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Estonian Review: June 27- July 3, 2005
07.07.2005
TOP NEWS
FOREIGN NEWS
DEFENCE NEWS
DOMESTIC NEWS
ECONOMIC NEWS
CULTURAL NEWS
TOP NEWS
Estonian foreign minister visiting Czech Republic
Jun 28 - Estonian foreign minister Urmas Paet was on an official visit to the Czech Republic June 28-29. During the visit he had a meetings with the Czech foreign minister Cyril Svoboda, the defence minister Karel Kühnl and the minister of commerce and industry Milan Urban. During the meeting between the foreign ministers both acknowledged that bilateral relationships are traditionally very good. At the same time, the ministers agreed upon the fact that reciprocal investments are almost nonexistent. According to the foreign minister Urmas Paet, we have to pay more attention to introducing business opportunities in our country and great possibilities for that are the trade fairs held in Tallinn and Brno. Estonian and Czech colleagues also discussed the political climate that had evolved after the European Union summit. The Czech foreign minister Cyril Svoboda regards the EU Constitutional Treaty as a worthy cause and thinks that the ratification process should be continued. The Estonian foreign minister agreed with him., The Constitutional Treaty is in essence a compromise, but it is a good compromise, Paet stressed. Ten countries have already ratified the Constitutional Treaty and we cannot disregard the sentiment of the people of these states. The two sides expressed disappointment when talking about the financial perspective as the European Council was not able to find a unanimous outcome and so the European Union budget was not adopted. According to the Estonian foreign minister, the financial perspective is not only a matter of distributing money. The political message that is sent to the European people stating the direction in which Europe is moving, plays a very big role Paet said. Estonian foreign minister observed that some suggestions made by Great Britain regarding the structure of the EU budget were very reasonable. One possibility is to ratify the budget and make amendments in the process, Paet said. Estonian foreign minister stressed at the same time that it is in no way good to postpone the adoption of the budget or start validating it for a single year. Estonian and Czech foreign ministers also discussed the situation that has risen from signing the Estonian-Russian border treaties. Cyril Svoboda expressed understanding in reference to Estonia. We share a similar modern history and we understand Estonia's worries, Svoboda said. During the meeting with the defence minister Karel Kühnl there were talks about both countries participating in international missions. Both sides agreed that taking part in external missions is of great importance for small countries as that is a way to make a contribution towards the establishment of international security and thereby indirectly ensure domestic security. When meeting with the minister of commerce and industry, Milan Urban, the talks revolved mainly around safely supplying energy in the EU, the planned gas pipe from Russia to Germany and the energy dialogue between Russia and the European Union. The foreign minister has also met the chairman of Czech envoy chamber, Lubomir Zaoralek and the deputy chairman of the Senat, Petr Pithart.
Estonian, german presidents attend reconsecration of restored church in Tartu
Jun 29 - President Arnold Rüütel and the German head of state Horst Köhler visiting Estonia at his invitation made a trip to the country's second-largest city Tartu where they attended reconsecration of the newly-restored St. John's Church. The presidents visited Tartu. Rüütel said at the Town Hall the German president's visit is a testimony to the two countries' good relations as well as his personal warm attitude and support for Estonia's aspirations. At noon the presidents attended the ceremony of reconsecration of the St. John's Church. After the service Rüütel and Köhler visited Tartu University and met with the rector, Jaak Aaviksoo. Rüütel said in his speech he is very glad that the German president accepted the invitation to the reconsecration of the church that has such high importance for Tartu and Estonia. "Estonian-German relations are of long standing, many-sided and honorable. None of us can possibly be unaware that the German cultural space has left a significant imprint on Estonians' intellectual picture of the world," the president said.
German airmen take over Baltic air policing mission
Jun 30 - Dutch airmen, who handed over the Baltic air policing mission to German servicemen on Thursday, had responded to possible airspace violations on three occasions during their service period, but no real incursions were registered. A Dutch Air Force contingent was replaced by German Air Force servicemen in the NATO-sanctioned three-month Baltic air policing mission at the Lithuanian Air Force Aviation Base in Zokniai on Thursday. Some 50 German servicemen will guard the airspace above Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia with four F-4 Phantom jet fighters.
