Estonian Review: June 14-20, 2006

20.06.2006

DEFENCE NEWS
DOMESTIC NEWS
ECONOMIC NEWS
MISC

PM: Work on Constitutional Treaty Will Continue

Jun 16 - The Heads of State and Government discussed the future of Europe on a wider scale and the further enlargement of the Union at the European Council in Brussels. The other topics included immigration and common foreign policy issues, and the Council adopted declarations concerning the Western Balkans, Iran, the Middle-East peace process, Africa, Lebanon and East Timor. Conclusions were drawn on the year-long reflection period on the Constitutional Treaty, which was considered useful. Prime Minister Andrus Ansip noted that the member states expressed hope that the ratification process would continue. “We also wish that the process would continue and all the member states would express their opinion about the Treaty,” said Andrus Ansip.

The Heads of State and Government found that further work should be aimed at achieving specific goals and implementing projects. According to Prime Minister Andrus Ansip, work will continue in two directions.

“We have decided that on the one hand, we have to make maximum use of the opportunities offered by the existing Treaties and on the other hand, we must continue discussions about the future of the Constitutional Treaty,” said Andrus Ansip.

The Heads of State and Government and Foreign Ministers discussed the further development of the European Union, planning on more detailed enlargement discussions beginning in the autumn. According to the Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Paet, enlargement has been one of the most successful projects throughout the history of the EU.

“We have consistently supported the further enlargement of the EU and consider this to be one of the most important strategic policies,” said Urmas Paet. The Foreign Minister added that the enlargement strategy had to be treated as a whole, without overemphasizing its individual aspects.

“The capacity of the European Union to admit new members must not become an abstract excuse to inhibit the enlargement,” said Paet, “and this is not a separate criterion.”

The Council also discussed the issue of illegal immigration. Prime Minister Andrus Ansip said that although the immigration problems deriving from Africa were far away for Estonia, for the time being, we do understand the concern of the EU countries located along the Mediterranean. “We support search for Europe wide solutions to these concerns,” said Ansip.

The Foreign Ministers also exchanged ideas about the relations between the EU and Serbia in light of the developments in Montenegro and Kosovo. Foreign Minister Urmas Paet stressed that the European perspective given to Serbia had to be highlighted more and made better understandable for the Serbian people.

“One of the most tangible ways of doing this would be through the implementation of a simplified visa regime; for example, nearly 80% of the Serbian youth have never visited a European Union country,” said Urmas Paet. “The granting of scholarships to Serbian students and scientists that would enable them to study and work in the EU countries would help a lot,” he added.

Estonia Welcomed Slovenia's Accession to the Euro Zone

Jun 16 - At the meeting of the Heads of Government, Prime Minister Andrus Ansip expressed his delight regarding Slovenia's performance in meeting the convergence criteria. “We welcome Slovenia's membership with the euro zone. It is a positive sign of the euro zone's ambition to expand. Today's resolution confirms that everyone meeting the criteria is welcome in the euro zone," said Andrus Ansip.

Estonia also supports Lithuania's efforts to join the euro zone and recognises Lithuania's successful preparations. At the same time, Andrus Ansip shared concern about the inflation criterion that is becoming a problem for several of the new member states.

“Estonia respects the accession criteria established by the Treaty, but they need not be the most suitable for small countries with open economies and rapid economic growth,” said Andrus Ansip. According to the Prime Minister, the inflation level of the candidates should be compared to that of the more successful countries and not with the results of the entire European Union.

“It is necessary to discuss the interpretation of the inflation criterion as a whole,” emphasized Andrus Ansip. The current interpretation of the inflation criterion should not become a long-term impediment to the further enlargement of the European Union monetary union.

FM: Human Rights Council Should Deal with Issues of indigenous Peoples

Jun 20 - Speaking at the opening session of the recently established United Nations Human Rights Council, Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Paet noted that Estonia attached great importance to addressing the situation of indigenous peoples of the world and fight against trafficking in human beings in the work of the Council.

"The issue of the rights of indigenous people has to remain on the agenda of the council and the involvement of the indigenous peoples themselves in these discussions should be ensured," Paet said referring to future work of the new human rights body.

