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Estonian Review: December 12-25, 2005 
29.12.2005
TOP NEWS
FOREIGN NEWS
DOMESTIC NEWS
ECONOMIC NEWS
TOP NEWS
Foreign Ministry supports international organizations involved with development co-operation
Dec 15 - The Foreign Ministry decided to support the work of several international development co-operation and humanitarian relief organizations through charitable donations.
Foreign Minister Urmas Paet signed a written order, through which the Foreign Ministry shall set-aside a total of 2.4 million kroons from the Ministry's budget meant for development and humanitarian aid.
The Foreign Minister noted that it is easiest to address development problems and certainly most effective to address humanitarian crisis by connecting resources with knowledge, in other words, through the work of international organizations. Continuing to make such donations, shows that in addition to being politically motivated to do so, Estonia has taken some real steps in the direction of helping to improve peoples' well-being in places where international aid is most needed, he said. Estonia's helping hand still cannot reach far from our own region, that's why it is very important to support UN organizations, which use the means provided by our donations, to help people in more distant areas of crisis, added Paet.
Support is directed towards organizations, which deal with development in underdeveloped countries, helping to increase their well being and helping civilians who have suffered as a result of conflicts and natural disasters. The money will go to support the work of the UN's Voluntary Fund for Indigenous Populations, the UN's Voluntary Fund for the International Decade of the World's Indigenous People, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), the UN Development Programme (UNDP), the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), the United Nations Populations Fund (UNFPA), the United Nations office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) for projects in 2006, and the Committee of the International Red Cross (ICRC) for projects in 2005 and 2006.
Estonia has been supporting international organizations with charitable donations since 1996.
Paet: Naming Macedonia an EU candidate would increase the region's stability
Dec 12 - Foreign Minister Urmas Paet participated in the Foreign Minister's Council in Brussels where preparations made by the Presidency of the Council of the European Union for next year's working programme and several foreign policy questions were discussed.
The British presidency made the proposal to give Macedonia status as a EU candidate country and to open accession talks with it.
Macedonia has proved its willingness to reform and consistency in moving towards the EU. Today's decision would be a very significant message both for Macedonia as well as for the entire Western Balkan region, said Paet.
Discussing the Commission's report about the EU's enlargement strategy, the foreign ministers found that the EU's enlargement so far has been based on a clear European perspective and has been successful.
The foreign ministers stressed the importance of promoting reform in countries intent on becoming EU members and expressed their delight at developments in Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Serbia and Montenegro, and Kosovo.
According to Foreign Minister Paet, Estonia has backed the prospect of EU membership for countries of the Western Balkans, because stability and development there is in everyone's interest.
EU Foreign Affairs Commissioner, Benita Ferrero-Waldner offered the ministers an overview of the implementation of the first-year action plans of the EU's neighbourhood policy and priorities for the future. According to Foreign Minister Paet, it is important not to protract negotiations with Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan, because the implementation of such action plans would have a substantial effect on the development of the countries in the South Caucuses, and at the same time, serve as a positive message to the entire region.
Recording conducted by Paavo Järvi nominated for Grammy
Dec 12 - A Grammy nomination was given to Estonian conductor Paavo Järvi for his recording in the category of best instrumental soloist's performance with orchestra.
The nomination was awarded to a production by Virgin Classics of Schumann's "Cello Concerto" and Bloch's "Schelomo" with Paavo Järvi as conductor and Norway's Truls Mørk on cello with Orchestre Philharmonique De Radio France.
Last year Järvi was nominated for his first-ever Grammy title in the category of best choral performance for the performance of Sibelius' Cantatas by the Estonian Ellerhein Girls Choir, the Estonian National Male Choir and the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra with Järvi as conductor, and Tiia-Ester Loitme and Ants Soots as chorus masters.
Paavo Järvi is music director of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, arts director of the German Chamber Philharmonic, Bremen, and artistic adviser to the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra.
Beginning next season, he will also work as music director of the Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra.
FOREIGN NEWS
Foreign policy deliberations held in the Estonian Parliament (Riigikogu)
Dec 13 - Minister of Foreign Affairs, Urmas Paet and Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Enn Eesmaa made reports on the status of Estonia's foreign policy and its objectives before the Estonian Parliament (Riigikogu).
The Minister of Foreign Affairs concentrated his report on two main subjects - the European Union and security policy.
In addition to talking about the financial perspective, competitiveness and R&D activities of the European Union, Mr. Paet also highlighted the importance of the deliberation of the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe.
According to Mr. Paet, the Treaty establishing the European Constitution makes the EU function in a more democratic and transparent way, and also strengthens Estonia's possibilities to act more wilfully in foreign relations.
Tackling the second theme, the Minister of Foreign Affairs stated that during the whole period of the restoration of independence, the starting points of Estonian security policy had been the priorities of transatlantic relations. Mr. Paet valued highly the participation of members of the Estonian Defence Forces in international peacekeeping missions, stating that it was an efficient possibility to stand for Estonia's security interests.
The Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee Enn Eesmaa also focused in his speech on the subjects related to the European Union. As to the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe, Mr. Eesmaa marked that for the implementation of some of the objectives stipulated, it would not be necessary to wait for the ratification of the Treaty by all the Member States. As to the foreign policy of the European Union, we have stressed the need to establish the structures proceeding from the Constitutional Treaty and to work out the mechanisms of common foreign and security policy and the defence policy on the basis of the Nice Treaty, without waiting for the enforcement of the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe, Mr. Eesmaa said. According to Mr. Eesmaa, in connection with the enlargement of the European Union and common foreign and security policy, the subjects of the European neighbourhood policy, as well as rendering development assistance, have become much more important.
EU member countries reached an agreement on the budgetary framework
Dec 17 - According to Prime Minister Andrus Ansip, reaching an agreement on the budget was a very important accomplishment for the European Union. The agreement proves that the recently widened bloc can make important decisions for the future.
According to Prime Minister Ansip, a number of important problems were solved with the agreement opening the door for further reform. The Prime Minister emphasized that now it is important for Estonia to make good use of the means provided to it through European solidarity.
Europe needed a positive outcome and thanks to our unified efforts, this has become a reality, said the Prime Minister. A strong and integrated European Union is in every way in Estonia's interests, he added.
The budgetary proposals have improved step by step over the last several days. We can consider the current solution fully fair. This budget shows that solidarity is still of utmost importance in the European Union, said Ansip.
Finnish Foreign Minister visited Estonia
Dec 19 - Finnish Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja made a one-day working visit to Estonia. Tuomioja met with Foreign Minister Urmas Paet where topical issues connected to the European Union were discussed, including an overview of the European Council, the Constitutional Treaty, Common Security and Defence Policy, EU enlargement, neighbourhood policy and the situation in the Western Balkans. Paet and Tuomioja also considered relations between the European Union and Russia and Estonia's relationship with Finland.
DOMESTIC NEWS
Government endorses plan to develop Estonian food
Dec 15 - The government approved a plan called Estonian Food, which is aimed at enhancing the competitiveness of Estonian food both at home and abroad over the years 2006-2008.
The general purpose of the plan is to help chart the state of affairs in the production, processing, marketing and consumption of food.
The plan initiated by Agriculture Minister Ester Tuiksoo, seeks to shape the image of typical Estonian food, boost competitiveness and help to make consumers in Estonia and abroad more satisfied with Estonian food products.
The development plan sets objectives and a possible course of action for 2006-2008. Requests for permission to grant state aid must be filed with the European Commission in accordance to the valid laws and regulations. The state budget for 2006 sets aside 20 million kroons (EUR 1.28 mln) to carry out the development plan.
Estonian govt allocates funds for bird flu prevention
Dec 22 - The Estonian government has allocated 375,000 kroons (EUR 24,000) from its reserve fund to the Veterinary and Food Board to cover the expenses of a work group looking into the risk of the spread of bird flu through migratory birds.
The group made up of ornithologists and specialists from the veterinary authority and the University of Life Sciences is to assess the risk of bird flu spreading to Estonia. It will identify the country's high-risk areas accordingly and devise preventive measures.
As the state budget provides no funds for bird flu prevention, the Agriculture Ministry applied for the appropriation of 600,000 kroons from the government's reserve fund to cover the expenses of the group, including 375,000 kroons this year.
The funds will be used to meet the expenses that poultry farmers must undergo as a result of extra inspections, costs of the risk analysis group and the cost of compiling information materials on bird flu.
The panel held its first meeting at the beginning of last month and met again in mid-December. The next meetings will be convened as and when necessary.
The meetings analyzed the current situation related to the spread of bird flu, steps taken by the European Union and Estonia, contingency plans for an outbreak of the disease, and possibilities of co-operation to identify wild bird species most endangered by bird flu and their nesting areas.
The group is supposed to complete its risk analysis ahead of the spring migration, or by the middle of March.
ECONOMIC NEWS
Estonia: Development fund to be financed from state budget
Dec 20 - The Estonian Science and Development Council (TAN) endorsed a bill for the development fund, which will be financed from the state budget.
TAN, headed by Prime Minister Andrus Ansip and comprising the ministers of finance, economic affairs and communications and of education and science, decided that the fund would be established on the basis of public law and would be financed from the state budget.
According to plans, the development fund will invest into the equity capital of science and technology extensive Estonian companies. The fund's holding in the companies would never be higher than 49 percent, with the rest of the investment coming from private capital.
The amount of state investment into the fund over five years will total 500 million kroons (EUR 32 mln).
Currency Rates in Kroons
December 25, 2005
British pound - GBP - 22.882
Canadian dollar - CAD - 11.308
Swiss franc - CHF - 10.056
Danish krone - DKK - 2.098
Japanese yen - JPY - 0.113
Latvian lat - LVL - 22.467
Lithuanian lit - LTL - 4.532
Norwegian krone - NOK - 1.945
Russian rouble - RUB - 0.458
Swedish krona - SEK - 1.657
US dollar - USD - 13.167
Euro - EUR - 15.647
EESTI RINGVAADE is compiled from local news services, including BNS, and is issued by the Press and Information Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Eesti Ringvaade is also available through the Internet at http://www.vm.ee
To subscribe please contact: vmpress@vm.ee
 
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