, consists of four parts. The first two present Estonian tourism and business, and the next two throw light on the author's personal experience of this country.

Kawabe, a graduate of Nippon University, has been living in Estonia for over four years. He earlier edited a Japanese website and a monthly newsletter on Estonia.

"I decided to publish the book because many of my countrymen know very little about Estonia. The title of the book speaks about investing, but the book itself provides also a more general overview of Estonia. For me, Estonia is a place with good business openings, an interesting culture, educated people and a safe living environment," Kawabe said.

In his words, the book has received much positive feedback and because of great interest a new edition is being printed.

XX Tallinn International Organ Festival

XX Tallinn International Organ Festival takes place from 28 July to 6 August. The festival has reached a remarkable anniversary; on July 28 the Estonian oldest music festival was opened for the twentieth time. The music event was first held during the Soviet occupation in 1987 and it has gone through many changes since then.

At first it was a state-financed festival organised by the Estonian State Philharmony, the Estonian largest concert agency, then it became the first Estonian festival organised by a cooperative, then it was organised by a joint-stock company and a limited partnership, and in 1998 the festival returned to Eesti Kontsert, the Estonian largest state-financed concert agency.

Tallinn has major advantages to become an organ capital. On July 28, the opening day of the festival, organs were playing at the same time in fifteen churches in the Estonian fifteen counties. This is also unique in the world of music. Altogether there will be 53 very different concerts. There will be a traditional Gala Concert in collaboration with the Leigo Järvemuusika by the beautiful Leigo lake.

VIII Kuressaare Opera Festival

Kuressaare Opera Festival is the only opera festival in Estonia and it is held since 1999. This year it was held in the courtyard of Kuressaare Castle from 28 - 30 July.

The performances take place in the courtyard on a prefabricated stage and one performance can be played for about a thousand spectators at a time.

In five years Kuressaare Opera Festival has evolved into a music event on Estonian culture map with a clear future perspective. It is an international festival involving opera theatres and soloists from different countries. Besides the Estonian National Opera, Theatre Vanemuine and the City Theatre of Tallinn, guests from the Latvian National Opera and St. Petersburg's Maria Theatre's project group have performed at the festival. In the future co-operation with Lithuanian Opera and Ballet Theatre, Finnish National Opera etc. will take place. Gala concert and a performance for children have become a tradition already.

V International SUVEUNIversitet

V International SUVEUNIversitet is a summer university for piano and it takes place in Pärnu from 1 - 10 August.

The instructor of the courses is Prof Arbo Valdma and the courses last for ten days. Lessons and concerts take place in Pärnu Town Hall. Lessons are public and opened to auditors. Participants have free choice of repertoire. As a tradition studio concerts are also part of the course. This year concerts start with a panel discussion about piano music which is led by Prof. Arbo Valdma. In this summer there is also an opportunity for the participants of the summer university to play Mozart’s piano concertos with Pärnu City Orchestra.

“Kinobuss” Project

The project starts on August 2 and ends on August 20. The purpose of the "Kinobuss (cinema bus) Project" is to distribute for the Estonian public the art of cinema and knowledge of filmmaking.

The Cinema Bus takes films to different corners of Estonia. Travelling from town to town Kinobuss shows Estonian and European films and organizes workshops. The main film this year is "Ruudi" the heart warming Estonian film for the whole family. The night film can be selected from such hits as "The empty beach", "Golden Beach", "Concert trip", "Brigade" or "Old Lady's visit".