The minister welcomed the work of the United Nations' special rapporteur on indigenous peoples and underlined Estonia's support to the adoption without delay of the draft declaration on the rights of indigenous peoples prepared in the course of discussions among governments and the representatives of indigenous peoples.

Paet also underlined the fight against trafficking in human beings. "It is important to acknowledge that the success in the fight against trafficking in human beings depends on the cooperation between all countries," he said.

The minister emphasized that integrity of the new Human Rights Council would have to be ensured. Paet said the credibility of the council would greatly depend on its flexibility and capability to deal with all human rights issues, including urgent situations.

Paet also met several senior UN officials in Geneva.

During his meeting with the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour issues connected to the Human Rights Council as well as to indigenous peoples and human trafficking were discussed.

Arbour underlined the need to ensure the contribution of all UN member states to the protection of human rights.

The Estonian minister recognized the work of the High Commissioner, noting that Estonia hoped for the Commissioner's support to the work of the new council.

At the meeting with Achim Hapaap, Principal Programme Coordinator of the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) a memorandum of mutual understanding signed between UNITAR and Tallinn was addressed.

Paet remarked that the idea put forward in the memorandum to set up a UNITAR local government training center was a recognition both to Estonia and Tallinn, and expressed the hope that the centre would in the future become one of the channels for Estonia's development assistance to partner countries.

FM: Reaffirmed Support for Georgia's NATO Aspiration

Jun 14 - Estonia supports Georgia's aspiration to join NATO, Foreign Minister Urmas Paet told Georgian Defence Minister Irakli Okruashvili at a meeting.

Speaking about his country's relationship with NATO, Okruashvili said Georgia is continuing and intensifying its homework. He expressed the hope the two sides will soon enter the phase of intensified dialogue which is a step away from a Membership Action Plan.

According to Paet, Georgia has succeeded in fulfilling the goals of its Individual Partnership Action Plan on time.

It is now necessary to see to it that the legal structures established recently start working, he stressed.

"We support granting Georgia intensified dialogue within this year," the Foreign Minister said.

He added that Estonia will continue sharing its experience and working together with Georgia, and supporting its preparations for NATO membership.

The ministers also touched upon the situation in South Ossetia. Paet said Estonia backs Georgia's wish to bring in peacekeepers from other countries besides Russia to settle the South Ossetian and Abkhasian conflicts. "Estonia supports Georgia's territorial integrity,” said Paet, in whose words Russia's wish to tie the settling of the South Ossetian conflict to the defining of Kosovo's status is unacceptable.

Paet noted that Estonia has earmarked almost 800,000 kroons (EUR 51,100) to foster economic growth and stability in the region.

Georgia is one of the priorities of Estonia's development cooperation plans and its share has been increasing from year to year, Paet said. Of this year's bilateral development cooperation funds, nearly 1.7 million kroons is planned for Georgia.

Georgian Defence Minister Thanked Estonia for Support

Jun 14 - Georgian Defense Minister Irakli Okruashvili thanked his Estonian colleague, Jürgen Ligi, for the Baltic nation's invaluable help and support to his country.

The ministry carries on with legal, defence planning and environmental seminars and trainings in Georgia. In addition, a three-way environmental project with Sweden as the third party, which started in 2004 and is aimed at cleaning up the pollution left behind in Georgia by the Soviet army, is continuing.

This year Estonia will donate to Georgia a training simulator.

Ligi said he was delighted at the fast progress of Georgian defence reforms.

Chairman of French Senate Lauded Estonia on Approval of EU Constitution

Jun 16 - Meeting with Estonian President Arnold Rüütel, Chairman of the French Senate Christian Poncelet recognized the ratification of the EU Constitutional Treaty by Estonia.

Poncelet said that Estonia with the action showed its wish to take responsibility in the work to build Europe further.

The Chairman of the French Senate also said the EU members must quickly, while showing due respect to one another, move toward a common EU foreign and security policy.

While the opinion is common in France that the enlargement of the EU so far has been too fast, the process of enlargement must continue for the sake of the future of the common values uniting Europe, said Poncelet.

Rüütel spoke about Estonia's activity in promoting the EU's New Neighbourhood policy.

