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Estonian Review: December 5-11, 2005 
15.12.2005
TOP NEWS
FOREIGN NEWS
DEFENCE NEWS
DOMESTIC NEWS
ECONOMIC NEWS
TOP NEWS
Estonian Foreign Minister worried about potential decline of OSCE role
Dec 06 - Taking the floor at a meeting of foreign ministers from countries apart of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) in Ljubljana, Slovenia, Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Paet said he was concerned about a possible decline in the organization's role.
Speaking about reform of the organization, Paet said that administrative and structural re-shuffling would not suffice to revive OSCE activity.
"What we really need is more readiness on the part of member nations to carry out their obligations," Paet stressed.
"Otherwise, the role of the OSCE in international relations could become marginalized."
The minister stressed the importance of the OSCE in solving the frozen conflicts of Southern Caucasus and Moldova, saying that these issues must assume an important role in the OSCE agenda.
In his speech Paet underlined the high importance of carrying out obligations taken in 1999 in Istanbul. "We welcome the Russian steps in the withdrawal of troops from Georgia and also encourage Russia to expediently remove its troops from Moldova," he said.
The minister said the role of the OSCE is important also in the protection of developments of the human dimension and protection of minorities in member countries.
"The OSCE has unique experience in these spheres and they can certainly be developed," Paet said. "Estonia has a lot of experience in social integration and the introduction of new technologies related to it-- for example in electronic voting, which we are ready to share."
Paet: Success in Afghanistan depends on wider co-operation
Dec 8 - Foreign Minister Urmas Paet took part in the NATO Foreign Ministers meeting in Brussels.
Meetings of the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council, the NATO-Ukraine Commission and NATO-Russia Council also took place in the framework of the foreign ministers meeting.
At the Foreign Ministers meeting, topics discussed included, NATO missions and operation, modernization and issues related to future gatherings.
When foreign minister Paet took the floor, he confirmed Estonia's plans to increase the composition of Estonian military mission units serving as apart of ISAF in Afghanistan. At the same time, the foreign minister also stressed that success in Afghanistan depends on wider co-operation. What's important is that Afghanistanis are given a greater role in building up their nation, while NATO and other international organizations support co-operation in helping to bring stability and democracy to Afghanistan, said Paet.
Speaking about future NATO meetings, the foreign minister expressed his satisfaction that the 2006 NATO summit will take place in Riga and that that meeting will be centred on NATO transformation. We have to be ready to deal with new threats, while remaining steadfast to the principle of unified defence. In Estonia's opinion these two aims are not in conflict, said Paet.
Speaking about NATO's further expansion, the Foreign Minister repeated that new candidate countries should be assessed based on their preparedness to join the organization.
At the luncheon where the foreign ministers of NATO and partner countries met, the topic of conversation concerned the principles of partnership.
Urmas Paet noted that the allies and partners need to stay true to underlying principles and the neglect of these principles should not go unnoticed. Estonia highly regards efforts made by its partners to signify partnership principles in everyday co-operation and to hold debates on the theme. Only in that way will we be able to maintain a trustful relationship, noted Paet.
At the meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Commission, it was recognized that NATO-Ukrainian co-operation has been successful and the importance of the upcoming parliamentary elections was stressed in terms of the on-going development of relations. Urmas Paet confirmed that Estonia considers Ukraine's successful and frequent co-operation with NATO important to the region and also to Europe's stability in a wider sense.
Estonian, Russian Foreign Ministers discuss bi-lateral relations
Dec 6 - Foreign Minister Urmas Paet met his Russian Colleague, Sergei Lavrov in the framework of the OSCE Foreign Ministers meeting. The issues discussed at the meeting focused on topical bi-lateral questions, the two countries' contractual basis and EU-Russia relations.
At the beginning of the meeting in the Slovenian capital, Ljubljana, the ministers noted that it is the desire of both sides to confirm efforts of building good neighbourly relations. We must focus on further development of our relations and future perspectives, Paet underlined.
Foreign Minister Lavrov proposed to re-invigorate the inter-governmental commission in which Russia should enhance its legal basis.
