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Estonian Review: July 4 - 10, 2005
13.07.2005
TOP NEWS
FOREIGN NEWS
DEFENCE NEWS
DOMESTIC NEWS
ECONOMIC NEWS
CULTURAL NEWS
TOP NEWS
Estonian Foreign Minister: EU door must be open
Jul 05 - Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Peat now on a visit to Moldova said that the door of the European Union (EU) must be open to new members, the Foreign Ministry reported.
During his meeting with deputy chairman of the Moldovan parliament Iurie Rosca Paet underlined that Estonia supports and helps within its means all countries that have chosen the road of democratization and reforms.
"Because of internal confusions the European Union should not forget those European values the bloc has actually been built on," Paet said. "The door must be open and we must help the countries aspiring for these values. "Rosca said that with Estonian assistance and support Moldova is hoping to persuade also other European countries that the future of Moldova is in the European Union.
The deputy chairman said that last week an Estonian friendship group was set up in the Moldovan parliament, with nearly one third of the parliament's 101 members in it. Rosca is chairman of the group.
Afterwards Paet met with chairman of the parliament's factions and opened the conference "European Integration and the Baltic Countries: Recommendations to Moldova".
In his opening speech of the conference Paet said that the development of Estonia, which had brought the achievement of two big foreign policy aims, accession to the European Union and NATO, gave Estonia the opportunity to help those who continue to face major challenges in the development of their societies.
"Estonia's wish to contribute to the development of transition countries is growing and that wish reflects the opinion of not just the government but also of the Estonian public," the minister said. Paet encouraged Moldova to constructive and close cooperation.
The conference ended a joint Estonian-British development aid project addressed at Moldova with the aim of supporting the country in integration with the European Union and achieving readiness to the adoption of EU regulations.
Prime Minister Vasile Tarlev Monday raised the question of simplification of the Estonian visa regime with respect to Moldova.
A spokesman for the Foreign Ministry told BNS that Paet promised to study the respective opportunities, among other things in the joint EU visa policy context
Paper: EU supports Estonia in border treaty row with Russia
Jul 05 - The European Union (EU) can see no reason to prevent Russia from ratifying the border treaties with Estonia, the daily Postimees reported.
"We regret the position the Russian Federation has taken," an EU external policy official told the paper.
Postimees said the shapers of the external policy of the highest decision-making body of the bloc, the European Council, have drafted a five-point agenda in connection with the Russian announcement of refusal to ratify the border treaties with Estonia. The agenda is also been brought to the attention of EU external policy leader Javier Solana.
An external policy official of the council told the paper that ratification of the Estonian-Russian border treaties is of key importance to the EU, because it pertains to the external border of the bloc with Russia.
He underlined that the EU welcomed signing of the border treaties on May 18 in Moscow and their early ratification in Estonia on June 20 and hoped that also Russia would ratify the treaties at short notice.
"We therefore regret the position taken by the Russian Federation," the EU official said. "According to information available to us we can see no particular problems to prevent Russia from ratifying the border treaties."
The official said that ratification of the border treaties would be very good news to Estonia, Russia, the European Union and to relations of the EU with Russia and a significant step in the solution of the problem that has been so long on the agenda.
Estonian Government condemns terror attacks in London
Jul 07 - The Estonian government has made a statement sternly condemning today's terrorist attacks in London, the government communication office reported. The government added that it fully supported Great Britain in its struggle with international terrorism. In addition, Prime Minister Andrus Ansip sent a personal message of condolences to British Prime Minister Tony Blair.
Ansip said that he was deeply shocked and saddened by the outrageous acts of terror carried out in London and that there can be no justification for terrorist attacks. The prime minister said that as the events of the past few years have shown, no country or region can be considered immune from the threat of terrorism. Ansip said that Estonia stands strong in the joint effort to make the world safe and prosperous. The minister conveyed his sincerest condolences to Mr. Blair and to the families of the victims.
Foreign Minister Urmas Paet, too, has sent a message of condolences to his British colleague Jack Straw.
Estonia condemns all kinds of terrorism that constitute a serious threat to international peace and stability. We therefore stand together with Great Britain and other partners in the common struggle against terrorism," Paet said in his message.
FOREIGN NEWS
Estonian Foreign Minister, Nordic Council Secretary-General discuss Nordic-Baltic cooperation
Jul 07 - Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Paet and Per Unckel, Secretary-General of the Nordic Council of Ministers, discussed opportunities of cooperation between the Baltic and Nordic countries, the Foreign Ministry reported.
Paet said that NB8 (Nordic Baltic Eight) was a suitable form of developing effective cooperation between the Baltic and Nordic countries.