"It needs to be achieved that the political situation in the countries involved in the New Neighborhood policy would stabilize and those countries would be able to irreversibly go forward on the path of democracy. If this is achieved, the process will have a positive impact on developments also in many other countries," Rüütel said.

The President and the Chairman of the French Senate stated that ties between Estonia and France are close. The two countries are united by a similar history involving the experience of occupation, Poncelet said.

Parliament Panel Chief Expects Close Cooperation with Finland during EU Presidency

Jun 16 - Kristiina Ojuland, Chairperson of the Estonian Parliament's European Affairs Committee, hopes that Finland will keep in close touch with Estonia during the upcoming Finnish presidency of the EU.

Ojuland said after a meeting with members of the Finnish parliament's Grand Committee that the countries should work together on matters related to energy policy, particularly the Baltic Sea environment.

"Attention needs to be continuously drawn to these matters. The state agencies of the two countries should work more closely with each other too," Ojuland said.

She further named the Northern Dimension, Schengen, and the enlargement of the eurozone as areas of cooperation.

Ojuland also expressed hope that Finland will use the opportunity to manage the process of enlargemenet of the Schengen area.

"Hopefully the Finns will use all the instruments so that delays on the part of the European Commission as well as some old member state will not become an obstacle to the accession of Estonia to the Schengen Agreement from October 2007," Ojuland said.

The former Estonian foreign minister suggested that Estonia and Finland should display very close mutual understanding and cooperation during the Finnish presidency. "This special relationship between Estonia and Finland should catch the eye in the whole of EU," she said.

Estonia to Despatch Diplomat to Afghanistan

Jun 20 - By the beginning of this autumn at the latest Estonia will despatch to Afghanistan a diplomat who will start taking part in the reconstruction of the Helmand province.

A spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry said that preparations for the despatch of the diplomat were underway and even the candidate had been picked. According to the present plans the Estonian diplomat should get down to work in Afghanistan at the end of August or the beginning of September.

"He will work as a political adviser and make proposals on civilian projects in which Estonia could participate in the Helmand province, and how," Foreign Minister Urmas Paet has earlier said.

There are currently 80 Estonian soldiers in Afghanistan and by the end of the year the Estonian contingent in that country will rise to 120, making Afghanistan the Estonian Defence Forces biggest foreign mission.

Estonian Agency to Despatch 22 Assistants to St Petersburg Consulate

Jun 20 - The Estonian Citizenship and Migration Board (KMA) will this summer despatch 22 officials to the Estonian consulate-general at St. Petersburg who will help process applications during the high work load period in the summer months.

The Foreign Ministry and KMA at the beginning of June signed an agreement on the basis of which the Citizenship and Migration board will help the Estonian consulate general in St Petersburg to process the applications in the period from June 12 to August 20.

DEFENCE NEWS

ESTPLA-12 Returned and ESTPLA-13 Started it's Term in Iraq

Jun 19 - The Estonian light infantry platoon ESTPLA-13 serving in Iraq will start operations in a new area of responsibility near the town of Sab-al Boor to the north of Baghdad. The new area of responsibility is situated to the north of the area where Estonian personnel used to conduct operations earlier. The Estonians' previous area of responsibility will be taken over by Iraqi troops.

"In the new area of responsibility the Estonian unit has to be especially alert, it's very important to establish contacts with local people and win their trust. At the same time, that tasks of great responsibility are trusted to the Estonian platoon shows that we are regarded as strong professionals," the elder of the Estonian contingent in Iraq, Capt. Veljo Raide, said.

The 34-strong ESTPLA-13 operating under the command of Ltn. Meelis Joemaa took over duties from ESTPLA-12 a week ago. The unit has been trained to carry out foot and motorized patrols, searches, escort convoys and guard different sites.

Baltic Defence College Hosted NATO Conference

Jun 20 - The Estonian Defence Ministry held a NATO Partnership for Peace program education and training network conference at the Baltic Defense College in Tartu.

The aim of the conference was deepening cooperation between educational and training institutions and coordinating their activity.

"The key of NATO development and future capability lies in the exchange of education and knowledge. Sharing of knowledge between us as well as between educational institutions of different levels ensures more effective functioning of all of us," Commander of the Estonian Defence Forces Vice Adm. Tarmo Kõuts said at the opening of the conference.