The Estonian foreign minister said the inter-governmental commission is an important instrument in the two countries' relations. In our opinion the inter-governmental commission's opportunities in the development of a bi-lateral contractual basis are far from exhausted," Paet said.
Lavrov said Russia is working with an economic and trade agreement that would form their basis for the work of the commission.
Apart from that the two officials discussed the two countries' contractual basis, which has become the stumbling block to the signing or entry into force of a number of economic and social agreements.
The ministers also touched upon the issue of the Estonian-Russian border treaties, but stuck to different opinions.
The Estonian Foreign Minister raised the issue concerning the president's badge of office and of the property of the Tartu University art museum. Lavrov said that Russia intends to return the badge of office and was busy looking for a legal settlement to the issue.
Lavrov was ready for further consultations concerning the property of the Tartu University art museum
Furthermore, the two officials discussed co-operation between the two countries in the construction of a new bridge across the Narva River, as well as joint activity in the framework of the Nordic Dimension and in such spheres as the fight against human and drug trafficking.
Paet said the Narva Bridge is not just an issue of infrastructure. "The border bridge also has symbolic meaning," Paet said. "It is one of the largest land links between the European Union and north-western Russia. The current bridge no longer meets today's requirements." Lavrov confirmed that Russia is interested in co-operating on the construction of the Narva Bridge. He says that interesting projects should be based on the framework of the Nordic Dimension.
He stated that, co-operation between Russian and Estonian agencies in the obstruction of crime is good and will certainly continue.
The ministers also exchanged ideas on the process of integration of non-citizens in Estonia and spoke about the planned school reform.
Paet said the aim of education reform is to give graduates of secondary school a sense of security in the future. "Having passed part of the curriculum in Estonian they will be sufficiently prepared to continue their studies in Estonia and will be able to better manage their lives in the society," Paet said. "They will even have a slight advantage over others, as they will have good command of two languages."
The ministers also discussed the future of the European Union and Russia after 2007. Paet stated that Estonia wanted to see continuity and constructiveness in the relations between the EU and Russia.
In conclusion, the ministers agreed to a closer exchange of information in the future and the need for continued bi-lateral political consultations.
FOREIGN NEWS
Estonia to continue aid to Georgia
Dec 06 - Foreign Minister Urmas Paet met with Georgian Foreign Minister, Gela Bezhuashvili in the framework of the OSCE Foreign Ministers meeting, held in the 3+3 format, which included the foreign ministers of the Baltic States and countries of the Southern Caucuses.
In their meeting, the two discussed Georgia's movement in the direction of the EU and NATO and Estonia's development aid to Georgi. According to the words of Foreign Minister Paet, Georgia has many friends and supporters in the international community who all would like to sincerely support Tiblisi. At the same time, it is clear that the key to successful development is still in Georgia's own hands and that Georgia can help itself out the most, said Paet. The most significant movement in the direction of Europe is doing one's homework, he stressed.
The parties also discussed Estonia's future development aid to Georgia. Foreign Minister Paet confirmed that Georgia is among the primary countries of focus in Estonia's planned development co-operation also for 2006.
The Georgian Foreign Minister said that he has begun to reform the foreign ministry in his country and of course the experience of his Estonian colleagues is warmly welcomed, especially in the area of information technology and political planning. The Georgian side also expressed great interest in the training opportunities of its diplomats at the Estonian School of Diplomacy. It was agreed upon that Georgia will present Estonia with a detailed wish-list in the near future.
During the meeting Paet extended an invitation to Bezhuashvili to visit Estonia.
Paet: Budget proposals by the current EU presidency cannot be accepted
Dec 07 - Foreign Minister Urmas Paet attended a conclave of Foreign minister in Brussels, where the focus was on Great Britain's proposed budget plan for 2007-2013.
Great Britain's Foreign Minister, Jack Straw clarified the principles and changes made to this year's proposed budget plan compared to the proposals made by the last EU president, Luxembourg and stressed that the current solution is realistic and was formed in the favour of all of the members.
