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Estonian Review: September 19-25, 2005 
03.10.2005
TOP NEWS
FOREIGN NEWS
DEFENCE NEWS
ECONOMIC NEWS
CULTURAL NEWS
TOP NEWS
European Union and US Ministers discussed the promotion of development co-operation
September 20 - At the meeting with the European Union and US Foreign Ministers the main topic of discussion was the situation in the Western Balkans. It was generally acknowledged that the preserving of the European Union perspective for the Western Balkan countries is of utmost importance, for it provides a firm basis for necessary reforms and creates confidence for the people as well.
"The issues of the status of Kosovo and of Montenegro striving for independence are two simultaneous political processes, in which the whole international community, especially the UN and the European Union have an important role to play," Foreign Minister Paet said.
The Foreign Minister explained that in the target countries of the neighborhood policy, such as Georgia, Ukraine and Moldova, Estonia is implementing projects, the goal of which is to contribute to the development of democracy, the observance of human rights, the ensuring of economic and social stability, as well as to the diminishing of poverty.
Paet informed his colleagues that Estonia is making efforts to achieve by the year 2010 the level of development assistance 0.1% of GNP.
Foreign Minister Paet met at dinner in addition to the European Union and US foreign ministers also with the colleagues of the NATO countries not belonging to the EU.
Bank of Estonia expects economy to grow 6.5 percent in 2006
Sept 21 - As Estonia's economy has been growing faster than previously estimated; the Bank of Estonia expects the annual GDP growth rate to be 6.5 percent in 2006. The central bank has raised its economic growth estimate for this year from 5.7 percent to eight percent and the inflation estimate from 3.4 percent to 4.2 percent. In 2006, the consumer price index is expected to grow by a little more than three percent. The central bank is due to publish its fully revised forecast in November.
The faster-than-expected growth of the economy has been driven by a significant increase in export volumes as well as higher domestic demand. The main reason behind the sped-up inflation is the large-scale increase in oil prices, whereas base inflation has remained moderate.
Estonia's honorary consuls met in Tallinn
Sept 21 - The fourth conference of Estonia's Honorary Consuls took place from Thursday to Saturday. 50 honorary consuls attended Saturday from 31 countries. The Foreign Ministry's diplomats delivered reports on various consular and protocol issues at the conference
There was an entrepreneurship and investment seminar for the honorary consuls on Friday.
In the framework of the conference the honorary consuls visited the Port of Tallinn, the Galvex coated metal facility and met with Prime Minister, Andrus Ansip. President Arnold Rüütel and Foreign Minister Urmas Paet gave a reception to the honorary consuls.
The Estonian Honorary Consul from Los Angeles, Jaak Treiman, presented President Arnold Rüütel with a donation of 40,000 kroons. The president is to use this money for charity, and more specifically charity to support children.
On Sunday, the president gave the Honorary Consul from Thailand, Virachai Techavijitil the 3rd class Order of the Red Cross. This was awarded to professor Techavijitil for his help in the relief work after last year's Tsunami devastated the region. He has played an integral part in spreading information and helping to relocate Estonians in the disaster area.
Last December 3 Estonians and 9 Finns with Estonian residency lost their lives in the Tsunami disaster, which swept across Southeast Asia.
FOREIGN NEWS
Urmas Paet: Estonia supports the creation of a Democracy Fund in the UN framework
Sept 19 - On Monday, Foreign Minister Urmas Paet's visit to New York continued with the European Union Ministers Week conducted in the framework of the UN General Assembly.
Foreign Minister Paet participated in the joint breakfast meeting of the European Union and Russian Foreign Ministers. He was scheduled to deliver a speech at the meeting to representatives from the countries apart of the Community of Democracies. But in connection with a large-scale power outage the meeting in the UN did not take place and the texts of the speeches were distributed in written form. Foreign Minister Paet also met with his Montenegro colleague Miodrag Vlahovic.
At the breakfast meeting preparations were made for the EU-Russia Summit scheduled to take place in early October. Concerns related to Iran and the situation in the Middle east were also discussed.
In his written speech, Paet accentuates that Estonia considers it important to support countries in the establishment and strengthening of democracy.
"For that reason we support the creation of a Democracy Fund in the framework of the UN and we have decided to contribute to it ourselves," as was written in the speech. Estonia itself attempts to facilitate the development of democracy by mediating its experience of reform in the framework of bilateral and multilateral development co-operation projects. Touching upon issues related to the defense of human rights, the speech re-iterates the urgent necessity for the creation and initiation of the Human Rights Council, assuring that the UN will be able to strengthen the defense of human rights. Speaking of the regional pursuit for the advancement of democratic values, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) still has a lot of unused potential.