The conference had more than 90 participants from NATO's military educational and training institutions, member countries' Defence Colleges, Defence Forces and Ministries.

DOMESTIC NEWS

Estonian Leaders Remembered Victims of June Deportations

Jun 14 - President Arnold Rüütel, Chairman of the Parliament Toomas Varek and Prime Minister Andrus Ansip remembered in a joint statement victims of totalitarian violence.

"Today 65 years ago thousands of innocent people were arrested and taken forcibly from their homes to the Far East," the statement says.

"We know that the message of freedom must not be buried under the dust of workaday trifles but must sound fresh and convincing always. This is the strongest guarantee for us to be able to firmly hold on to our freedom today and in the future," the Estonian leaders said.

"Our memories will never allow the violence that destroyed people and what they had created to be vindicated. We remember, because this way we keep the ideals of freedom alive," the statement reads.

"The June deportation exposed the real nature of the totalitarian regime. It was this tragic historical experience that later on made many of our compatriots choose the fate of a forest brother or boat refugee."

Rüütel, Varek and Ansip noted that violence failed to smother once and for all the people's hope and faith that Estonia would manage to restore independence.

"Freedom is the most precious treasure of any nation. Estonia intends to hold in high esteem the ideals and aspirations that brough freedom to our nation. This is our duty to all the generations whose dream it was to hold their fate in their own hands and who fought for it with arms or with words," the statement says.

President Rüütel also spoke at the memorial service held at the statue of Linda at Toompea to commemorate the victims of 1941 deportation. The memorial service was also attended by Chairman of the Riigikogu Toomas Varek, Prime Minister Andrus Ansip, members of the Riigikogu and the Diplomatic Corps. Also Leo Õispuu, Chairman of the Tallinn MEMENTO Association of the Estonian Union of Illegally Repressed Persons, and Konstantin Provalov, Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Estonia spoke at the service.

Nearly one percent of Estonia's population was deported 65 years ago, on June 14, 1941, and about 2.5 percent of the then population in another mass deportation on March 25, 1949. In both cases women and children made up a large proportion of those taken to outlying parts of Russia, mainly Siberia.

New information sheet - Deportation from Estonia in 1941 and 1949

Parliament Passed Amended Foreign Relations Act

Jun 15 - The Estonian Parliament passed the amended Foreign Relations Act. The law was adopted with 76 votes and three abstentions.

The Foreign Affairs Committee added to the law a general provision according to which institutions dealing with foreign relations have to keep the Foreign Ministry informed about their activities in this field, dropping from the law the earlier direct reference to the president and the parliament.

Another change made by the Committee stipulates that the President's state visits are planned by the Foreign Ministry in conjunction with the president's office.

A further amendment introduced by the committee concerned the appointment of ambassadors. The panel also made an editorial change in the text.

People's Union Endorsed Incumbent Arnold Rüütel as Presidential Candidate.

Jun 19 - Congress of the Estonian People's Party endorsed the incumbent Arnold Rüütel as its presidential candidate.

The congress decided that the People's Union would not nominate its presidential candidate for election in parliament but if the parliament fails to reach a decision concerning the new president, the People's Union would nominate Arnold Rüütel as its presidential candidate.

President Arnold Rüütel said after the congress that he would agree to run as candidate in the elections in the electoral college.

Survey - Decision to Run for Second Term Boosted President's Popularity

Jun 14 - After President Arnold Rüütel gave his consent last week to run for a second five-year term, his support grew considerably. According to the survey carried out by Faktum & Ariko, 33 per cent of voting-age citizens are for Rüütel's continuation as head of state. MEP Toomas Hendrik Ilves, the most popular presidential candidate, was backed by 36 percent of respondents. Support for Ilves was equally strong also at the end of April when Rüütel was backed by 20 percent of respondents.

The first round of the presidential election in the Parliament is set for August 28 and a second round of voting, for August 29.

GOV and Foundation of Public Understanding Agreement Met over Controversial Monument

Jun 16 - The Council of the Foundation of the Public Understanding Agreement announced after a discussion with Prime Minister Andrus Ansip and Economic Affairs and Communications Minister Edgar Savisaar that it is ready for cooperation to promote broad discussion in society concerning the controversial Red Army monument in Tallinn.