FOREIGN NEWS
European people's party urges Russia to recognize occupation of Baltics
Jun 28 - The council of the European People's Party finds that recognition by Russia of the occupation of the Baltic States is the best way to improve relations with the Balts. The council unanimously adopted a resolution on the 65th anniversary of the occupation of the Baltic states by the Soviet Union in June 1940. The occupation was followed by their loss of independent statehood and illegal incorporation into the occupying state, the People's Party observed. Members of the People's Party expressed deep regret that the illegal occupation of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania resulted in total destruction of existing state structures and civic society, wiping the member states of the League of Nations off the political map for half a century, extensive terror, systematic suppression of basic human rights, freedom of speech and law-governed state principles, and countless human tragedies. The resolution stressed the Baltic states' right to a feeling of security that such tragedies will never happen again. The People's Party called on Russia as the legal successor of the Soviet Union to join the judgement given about the Baltic occupation by the European Parliament and many democratic organizations. This is especially important because the strategic partnership of the European Union and Russia is based on common values. The party emphasizes that recognition by Russia of historical truth, including the actions directed against Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania in the early 1940s, is the best way for full normalization of relations not only between Russia and the Baltic states but also between Russia and the whole EU. "All those present understood that today's Russia is lawful successor of the Soviet Union and responsible for the wrongs of the past," said Chairman of Estonia's Pro Patria Union Tõnis Lukas who attended the council meeting. "Recognition of historical truth by all parties of the past drama is also aimed at the future. Forming common positions on the acts of the two totalitarian dictatorships of the 20th century is a necessary precondition for the strategic partnership of the EU and Russia to be indeed based on common values," one of the initiators of the resolution, Tunne Kelam of Pro Patria Union, commented. The European People's Party is an association of center-right political parties with 67 members from 43 countries. In February 2004 a congress of the party adopted a resolution on condemning totalitarian communism.
Estonian MEP: Blair trying to bring EU out of deadlock
Jun 27 - The vice-chairman of the European Parliament's foreign committee, Toomas Hendrik Ilves of Estonia, has characterized British Prime Minister Tony Blair's reform plan as an attempt to bring the EU out of deadlock and make the bloc more competitive. "Blair's speech was an attempt to bring the EU out of the deadlock which the EU has ended up in partly because of Blair's own views," said Ilves, a social democrat. "While other European politicians seek to defend what worked once, Blair is so far the only one who says (the bloc) cannot go on the same way." The EU needs serious reform, Ilves said. "The situation described by Blair won't change if we continue sitting with hands folded." The parliamentarian pointed at the contradiction between protectionist EU member states and the British premier's liberal views but voiced the opinion the enlargement of the bloc has tilted the general European attitude more towards Blair. Before expansion the "old" member states demanded liberal reforms from prospective new members yet at the same time they are afraid to effect similar changes themselves, Ilves said. "New member states have the experience of radical reforms which means they are not afraid of the changes Blair is calling for," he said, adding that Blair's approach has the support of social democrats from the Nordic countries, for instance. "I reckon Blair's plan to be acceptable to Estonia," Ilves said. Blair said the EU must reform its economy to put it back on the path of growth and gradually cut down agricultural subsidies in its budget.
DEFENCE NEWS
Estonia about to become full member of EUROPOL
Jun 29 - An act passed by the Parliament in January will step into force by which Estonia joins the convention of Europol, the European law enforcement organization set up to combat international crime and prevent breaches of law. Estonia's central criminal police is the domestic unit in the Europol framework and the Data Protection Inspectorate is the supervisory authority. Central criminal police boss Lauri Tabur said Estonia's accession to the Europol Convention makes possible all-around cooperation in the course of which member states analyze the organized crime situation and coordinate joint action through the international police organization. "Estonia has so far been co-operating with Europol under a 2001 cooperation agreement which mostly covered only exchanges of information," Tabur noted. Officials of the central criminal police have also till now brought to conclusion several international operations in the Europol framework, busted in various countries several criminal groups of Estonian origin and detained their members. With Europol membership Estonian law enforcement bodies will get access to international information about human trafficking, illegal trade in vehicles and terrorism. At the same time the country will undertake to send information about crime to Europol's analysis files. The central criminal police liaison officer at Europol is since 2002 Peeter Palo. Starting this summer, also a liaison officer of the Tax and Customs Board, Ardi Mitt, is working at Europol.
Two Estonian officers to begin service in Afghanistan
Jun 28 - Two officers are leaving for Afghanistan to start preparations for bringing the Estonian contingent serving there under a British reconstruction team. Capt. Tiit Paljak and Lt. Urmas Reis are about to begin a six-month stint with the British-led provincial reconstruction team in Mazar-e Sharif, the press service of the defense forces said. Paljak will join the staff of the reconstruction team as an explosive ordnance disposal co-ordinating officer and also arrange the transfer of the Estonian mine removal unit from Kabul to the northern province of Mazar-e Sharif. Reis will be serving in the logistic support base of the reconstruction team and arrange the activity of a six-member observation team that is to be sent to Afghanistan in August. Defense Minister Jaak Joerüüt and Britain's Ambassador Nigel Haywood signed on June 17 a memorandum of understanding that allows Estonia to join the British-led Mazar-e Sharif provincial reconstruction team. By a resolution of the parliament, Estonia can send up to 25 military to Afghanistan. The mandate of the contingent runs till Sept 17, 2006. The Defense Ministry intends to hand in a bill in the fall extend the troops' stay in that country. The Estonian defence forces have been participating in the NATO-led peace enforcement mission since March 2003. Currently two staff officers, a 14-strong mine disposal unit and a four-member airfield ground team are serving in Kabul.
