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Estonian Review: November 28 - December 4, 2005
09.12.2005
TOP NEWS
FOREIGN NEWS
DEFENCE NEWS
ECONOMIC NEWS
CULTURAL NEWS
TOP NEWS
Estonian government approved state anti-Aids strategy 2006-2015
Dec 01 - The Estonian government confirmed a state anti-HIV/AIDS strategy for 2006-2015 and action plan for 2006-2009, setting up a commission to steer their implementation.
The overall objective of the strategy is to bring about a steady downward trend in the spread of HIV infection. This involves increasing awareness among the population on the ways HIV is transmitted and to promote a decline in hazardous sexual behaviour.
Another aim of the plan is to improve the quality of life of those infected with HIV and AIDS and to make the necessary treatment available to them.
To help evaluate the effectively of the strategy, a monitoring and assessment unit will be formed at the Health Institute, whose task will be to develop a data collection system, to collect and analyse the data and to regularly inform the public about trends concerning the virus. It will also report the success of measures undertaken by the state.
Minister of Social Affairs, Jaak Aab told reporters that the government-approved strategy provides for a significant increase in HIV/AIDS-related spending.
This year, Estonia is spending 56 million kroons (EUR 3.6 mln), including foreign aid to combat HIV and AIDS.
Plans are to raise this sum to 400 million kroons by 2009. By that time it is planned that all the funding will come completely from the state budget.
The strategy establishes concrete indicators by which to control the success in the fight against HIV and AIDS, the minister said. The rate of HIV infection in Estonia currently stands at 55 per 100,000 people. The plan is to reduce this number by the year 2015 to 20 per 100,000.
According to a recent report by the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDD), there is some hope that the high point in the HIV-epidemic in Estonia and Latvia has passed.
Estonian President made state visit to Portugal
Dec 01 - From 28 November- 1 December President Arnold Rüütel made a state visit to Portugal. He met with the president of Portugul, Jorge Sampaio, leading figures of the Portuguese parliament, and Portuguese Prime Minister, Jose Socrates. The Estonian President also spoke at a joint Estonian-Portuguese business seminar and met with the Mayors of both Lisbon and Porto.
The topics discussed at the meeting of the presidents covered Estonian-Portuguese bilateral relations and relations within the framework of the European Union and NATO. It was stated that since President Sampaio's visit to Estonia in 2003, relations between the two countries were advancing rapidly and the first ambassador of Portugal, residing in Tallinn had started her work in Estonia. The EU Neighbourhood Policy and relations with Russia were also discussed, and in that connection, the need of having a unified EU policy towards Russia was highlighted.
In the words of the presidents, it is necessary to preserve Europe's diversity, but at the same time also its cohesion - which most likely will be accomplished, and therefore there is no reason to be pessimistic about the future of Europe.
During the course of his state visit, President Rüütel also met with Jaime Gama, Chairman of the Portuguese parliament and with leaders of the parliamentary factions where the possibility for further development of bi-lateral relations was discussed, including co-operation at an inter-parliamentary level.
Thereafter, the Head of the Estonian State visited Lisbon's Town Hall, where the Mayor of Lisbon, Antonio Carmona Rodrigues reiceved the guests. In his greeting address, Mayor Rodrigues said that he has followed with pride and satisfaction the growth of a small Estonian community in Lisbon. Within the EU context, Portugal and Estonia are building a common future, and it is natural that we extend a friendly hand to each other, said the Mayor.
In the speech he delivered at the business seminar, held in the Portuguese Industrial Association (AIP), the president said that acting within the EU's common economic space facilitates the intensification of economic co-operation with the states that in the past Estonia has had little contact with, including Portugal. Estonian export to Portugal has grown over the last years, but the share of mutual trade exchange in total trade volume is nevertheless small, the Estonian Head of State said and added that he sees a lot of possibilities for further development of bilateral economic relations in the field of investment, trade and tourism.
At his meeting with Prime Minister Jose Socrates, topical issues of the European Union, including the issue of the financial perspective were discussed.
Before concluding his trip, President Rüütel visited Portugal's second largest city of Porto, where he met with Mayor Rui Rio in the Porto city hall and later visited the Estonian Honorary Consulate there.
Winners of the Foreign Ministry's Christmas quiz from Portugal and Belarus
Dec 01 - A record number of people took part in this year's Christmas quiz, administered by the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, testing quiz-takers' knowledge on various Estonian topics. This years prize-winning entries came from Portugal and Belarus.
The main prizes went to Paulo Medeiros from Portugal and Yuri Belogub from Belarus. Consolation prizes were awarded to entries from the United States, Canada, Ireland and Russia.
A record 2,165 people from 69 countries took part in this year's Estonian Christmas quiz. The biggest number of answers arrived from the United States, Russia and Germany, but they also came from countries such as Afghanistan, Peru, the United Arab Emirates, Chile, Colombia, Ghana and Kazakhstan.
The quiz consisted of 12 questions concerning various aspects of life in Estonia with multiple-choice answers.