"The Foundation of the Public Understanding Agreement reaffirms its readiness for cooperation with the Government to develop broad-based dialogue in the society, which would be conducive to the work and the decision-making processes of the bodies of executive power," the Chairperson of the Board of the Foundation, Andra Veidemann, said after the meeting.

She added that the foundation is now waiting for proposals from the Government to agree about the best form of cooperation and immediately start applying it.

New Law Gives Better Protection to Sexual Minorities

Jun 15 - A package of amendments the Estonian parliament passed gave better protection to sexual minorities. The law, passed with votes 62-18 in the 101-member house, amended among other things Article 151 of the Penal Code which deals with incitement of hatred.

The new wording of the article provides for a fine or detention as punishment for acts publicly inciting to hatred, violence or discrimination on the basis of nationality, race, color, sex, language, origin, religion, sexual orientation, political opinion, financial or social status.

The previous law did not contain a reference to sexual orientation. If such an act causes a person's death or damage to health, a pecuniary punishment or a prison sentence of up to three years can be imposed on the culprit.

The law further changed the Penal Code article dealing with equality.

Under the amended law, unlawful restriction of a person's rights and giving unlawful advantages to a person on the basis of their sexual orientation are punishable. The punishment ranges from a fine to a jail sentence of up to a year.

ECONOMIC NEWS

Currency Rates in Kroons
(Bank of Estonia)

Estonia and Russia Made Mutual Concessions in Lake Peipsi Fishing Quota

Jun 15 - At the Estonian-Russian Intergovernmental Fishery Commission talks the parties made mutual concessions concerning fishing quota in Lakes Peipsi, Pskov and Lammijarv.

Russia agreed to give Estonia an additional quota of 150 tons of perch at the expense of the general Lake Peipsi fishing quota, while Estonia gave Russia a similar concession in the bream and roach quota.

"The agreement is important for Estonia, as our perch quota is almost exhausted (in Lake Peipsi), with only about 100 tons left," head of the Environmental Ministry fisheries department Ain Soome said.

Meetings of the joint fisheries commission traditionally take place twice a year alternatively in Estonia and Russia.

Average Gross Wages up 10.8 pct on Year

Jun 16 - The average gross wages of full and part time employees of Estonian enteprises, institutions and organizations was 8,073 kroons (EUR 515.85) last year, 10.8 percent higher than in 2004, the Statistical Office reported.

The average gross hourly wages were 47.42 kroons last year, 11.4 percent more than in the same period last year.

Last year the average gross wages increased the most against 2004 in the public health and social maintenance sector (by 21.1 percent) and the least in mining (by 0.5 percent).

President Promulgated Postponement of Excise Tax Hikes

Jun 20 - President Arnold Rüütel promulgated a law which postpones increases in the excise tax rate on alcohol, tobacco and fiscally marked fuel by one and a half years.

The measure is intended to curb inflation and thus help Estonia meet the Maastricht inflation criterion for adopting the euro currency.

The law that was adopted in parliament with 59 votes on June 14 postpones until January 1, 2008 the increase in the excise tax rates originally planned for July 1 this year.

132 New WiFi Covered Areas Emerged During Half-year

Jun 20 - The number of areas where public wireless Internet is available in Estonia currently stands at 812, which is by 132 more than six months ago, information gathered by the wifi.ee portal showed.

There are 310 WiFi covered areas now in the capital Tallinn. The number of WiFi covered areas in the capital increased by 50 during the six months, compared with 56 new areas created during the whole of 2005.

The first WiFi covered area in Estonia opened in May 2001.

Estonia Can Build Nine Digital TV Networks

Jun 19 - In accordance with a digital broadcasting plan confirmed last week at a regional broadcasting conference in Geneva, Estonia can build nine national digital broadcasting networks.

In addition, regional networks can be established in the Harjumaa and Virumaa regions.

According to the Communications Board, an important phase in its work to secure the development of digital broadcasting that lasted for nearly three years has been completed. It was a time of active preparations both to reach jointly with neighbouring countries preliminary agreements on frequencies and, on the European plane, to work out the relevant regulations.