Estonian Foreign Minster, Paet said that although reaching an agreement in the upcoming European council is in everyone's favour, but with the president's proposals it would be very complicated to continue the progress.
According to Paet, that the proposals for building up the budget structure are not in agreement with the European Union's political aim, to turn European into a competitive economic space and they don't help to modernize the budget.
Speaking on the subject of decreasing the structural and cohesion funds of the new members, which for Estonia would mean a 10% loss, Paet said that the reduction, which it is hoped that the new members will agree on is 10 percent larger than the proposed reduction of the British rebate.
In their speeches the foreign ministers stressed the importance of solidarity, and at the same time, the need to bear in mind the intentions of expansion. The budget should express promises made in the face of expansion, supporting the principles of solidarity, noted Paet. Before saying that new members are not able to make use of funding, we should be given a chance, he said.
According to Foreign Minister's words, there are also some positive elements to the proposals, the most important of which is review of the budget. Short term goals should not be in conflict with long term ones - today's budget must also apply to the future, said Paet.
Estonian, Latvian presidents underline importance of Baltic countries' unity
Dec 07 - Meeting in Riga, Latvian President Vaira Vika-Freiberga and Estonian President Arnold Rüütel underlined the importance of the Baltic countries' unity.
At a press conference in Riga Rüütel recalled importance of the Baltic countries' unity in the re-establishment of independence.
"We won our freedom together," he said, adding that co-operation between Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania helped the three countries accede to NATO and the European Union and to carry out important reforms in transition from one system to another.
Estonian MPs set up Estonian-African Parliamentary group
Dec 06 - Nine members of the Estonian parliament set up an Estonian-African parliamentary group.
Toomas Alatalu from the People's Union was elected chairman and Mart Nutt from the Pro Patria Union, deputy chairman of the group.
Besides, Centrists Enn Eesmaa, Helle Kalda and Arnold Kimber, members of the People's Union Margi Ein, Mati Kepp and Tiit Tammsaar and Res Publica's Sven Sester joined the group.
The parliamentary group was set up after a round table on Africa took place. Par Granstedt, deputy chairman of the European parliamentarians' African association, Victor Rayevski, former economic adviser of East-African countries and British ambassador to Estonia Nigel Haywood, attended the roundtable.
Parliamentary groups are set up to promote closer bi-lateral co-operation with other countries' parliaments, and to implement Estonia's foreign policy aims abroad.
DEFENCE NEWS
Estonian parliament supported extension of Afghanistan and Kosovo missions
Dec 07 - The Estonian parliament unanimously passed bills extending the defence forces' missions in Afghanistan and Kosovo.
Extension of the mission in Afghanistan collected 76 votes and of that in Kosovo 74 votes in favour. There were no against votes or abstentions.
The term of deployment of Estonian mission units in Afghanistan was extended two years upon the day the decision enters into force.
Afghanistan will become Estonia's biggest defence forces mission, with up to 150 personnel deployed in that country.
According to plans, the size of the mission unit will number up to 120 personnel by the end of next year. The Estonians will be serving in the reconstruction of the Helmand province under British command.
About 19.2 million kroons (EUR 1.2 mln) has been earmarked for the Afghanistan mission in this year's budget and about 82.3 million kroons for next year. This includes the costs of adapting combat machinery. The pre-mission and mission costs of the defence forces are to be covered by the Defence Ministry's budget.
The Estonian defence forces have taken part in the NATO peacekeeping mission in Afghanistan since March 2003. At present there are 23 members of the defence forces, serving in NATO's ISAF peacekeeping operation.
As of 1 January 2006, the term of Estonian defence forces units in NATO's KFOR peacekeeping force in Kosovo, has been extended by two years.
Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania man the Baltic reconnaissance squadron, BATLSQN, which is under Danish battalion command. The multi-national brigade in the north-eastern region of the NATO KFOR forces by rotates every six months. The Estonian company BALTSQN-10 returned from its mission this February. In the period between rotations, Estonian staff officers take part in the peacekeeping operation.