The English version of the quiz received answers from 1,638 persons of whom 1,267 answered all of the questions correctly. The Russian version drew in 527 entries of which, 428 were correct.
The winners were decided in a drawing carried out by Foreign Minister Urmas Paet.
The main prize for both the English and Russian quizzes are: air tickets for two to Estonia and back, hotel accommodation, sightseeing in Tallinn, dinners at restaurants, and the Tallinn Card, among other things. The 2005 Christmas quiz was the eighth of its kind.
FOREIGN NEWS
President Rüütel participated in forum of state heads in Ukraine
Dec 2 - President Arnold Rüütel met with the President of Ukraine, Viktor Jushchenko in Kiev and participated in a forum of the heads of state of the countries of the Baltic Sea, Black Sea and Caspian Sea regions, where the presidents of Georgia, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Romania and Moldova also participated.
In the speech he delivered at a forum of the heads of state from those countries, President Rüütel said the supreme goal of any state should be the protection of interests and the well being of the people. I am confident that this goal can be achieved through commitment to the development of civil society, guaranteeing of human rights and freedoms, and rule of law, the Head of Estonian State said.
In the event that our experience can be helpful and applicable, we are constantly ready to support your reform process. We are ready to facilitate the development of democracy in Ukraine and the strengthening of relations with the European Union. It is essential that we treat Ukraine, but also Moldova and Georgia as independent states, respecting their foreign policy choices, the President of the Republic stated.
At the meeting with the President of Ukraine, the current situation of bi-lateral relations was discussed and it was found that both sides are actively interested in developing further contacts. President Rüütel confirmed the readiness of Estonia to support the reform process in Ukraine by sharing its experiences.
Estonian judge elected vice president of CE judges' council
Nov 29 - Estonian Supreme Court judge, Julia Laffranque was elected Vice President of the Council of Europe's Consultative Council of European Judges.
Representatives of 46 member countries of the CE elected Laffranque, 31, to be Vice President of the advisory body at a session in Strasbourg last week.
Laffranque's mandate in this position runs for two years.
The Committee of Ministers of the European human rights watchdog set up the council of judges in 2000 to give member states recommendations on how to improve the standards in the administration of justice. The council is unique in Europe in that it consists exclusively of judges. The latest recommendations of the body concerned courts' relations with the public and the media. Earlier recommendations dealt with the independence of judges, additional training, ethics and responsibility, and fair trial.
"The next issue concerning the body's future agenda is to address the fight against terrorism," said Laffranque. "To my mind, the Council of Europe pays even more attention than the European Union to the subject of the courts and the judiciary. The EU focuses mainly on harmonization of legislation and relations with the European court, whereas the Council of Europe approaches the subject more broadly and thoroughly, including the role of judges in society," she observed.
Ansip: All parties benefit from Mediterranean free trade area
Nov 28 - At the summit of the European Union and the other Mediterranean countries held in Barcelona, Prime Minister Andrus Ansip emphasised the need to liberalise trade relations and the market for agricultural products.
As a European Union border state, Estonia is well aware of how important it is to create a zone of welfare and stability near the external borders of the Union. Regional and economic co-operation are of key importance for achieving this, said the Prime Minister.
Andrus Ansip pointed out the plan to establish a free trade area of the European Union and the Mediterranean countries by 2010, as a good example of the economic co-operation of the countries located in the region.
Along with the recent decision to start a debate for the opening of the European Union market to the agricultural products of other Mediterranean countries, these are steps in the right direction. Simplification of trade relations has helped Estonia achieve very rapid economic growth. I am convinced that all the parties will benefit from the further opening of markets in the Mediterranean area, along with the European Union as a whole, said Andrus Ansip.
Ansip: "The EU's Budget should be based on solidarity"
Dec 01 - The budget of the European Union should be based on solidarity, said Estonian Prime Minister, Andrus Ansip after meeting in Tallin with British Prime Minister Tony Blair and his Latvian and Lithuanian counterparts.
Blair, whose country holds the rotating EU presidency until the end of the year, discussed the 25-nation bloc's spending plans with his Baltic colleagues in general terms not mentioning exact figures, before the British government was scheduled to issue its proposals on the EU financial perspective 2007-2013 to the European Commission on, Monday 5 December.
Prime Minister Andrus Ansip told reporters after the meeting of government heads that Estonia is not happy with the proposed cuts in EU aid.
In Ansip's words, speedy adoption of the EU financial perspective for 2007-2013 is of high importance to the Baltic States, because if it is delayed, problems with the flow of support monies from Brussels coffers will arise. He added at the same time that the Baltic States couldn't agree to just any budget proposal.
According to Ansip, the enlargement of the EU was a great success and the poorer member states are counting on the solidarity of the bloc.
Ansip expressed his satisfaction that the Baltic heads of government had the chance to exchange views with the British premier.
Estonia is interested in fast development and in turning from a recipient of EU aid to a net contributor as soon as possible, but at this point the richer member countries should support the less well-to-do members of the bloc, Ansip said.