"But it is clear that we can speak about NB8 only if there is actual interest in all the eight countries for joint cooperation which must above all be pragmatic and flexible, not strictly formalized," he said.
The minister said excessive formality would not take into account the Nordic countries' differences, as well as
Estonia's, Latvia's and Lithuania's development aims. Unckel said the Nordic governments always viewed NB8 cooperation in all spheres as being in the joint interest of the eight countries.
The minister and the secretary-general expressed the hope that both Estonian and the Nordic countries would look for opportunities of developing joint interests in the framework of Nordic institutions also in the future.
Paet said that in Estonia interest had been shown, for example, in the Nordic gene bank, the joint committee of agricultural research and innovation center.
Unckel said the Nordic countries were planning practical moves in order to promote cooperation with more partners in the Baltic Sea area.
"In addition to the Nordic countries' research council also the innovation center, for example, is busy extending its activities," he quoted an example.
Unckel, former Swedish Education Minister, is secretary general of the Nordic Council of Ministers since 2003.
Russia refuses visas to Estonian MPs
Jul 06 - The Russian embassy today refused visas to Estonian members of parliament from the oppositional Pro Patria Union and Res Publica as well as an adviser to the prime minister.
The Russian embassy refused to issue visas for a visit to the cross-border Pechory district in the Pskov Region to members of the Pro Patria Union Tonis Lukas, Peeter Tulviste, Mart Nutt and Helir-Valdor Seeder as well as member of Res Publica Tiit Niilo, leader of the Pechory area support group in the Estonian parliament.
Urmas Reinsalu (Res Publica), chairman of the parliament's constitutional committee who was also refused a visa, said the Russian embassy justified its refusal by the fact that there was no official invitation for the Pskov regional administration.
"Naturally it was a pretext," he told BNS.
A spokesman for the Foreign Ministry told BNS that the issue of visas is naturally for each country to decide but refusal of visas to members of parliament is a very regrettable case.
DEFENCE NEWS
Chief of Estonian contingent in Iraq to change
Jul 09 - Capt. Tanel Ranisoo, who has so far served at the Estonian defense forces headquarters, will become chief of the Estonian contingent in Iraq as of next week.
Ranisoo will Monday leave for a six-month mission in Iraq where he will replace Capt. Kalle Teras now serving at the coalition forces' headquarters, the defense forces information service reported.
Ranisoo, to start serving at the coalition forces headquarters in Baghdad, will be involved in the planning and analysis of joint operations.
The Estonians now taking part in the Iraqi Freedom operation are the 34-strong light infantry platoon ESTPLA-11, chief of the contingent Capt Kalle Teras and Lt, Ulo Isberg serving at the coalition forces information department.
Estonia has handed over operative command of its mission unites to CENTCOM, the central regional command of the United States Armed Forces.
Under a decision of the parliament the Estonian defense forces will take part in the Iraqi Freedom operation in the composition of international coalition forces until the end of this year.
DOMESTIC NEWS
No Estonian residents were hurt in the London terror attacks
Jul 08 - According to the information available up to the moment no Estonian citizens were hurt in the blasts that took place on July 7 in London.
ECONOMIC NEWS
Estonia: number of foreign visitors grows by one-fifth in 2004
Jul 06 - The number of foreign tourists staying overnight in Estonia grew last year by one-fifth, totaling 1.75 million.
A survey by the Statistical Office shows that holiday trips accounted for the largest part, or 38 percent, of all trips made to this country.
Average spending by a foreign tourist grew by one-third in comparison with the previous year, from 1,829 to 2,451kroons (EUR 157).
Nearly two-thirds of respondents came to Estonia on their own, 28 percent were on a package tour and one-tenth used individual services of a travel agency. One-fourth of the polled were in this Baltic state for the first time.
The study showed that Estonian residents made 2.2 million trips last year, one-sixth of them to other countries and the rest within the country. The number of domestic trips which has been growing steadily surpassed the 2003 figure by 10 percent last year.
Estonians spent an average of 4,334 kroons on holiday trips, 4,265 kroons on business trips and 2,572 kroons on visits. Spending on domestic trips averaged 422 kroons.
The central bank's balance of payments data show that the export of tourist services grew last year to 14.1 billion kroons, which is 1.8 billion kroons more than in 2003. On the yearly basis, tourist services accounted for 13 percent of the total export of goods and services. The import of tourist services at the same time was 5.6 billion kroons.
EU metes out further fine of Eur 21 mln to Estonia
Jul 05 - By a European Commission list of excess stocks to be released today Estonia may have to pay in addition to a sugar fine of up to 715 million kroons further fines of 328 million kroons (EUR 21 mln), the daily Postimees reports.