BALTSQN was first despatched to Kosovo in February 2003.
An Estonian military police platoon makes up part of a multi-national special present in Kosovo. The 22-strong unit, ESTPATROL, serves in an Italian carabinieri regiment and has been taking part in the mission in Kosovo since 1999.
At present there are 23 Estonian soldiers serving in Kosovo, of them, 21 serve in the composition of ESTPATROL-12 and two officers at KFOR headquarters. ESTPATROL-13 left for Kosovo in the beginning of the month and the 68-strong BALTSQN will leave next March.
ESTPLA-12 left for Iraq after parliament supported extension of mission
Dec 11 - The advance team of ESTPLA-12 flew to Iraq to take over equipment from the leaving unit, ESTPLA-11 and get familiarized with its area of responsibility and tasks.
This happened after the government bill, extending the mission to Iraq by one year, to begin 1 January 2006, was approved by parliament on Wednesday 7 December. The bill collected 68 votes in favour, with three votes against. Estonian Soldiers have served in Iraq since June 2003.
Estonian Prime Minister met NATO Secretary-General in Brussels
Dec 06 - Estonian Prime Minister Andrus Ansip met with NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer in Brussels to discuss issues connected with NATO missions and air space security.
The Prime Minister underlined the importance of NATO operations in guaranteeing security in the world and pointed out that the ISAF international security aid mission under NATO command in Afghanistan was also a priority for Estonia.
"In 2006, we will considerably step up our contribution to the ISAF mission. Also, preparations are now underway for participation in the provincial reconstruction teams in Afghanistan," the prime minister said.
The NATO secretary-general expressed his high opinion of Estonia's plan to increase its presence in Afghanistan and thanked Estonia for its contributions in that country, as well as in Iraq and Kosovo.
Ansip said issues connected with air space security continued to be of high importance for Estonia. "Air space security is an issue of NATO unity and credibility. We need a strong and long-term solution," the prime minister said.
The NATO secretary-general remarked that the air space of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania is apart of NATO's common air space. We will do our best to ensure that its protection is solid and adequate in every respect, Scheffer underlined.
Renewal of NATO and issues connected with its enlargement were also addressed during the meeting.
The Estonian prime minister underlined that in the enlargement of NATO, it is important to assess each country individually and to make decisions in accordance with each candidate's level of preparation.
First Estonian women officer started service in Iraq
Dec 05 - Ensign Merle Ott began a six-month stint as press officer in Iraq on 5 December. She will be the first woman officer of the Estonian defence forces to serve in the mission there.
Ott, who had served as press officer at the foreign and public relations department of the general staff of the Kaitseliit (Defence League) volunteer corps, replaced Capt. Ülo Isberg in Iraq.
"My primary task is to keep the Estonian public informed about what our soldiers are doing in Iraq, but of course I'll also try to prompt international media to speak more about Estonian soldiers," Ott said.
A sociology graduate from Tartu University, Ott had worked at the Kaitseliit headquarters since 2000.
She flew to Iraq together with an advance team of the light infantry platoon ESTPLA-12.
Membership of Estonia's Kaitseliit rises above 10,000
Dec 09 - The Tallinn company of Estonia's Kaitseliit (Defence League) volunteer corps admitted nine new members as a result of which membership of the organization rose above 10,000 for the first time since the restoration of Estonia's independence.
An average member of Kaitseliit is a male national of Estonia in his thirties with a secondary or higher education.
"A member of Kaitseliit is a person who dedicates a part of his free time to the benefit of the whole society. Our increasing and ever younger membership proves that the state of Estonia can confidently face the future," the chief of Kaitseliit, Maj. Benno Laasik said.
Together with auxiliary units Noored Kotkad (Young Eagles), girl scouts' organization, Kodutütred and women's corps Naiskodukaitse, Kaitseliit has more than 19,000 members.
At the end of 1939 the volunteer corps had 42,673 members and with the membership of auxiliary units, the organization included 99,000 citizens in total. The pre-war Kaitseliit was the country's largest volunteer organization.