Blair said he did not make any concrete proposals to his Baltic colleagues and that the four discussed the 25-nation bloc's spending plans in general terms.
The EU budget planning principles require radical reform, he told reporters. In his words, the budget must support the bloc's co-operation for economic, technological and scientific development and look to the future.
According to Blair, Britain accepts that the poorer member countries of the EU need to receive funds from the bloc's budget so as to bridge the gap between the old and the new member states.
He criticized the present spending policy, which directs 40 percent of the EU budget into farm subsidies.
Blair noted that a deal on the EU budget for 2007-2013 also depends on World Trade Organization talks in Hong Kong later this month, which are going to focus on the rich and poor countries' differences concerning agricultural subsidies.
WTO's failure to reach agreement on this issue means a smaller EU budget, he observed.
DEFENCE NEWS
Estonian army chief visited NATO centres in Portugal
Nov 30 - The commander of the Estonian defence forces, Vice Adm. Tarmo Kõuts, who accompanied President Arnold Rüütel on a state visit to Portugal, met with his Portuguese counterpart and visited NATO agencies based in the Iberian country.
At Kõuts' meeting with the chief of the Portuguese defence forces, Adm. Jose Mendes Cabecadas, the ongoing missions to Afghanistan and Kosovo, opportunities for co-operation between land forces, Portugal's possible participation in the activity of the Estonia-based Baltic Defence College, and NATO re-organization were under discussion.
Kõuts also visited the general staff of Portugal's land forces where the peace enforcement operation in Afghanistan was the principal topic of discussion.
Later, the army chief visited the NATO analysis centre, which has the task of collecting, and analysing the experiences and recommendations gathered from the alliance's operations, exercises and training.
"It is important to study the ongoing operations and learn from them, and make changes accordingly," Kõuts said.
Kõuts also attended a staff exercise of NATO's rapid response force staged by the alliance's headquarters in Portugal.
ECONOMIC NEWS
Young, educated Estonians among strongest proponents of Euro - survey
Dec 02 - According to a survey carried out in November by the polling agency, TNS Emor, forty-one percent of Estonia's residents are in favour of the planned introduction of the Euro, while 54 percent are against it.
Supporters of the common currency prevail among respondents with a higher education.
Respondents who have a higher-than-average income and those younger than 35 were divided roughly in half over their support for the common currency.
Support for the euro was lowest among Russian-speakers and people aged over 51.
While support for the Euro has declined among most other socio-economic groups last month, support for the Euro by people with a higher education has grown by 8 percent.
The survey revealed that Estonians are generally well informed about the common European currency. 81 percent of the respondents knew the exchange rate of the kroon to the Euro.
Currency Rates in Kroons
December 4, 2005
British pound - GBP - 23.099
Canadian dollar - CAD - 11.461
Swiss franc - CHF - 10.135
Danish krone - DKK - 2.100
Japanese yen - JPY - 0.111
Latvian lat - LVL - 22.472
Lithuanian lit - LTL - 4.532
Norwegian krone - NOK - 1.975
Russian rouble - RUB - 0.461
Swedish krona - SEK - 1.660
US dollar - USD - 13.361
Euro - EUR - 15.647
CULTURAL NEWS
Black Nights Film Festival (PÖFF) Underway
Dec 3 - This year's Black Night's Film Festival (Pöff, Pimedate Ööde Filmi Festival) started on 24 November with the sub-festival, "Animated Dreams," showing animated productions that included competitors from 21 countries, showing 46 films. The festival's jury included: Estonian, Janno Põldma; Czech, Michaela Pavlova; and Canadian, Chris J. Robinson, who also presented their own works at the festival. The series of animated films was shown at the cinema Sõprus from 24-27 November.
The best-animated film award went to Estonian, Elisabeth Salim from the Estonian Academy of Arts for her work entitled, The Last Minute. Special awards were given to Estonian, Ekke Valsli from the University of Tallinn for her film, As Usual, to German producer, Jack Rath for, Olli and to Korean, Chansoo Kim from the University of Southern California for his animated film entitled, Vaudeville.
The second part of Pöff began Sunday 27 November, with the university students' festival, Sleepwalkers. Of the 270 films that participated in the competition, 58 were shown during the festival.
The main award for Sleepwalkers went to Swedish film student, Axel Danielson for his production, Summer Clouds. Finn, Miika Soini was awarded for the fictional film entitled, Grey Area. The award for best documentary film went to Kristin Raup, a graduate of the University of Tallinn for her production, O.M.V.K.
Also in the framework of this year's festival, Elbert Tuganov, founder of the Estonian puppet film received a lifetime award for his work from the organizers of Pöff and the Estonian Ministry of Culture. Tuganov's first puppet film, Peetrikese Unenagu, which was finished in 1957 has become a source of inspiration for many other filmmakers.
The main part of the festival began on 2 December and lasts through 11 December. More information about the festival can be found on their Website: http://2005.poff.ee/main.cgi?lang=2
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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