The European Commission has not yet published the official list of goods whose excess stocks Estonia had at the time of accession to the European Union and so there is no official confirmation of the amounts involved and the size of fine to be paid for them, the paper notes.
According to unconfirmed information, the fine will amount to 328 million kroons and this for more than a score of foods. Butter accounts for the lion's share of the penalty, more than 200 million kroons. Major quantities are involved also in skim milk powder and cheese, Postimees says.
Estonia meanwhile has filed an excess stocks report only for butter and milk powder. The first of them is included also in the EU executive's overview but the other cannot be found in it. But the Commission has furthermore established the existence of excess stocks of such goods as canned tangerine, grapefruit juice, hops, various meats, and spirit and wine as well.
The presence of the last two items on the list has according to the daily puzzled numerous officials in Estonia and other countries, as they were not included in the original excess stocks directive at all. Now, however, a fine is demanded for them.
Vice-chancellor of the Agriculture Ministry Andres Oopkaup said it is difficult to comment on the Commission report as no official papers have reached the ministry yet.
"But preliminary information appears to indicate it's ridiculously precise in some calculations and with some goods the fines asked of new member states come to just a few euros," he said.
Despite the absence of a formal resolution, several new member states have already started criticizing the Commission's decision, pointing out that the report fails to consider changes in people's consumption habits.
Estonia, for instance, is likely to be fined for a small amount of excess rice although the consumption of potato has been declining in recent years and it's rice that is taking its place, Postimees notes.
Oopkaup stressed at the same time that no matter what the calculations of the Commission are at this point, they are initial figures which are only beginning to be debated and the final decision could be made only at the beginning of 2006.
Although the state's efforts to contest the set amount of excess sugar stocks failed and the quantity remained at 91,000 tons, Oopkaup is more hopeful in the present case. "I believe it's possible to talk over stocks because right now many things are really inexplicable," he said.
Estonian banks have 1.122 mln internet banking clients
Jul 06 - Estonian banks had at the end ofJune a total of 1,122,194 Internet banking and 168,601 telephone service clients.
Compared with the end of May, the five commercial banks won 14,105 new online banking customers last month while the number of telephone service clients grew by 3,724.
The five commercial banks operating in Estonia had by the end of last month issued more than 1.33 million bankcards -- 1,099,168 debit and 231,868 credit cards.
Estonia's June CPI up 0.7 pct on month
Jul 07 - The Estonian consumer price index (CPI) rose 0.7 percent in June against May, and 3.1 percent against June 2004, the Statistical Office reported.
The prices of goods grew by 0.9 percent and the prices of services by 0.4 percent during the month.
"The consumer price index was mainly influenced by an increase in the prices of motor fuel and fresh fruit and vegetables," thew Statistical Office said
Food became on the average 1.4 percent more expensive during the month. The increase in transport costs was equally 1.4 percent.
Year on year, administered prices climbed 6.2 percent and non-administered prices 2.0 percent.
Housing expenses grew seven percent over June 2004, while alcoholic beverages and tobacco were up 4.9 percent, services of education and children's institutions 4.6 percent, and catering services 3.7 percent.
Currency Rates in Kroons
July 10, 2005
British pound - GBP - 22.834
Canadian dollar - CAD - 10.694
Swiss franc - CHF - 10.074
Danish krone - DKK - 2.098
Japanese yen - JPY - 0.117
Latvian lat - LVL - 22.479
Lithuanian lit - LTL - 4.531
Norwegian krone - NOK - 1.987
Russian rouble - RUB - 0.455
Swedish krona - SEK - 1.659
US dollar - USD - 13.142
Euro - EUR - 15.646
CULTURAL NEWS
The West Coast Estonian Days July 4-8, 2005
The West Coast Estonian Days originated in 1953 in San Francisco. The Days rotated every second year between San Francisco, Los Angeles, Portland, Vancouver and Seattle. This year it was Vancouver's turn to host these exciting festivities.
One hundred and thirty-five kilometers, an hour and a half, east of Vancouver there is a resort town, Harrison Hot Springs, which can safely be compared with the world's best. This is where the Estonian League of the West Coast held the XXVII West Coast Estonian Days. There participants found a sandy beach that is reminiscent of Pärnu, a spa that is reminiscent of Haapsalu, rocky mountains that resembled Switzerland and lusty Estonian spirit that is like the Song and Dance Festival of Tallinn.
The E Stuudio Chamber Choir from Estonia performed at the days. Joining this fine choir were a men's quartet by the name UR2KAM and other fine singers and musicians. The Toronto Estonian Youth Choir was joined by a large representation of the Toronto Estonian Men's Choir. One of the world's best rhythmic gymnastics teams, Kalev Estienne from Toronto, also performed.
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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