DOMESTIC NEWS
Estonian parliament raises tobacco and alcohol prices
Dec 07 - The Estonian parliament passed amendments to the alcohol, tobacco and fuel excise bill, under which cigarettes and alcohol will rise in price and strong alcohol excise stamps will be issued.
The amendment collected 51 votes in favour and 21 against.
In accordance with the amendment, a rise in the excise on diesel and light fuel oil will be postponed until 1 January 2007 and the sale of strong alcohol in containers lacking an excise stamp will be prohibited as of 30 September 2006.
Before the bill was amended, strong alcoholic beverages could be sold without excise stamps until the end of 2007.
The aim of applying excise stamps to strong alcohol containers is to contract the bootleg market. The Tax and Customs Board estimates that next year 25 million excise stamps will be needed.
The act raises the excise tax rate on cigarettes this year to the level established for it in the act currently in effect for 2007 and in 2007, to the level of 2008. A package of cigarettes that now costs 18 kroons (EUR 1.15) is expected to rise by 2.22 kroons, or 12.3 percent as of 1 July 2006.
The second act, where the excise was foreseen to rise by 5 percent each year, was replaced by a one-time rise of 10 percent as of next 1 July 2006.
ECONOMIC NEWS
Estonian Prime Minister meets EU commissioner to discuss adoption of Euro
Dec 06 - Estonian Prime Minister Andrus Ansip and Joaquin Almunia, finance commissioner of the European Union discussed adoption of the euro by Estonia.
During the meeting, Ansip informed the commissioner that Estonia was holding its course for the planned accession to the euro zone as of January 1, 2007.
The prime minister gave the commissioner an overview of the preparations towards the adoption of the euro and of the Estonian economic situation in general.
Almunia said Estonia's economic development have been impressive and there is reason to be satisfied with the country's economic policy. In his opinion Estonia's technical preparations have been good and have satisfied the expectations of the Commission.
Both Ansip and Almunia found that although Estonia's present deadline of acceding to the euro zone, 1 January 2007 is complicated because of the inflation criterion, it is still possible for Estonia to meet all the terms required to adopt the euro, ensuring accession to the euro zone at the projected time.
The prime minister underlined that Estonia accepts all the rules of accession to the euro zone and does not want any exceptions. He added that Estonia respects those criteria and Estonia's main concern is a clear and open economic policy.
Ansip underlined that Estonia will continue to seriously work with the technical preparations to ensure a smooth transition to the euro.
Estonian parliament adopts 2006 state budget
Dec 07 - The Estonian parliament adopted a 61.4 billion kroon (EUR 3.92 b) state budget for 2006.
The bill setting out the state budget to the sum of 61,417,894,543 kroons was passed in the 101-seat chamber by votes of 56-24 with four abstentions.
The budget for 2006 is 6.2 billion kroons or 11.2 percent larger than this year's state budget. It will cut the rate of income tax by a further one percentage point from 24 percent to 23 points and increase non-taxable income from the present 1,700 kroons to 2,000 kroons a month.
External funds make up 6.8 billion kroons, or 11 percent of the budget's 61.4 billion kroon volume.
At 1.7 billion kroons, pension increases account for more than a quarter of the overall increase in the size of the budget. The budget also extends the period during which the parent's benefit is paid, to 15 months.
Income tax revenue totals 49 billion kroons of the new budget, accounting for 80 percent of overall revenue. Tax revenue is expected to rise 10.8 percent in 2006 in comparison to the tax revenue projection for 2005.
Income tax is expected to bring 6.02 billion kroons and social tax 20.07 billion kroons into the state coffers next year.
Currency Rates in Kroons
December 11, 2005
British pound - GBP - 23.223
Canadian dollar - CAD - 11.459
Swiss franc - CHF - 10.171
Danish krone - DKK - 2.100
Japanese yen - JPY - 0.110
Latvian lat - LVL - 22.422
Lithuanian lit - LTL - 4.532
Norwegian krone - NOK - 1.975
Russian rouble - RUB - 0.459
Swedish krona - SEK - 1.661
US dollar - USD - 13.286
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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