DOMESTIC NEWS
Estonian parliament passes unchanged e-voting law vetoed by president
Jun 28 - The Estonian parliament passed unchanged the amended Local Elections Act setting out the possibility of e-voting which the president had rejected. The law was adopted with 52 votes for, none against and no abstentions. The plenary session thus backed the standing Constitutional Committee's opinion that the law should be passed unchanged. In the committee's opinion, the possibility of
changing a vote cast over the Internet is a precondition of the constitutionality of e-voting because each voter must have the opportunity of making his or her choice freely and without external influence. The committee believes the possibility of changing a vote already cast to be the most effective way to prevent buying of votes in e-voting. The panel disagreed also with the president's views on the question of uniformity of elections. The generally accepted principle of uniformity means according to the Constitutional Committee that all voters have equal opportunities to affect the election outcome and that only one vote of each voter counts. The e-voting system, too, secures that this condition is met, the panel said. As the committee sees it, the president's motives in rejecting the law are more likely political and the dispute in reality is not about e-election. The Constitutional Committee said e-voting will be possible in the fall local polls regardless of whether or not the amended law steps into force before the elections because the possibility of voting over the Internet has been included in law already since 2002.
Estonia hopes to cut prisoners' number by one-fourth
Jun 30 - The Estonian Justice Ministry hopes to reduce the number of prison inmates by roughly one-fourth within five years by applying community service instead of a jail sentence to minor offenders and extending probation opportunities. According to the head of the justice ministry's probation supervision service, Rait Kuuse, courts should increasingly use alternative punishments such as community service, in which case the offender is not deprived of freedom and in the ideal case can compensate the society for the caused harm. The ministry also intends to release more prisoners who behave well on parole, placing them under probation officers' charge. Another measure that is being considered is shorter prison sentences.
Estonia's people's union, social democrats join forces for local polls in Tallinn
Jun 27- In the fall local elections candidates from the People's Union will be running on the Social Democratic Party list in Tallinn. The heads of the parties' Tallinn chapters, SDP's Jaak Juske and Mario Sootna from the People's Union signed a joint declaration of intent whereby People's Union members will be vying for seats on the Tallinn City Council on the SDP list. The parties further agreed to set up a joint campaign committee which will by Aug. 31 form the election list and draw up the election platform, spokespeople for the SDP said.
ECONOMIC NEWS
Estonia's economic growth 5.5 percentage points higher than that of EU
Jun 29 - The Q1 economic growth in Estonia by 7.2 percent was 5.5 percentage points higher than that of the European Union (EU) during the same period. "Economic growth in the European Union slowed down to 1.7 percent in Q1 due to decelerating domestic demand and growth in export," the Finance Ministry said. "At the moment the Baltic area is one of the fastest developing regions in the European Union. The Latvian economy grew by 7.4 percent and the Lithuanian economy by 5.6 percent in Q1." The acceleration of Estonia's economic growth was mainly due to growth in exports, although also domestic demand increased. The growth in export was due above all to the export of goods, as growth in the export of services slowed down. The biggest influencer of the economic growth was private consumption, which increased by 7.7 percent over the year. Also the persisting low interest rates, favorable loan terms and positive developments on the labor market supported the fast growth, the Finance Ministry said.
Currency Rates in Kroons
July 1, 2005
British pound - GBP - 23.069
Canadian dollar - CAD - 10.551
Swiss franc - CHF - 10.077
Danish krone - DKK - 2.099
Japanese yen - JPY - 0.117
Latvian lat - LVL - 22.470
Lithuanian lit - LTL - 4.531
Norwegian krone - NOK - 1.987
Russian rouble - RUB - 0.453
Swedish krona - SEK - 1.652
US dollar - USD - 12.979
Euro - EUR - 15.647
CULTURAL NEWS
ETV Children's Choir won the choir competition in Netherlands
ETV Children's Choir won the European Choir and Soloists Festival in Arnheme many awards. It was held in 28. Juny - 3. July 2005. They got first place in classical music category and second place in pop and jazz music category. With goldmedal in classical music they got 1000 EUR. They sang Veljo Tormis and Arvo Pärts's music. Choir conductor Aarne Saluveer said that competition was very high and it was very interesting to listen others too. There were 33 choirs all together from 15 countries. Competition was held in three categories: classical music; pop and jazz music; national music. This festival included also master classes, work-shops and concerts.
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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