The advantages of digital television compared to the present analogue TV system are above all a bigger number of channels, better quality of the image and new services enabled by the digital technology.

In line with a government resolution, Estonia intends to end analogue television broadcasting in 2012.

MISC

Memorial to Rally Co-driver Michael Park Opened in Tallinn

Jun 20 - Prime Minister Andrus Ansip unveiled a memorial to British rally co-driver Michael Park who died last September in an accident during the Wales Rally GB. Park was the co-driver of Estonian rally driver Markko Märtin.

"Michael Park was honoured and loved here in Estonia," Ansip said addressing Michael Park's family during the ceremony beside the Tallinn Bay embankment.

"For us he wasn't a foreigner, he was our co-driver, our own hero. He was a member of the Estonian team," Ansip said.

The memorial by the Estonian sculptor Mati Karmin is in the shape of a cube standing at one of its corners and bearing Park's name.

Present and former rally champions had arrived in Tallinn for the ceremony, including Tommi Mäkinen, Sebastian Loeb, Marcus Grönholm, Colin McRae and Petter Solberg, along with Park's widow and his two children.

Rally team leaders Malcolm Wilson, Christian Loriaux and David Lapworth were also present.

In the evening a charity Star Track karting event was organized to raise money for the Michael Park Fund, which backs projects in Estonia, Britain and elsewhere. Among other highlights, it featured an auction of Park's and Markko Märtin driving outfits.

Photo gallery made by Motorsport.ee

Survey - Almost 98 pct of Young People in Estonia use Internet

Jun 16 - Nearly 98 percent of students of Estonian schools are users of the Internet, and most have a computer at home with an Internet connection, it appears from a survey carried out last fall.

In the MEDIAPRO survey, students who had at least one computer at home made up 90.3 percent of respondents while those having an Internet connection made up 73.1 percent.

Almost all, or 97.8 percent of respondents, said they were users of the Internet. Less than a tenth of the young people involved in the survey said they used the Internet access made available by their school.

The survey also indicates that young people mostly go online to communicate by MSN (80 percent), listen to music and radio (71.6 percent), look for information using a search engine (60.5 percent), download music or films (44.7 percent), and send and read e-mails (43.8 percent).

Metallica performed in Tallinn

Jun 13 - Metallica's only megashow in Northern and Eastern Europe took place at the Song Festival Grounds in Tallinn. 78 000 people from Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Finland, Sweden and Russia enjoyed the show. Metallica chose Welsh band Bullet for My Valentine, Estonian Pedigree and Tanel Padar & The Sun as their special warm-up acts for the concert, giving fans a chance to see 4 bands as a one day “minifestival”.

Jazzkaar and Elwood Muusik brought the World to Estonia

Jun 16-18 - New music festival MAAILMAKÜLA (Global Village) took place in the ruins of the Convent of St. Birgitta (in Tallinn, Estonia) on the 16th, 17th and 18th of June 2006. Many interesting groups and musicians performed during these days: Estonian ethnic metal group Metsatöll and Estonian National Male Choir, Jaipur Kawa Brass Band from India, Congolese super-group Kekélé, 10-piece salsa orchestra Cubanisimo from Cuba, Haydamaky from Ukraine, Afenginn from Denmark, Seto female choir Leiko, Livonian Julgi Stalte with Tulli Lum, Olchey from Tuva, Värttinä and Piiripauke from Finland, and beautiful vocalists Liisi Koikson and Helin-Mari Arder from Estonia.

Festival brought stars to the Estonian National Opera

Jun 13-21 - Opera and ballet festival "Summer Night Stars" was held in the Estonian National Opera. The following popular stagings will be performed during the festival: "Tosca", "Don Giovanni", "La Dame aux Camélias", "Cavalleria rusticana", "Pagliacci", "Cassandra", "Wiener Blut" and "Swan Lake". Besides Estonian soloists, several singers and dancers from different parts of the world performed: Lithuanian soloists Laimonas Pautienius and Asta Kriksciunaite, German soprano Irmgard Vilsmaier, ballet dancers Marina Antonova and Guy Albouy, one of the most famous baritones of Finland Jorma Hynninen, soprano Inga Kalna from Hamburg State Opera and Senol Talinli from Ankara State Opera and Ballet.