Montenegro Foreign Minister Miodrag Vlahovic gave a thorough overview of the situation in Montenegro and brought to light the referendum on independence scheduled to take place in the first half of next year. Speaking on bilateral relations between Estonia and Montenegro the foreign ministers acknowledged that in spite of a short history rapid development is in progress. Estonia's Foreign Minister made a visit to Montenegro last spring and it was jointly agreed that Montenegro's Foreign Minister would possibly visit Estonia later this year. Foreign Minister Vlahovic thanked Estonia for sharing knowledge and the experience of reform with Montenegro and expressed his hope that co-operation in this field would go on in the future.
DEFENCE NEWS
Estonian soldiers doing good work in Iraq
Sept 18 - Estonian Prime Minister Andrus Ansip visited Iraq and met with men from the Estonian light infantry platoon ESTPLA-11, thanking them for good work in the framework of the Iraqi Freedom operation and confirming his support for the extension of the mission.
"As prime minister I came here to thank our soldiers and express my support of your service," said Prime Minister Ansip, The prime minister added that the three last Estonian governments had recommended to the parliament that it give a mandate to send an Estonian unit to Iraq." That decision has not been easy for any government official or member of parliament," he said. The head of government added that Estonian soldiers have been doing good work in Iraq.
The Prime Minister also added that in creating security in Iraq, we are increasing stability and security in a much larger area than Iraq but moreover for Central Asia and the Middle East.
"The more peaceful, and the greater the security of, any single country, the more peaceful the world on the whole will be," he said. Ansip said that he was not yet certain whether the mission of Estonian soldiers in Iraq would continue into next year. The parliament will make a decision on this later this fall.
Estonia's defence spending to increase to 1.72 percent of GDP
Sept 22 - According to the Estonian state budget bill for 2006 handed in to the parliament on Thursday defence spending will increase to 1.72 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP). Finance Minister Aivar Sõerd told reporters that the budgetary increase in defence spending will be 380 million kroons (EUR 24.3 mln) or by 1.72 percent of the gross domestic product.
According to the bill, expenditure of the Defence Ministry will rise by nearly 15 percent to 2,939 million kroons. This year defence expenditure accounted for 1.96 percent of the gross domestic product.
The plans are to raise defence spending to 2 percent of GDP, the level recommended by NATO for 2010.
ECONOMIC NEWS
Tallinn airport plans to invest 51 million
Sept 19 - State-owned firm, Tallinna Lennujaam (Tallinn Airport) plans to invest more than 800 million kroons (EUR 51 mln) in the coming years.
The largest portion of the money will be used to increase the airport's capacity and improve safety, the company said today.
Tallinna Lennujaam presented its investment plan on Wednesday.
The number of travellers passing through the airport will cross the one million mark for the first time this year.
The airport's turnover grew to 251 million kroons in 2004 up from 208 million kroons the year before. Net profit jumped over the same period from 46 million to 64 million kroons.
Currency Rates in Kroons
September 25, 2005
British pound - GBP - 23.041
Canadian dollar - CAD - 11.001
Swiss franc - CHF - 10.060
Danish krone - DKK - 2.097
Japanese yen - JPY - 0.116
Latvian lat - LVL - 22.479
Lithuanian lit - LTL - 4.532
Norwegian krone - NOK - 2.009
Russian rouble - RUB - 0.454
Swedish krona - SEK - 1.670
US dollar - USD - 12.907
Euro - EUR - 15.647
CULTURAL NEWS
Hiiumaa: Conference held Wednesday in memory of Ernst Jaakson's hundredth anniversary
Sept 21 - A conference dedicated to the hundredth anniversary of long time Estonian diplomat in the United States, Ernst Jaakson took place on Wednesday at the Hiiumaa museum. In co-operation with the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Hiiumaa museum organized the conference, to celebrate the life and work of Estonia's longest serving diplomat.
Ernst Jaakson's ancestral roots can be traced back to the island of Hiiumaa.
Ernst Jaakson's diplomatic colleague, parliamentarian Trivimi Velliste began his speech thanking the Hiiumaa museum, which had decorated a room in memory of Jaakson and has put together a permanent exhibit dedicated to Jaakson's life. In a heartfelt speech, Velliste made note of an interesting observation, which he considered somewhat intriguing.
He observed that the dates marking the beginning and the end of Ernst Jaakson's long time career as an Estonian diplomat presented somewhat of a coincidence. Jaakson began his career on 20 August 1919 at the Estonian embassy in Riga. Estonia re-gained its independence on 20 August 1991. Jaakson, a staunch defender of Estonia's national continuity, named this date the happiest day of his life.
Ernst Jaakson served the Estonian nation until his death on 4 September 1998. Together he worked in the Estonian Foreign Service for 79 years, serving as a diplomat for 69 years.
The Ernst Jaakson Foundation was established after Jaakson's death. The foundation was created to offer aspiring young students financial aid to attend university and to honour those who have played an integral role in helping to secure Estonia's independence. Over the past seven years, the foundation has supported eight college students with financial aid. It was Jaakson's wish that his inheritance would be put to good use. In accordance with this wish, the University of Tartu inherited 8.6 million kroons.
vmpress@vm.ee
 
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