Estonian Review E E S T I R I N G V A A D E VOLUME 20 NO 25 JUL 9 - 15, 2010

FOREIGN NEWS FOREIGN NEWS UN Human Rights Committee Discusses Estonian Fulfilment of International Covenant 13 July - Yesterday and today an Estonian delegation gave a presentation on ’s third review on its fulfilment of the Covenant on Civil and Political Rights to the UN Human Rights Committee in Geneva. The Estonian delegation was led by Foreign Ministry Secretary General Marten Kokk. Foreign Ministry Secretary General Kokk stated that topics to be addressed during the review presentation are the work of the Transition to Euro Receives Final Confirmation chancellor of justice and the gender 13 July - At the meeting of European Union economic and finance equality commissioner, the length of ministers that took place today, the decision and resolutions of judicial proceedings, conditions in the council were approved, thereby giving the final nod to detention facilities, matters related Estonia’s adoption of the euro as of 1 January 2011 and to human trafficking, and the giving establishing the conversion rate of Estonian kroons to the euro. of citizenship to children. During the transition Estonian kroons will be exchanged for euros at a Estonia presented its third review rate of 1 euro = 15.6466 kroons, which means that the current in 2008. In accordance with exchange rate remains unchanged. procedure, yesterday and today “Today’s decision is recognition of our joint efforts and fiscal policy. Estonia presented on changes and We are stepping into a euro zone whose economic bases are becoming developments that have taken place stronger. The euro is very important for our economic recovery and for since that review. Questions from the increasing our well-being. Now six months of hard work stand before the committee will also be answered. The state, local governments and businesses, during which we will make the committee will make conclusions and practical preparations to ensure that the transition to the euro goes as give Estonia suggestions for further smoothly as possible,” commented Minister of Finance Jürgen Ligi. fulfilment of the covenant. In addition to making the euro decision, the ministers got an The International Covenant on overview of the priorities of Belgium’s EU presidency—at the forefront Civil and Political Rights was opened are improving the co-ordination of economic policies and the ongoing for signing in New York on 19 reform of the financial sector. The European Commission introduced December 1966. Estonia joined the proposals for implementing stricter budget policy monitoring than International Covenant on Civil and before. Work on their proposals will continue in the fall. Political Rights on 26 September Estonia will become the 17th member of the single currency area. 1991. The covenant came into effect After 1 January there will be a two-month period of parallel circulation of for Estonia on 21 January 1992. both the kroon and the euro in Estonia. During the period of parallel All countries that are party to the circulation the kroon remains legal tender, but change is as a rule given covenant must present periodical in euros in all stores and service institutions. In the estimate of the reviews. In its review, the country Estonian Central Bank, 80% of euro cash should go into circulation via must show what advice it has ATMs. implemented to introduce the rights During the period of parallel circulation ATMs will release notes of 10 and in the pact and the progress that has 50 euros. After that it will up to each bank to decide what denominations been made in utilising these rights. it keeps in its ATMs. Reviews are presented to the Human In accounts kroons will be converted into euros at the official rate at the Right Committee, which is made up moment of the changeover. Starting in December, private individuals will of 18 unbiased experts. Estonia be able to change kroon cash for euro banknotes without a commission presented its first review on the at the official exchange rate of 15.6466 kroons to the euro. The Bank of fulfilment of the covenant in Estonia will start supplying euro coins to commercial banks in September September 1994, its second and will start doing the same with euro banknotes in December. periodical review in May 2002, and its most recent review in December 2008.

President Ilves Met With Influential like Lithuania and Latvia, Estonia’s goal is to Canadian Government Politician guarantee the sustainability of the country. Co-operation in the field of energy was also 10 July - At his home in Ärma last night, discussed at the meeting between the prime President Toomas Hendrik Ilves met with ministers. Prime Minister Ansip expressed his hope Canadian Foreign Trade Minister Peter Van that Lithuania would become a part of the Nord Pool Loan who, as an influential Member of Spot electricity market as of 1 January 2011. Parliament and government politician, was “Estonia is interested in the creation of a functioning instrumental in the Canadian government’s electricity market in the Baltic countries, as part of a decision to grant Estonian citizens visa-free common Nordic electricity market,” he said. entry to the country. The Estonian head of state The prime ministers also discussed the necessity and Van Loan discussed transatlantic co-operation. of creating a digital EU domestic market, the lack of “Like all European Union member states, Estonia which, Ansip believes, prevents the strengthening of wants to see the free trade agreement between the the EU’s competitiveness. EU and Canada entered into as quickly as possible,” The importance of structural reforms was also President Ilves said. “I hope the fourth round of under discussion at the meetings. The need to negotiations, which is to take place in Brussels this increase the retirement age was discussed with week, will bring us significantly closer to this broad- Irena Degutienė, the Speaker of the Seimas. ranging, ambitious agreement.” Talking about “Increasing the retirement age is topical throughout relations between Estonia and Canada, President Europe and thanks to public support we were able to Ilves said that the two countries are good partners carry this out in Estonia,” Ansip said. Degutienė and dependable allies in NATO and in transatlantic expressed her hope that the draft legislation related co-operation generally. “What’s central here is that to increasing the retirement age in Lithuania will be we tend to look at the world in the same way, take approved next autumn. “Considering how quickly the same view of problems,” said the Estonian head our average lifespan is increasing, it is fair to let of state. “Our contribution to ensuring stability in people know as early as possible that they must Afghanistan and that region is a sign of that.” plan on retiring when they are older than the Minister Van Loan, who has Estonian roots, has previous retirement age,” Prime Minister Ansip said. served in a variety of positions in the Canadian At his meeting with Lithuanian President Dalia government and parliament for many years. His Grybauskaitė, Prime Minister Ansip wished mother and grandparents, who are originally from Grybauskaitė luck following the completion of the Harju County, fled Estonia during World War II. The first year of her term as President. President of the Republic bestowed the Order of the In the course of the visit, Prime Minister Ansip nd Cross of Terra Mariana, 2 class on Van Loan in placed wreaths on the grave of Algirdas Mykolas 2009 for his efforts in developing relations between Brazauskas and at the foot of the memorial Estonia and Canada. dedicated to those who have died for Lithuanian Prime Minister Andrus Ansip also had the freedom. opportunity to meet with Canadian Foreign Trade Minister Peter Van Loan yesterday. Speaking about European Commission Endorses Estlink-2 the problems related to Estonian Air’s plans to acquire three new planes from Bombardier, both Investment Prime Minister Ansip and Minister van Loan 12 July (BNS) - The European Commission made recognised that this transaction is between two an official decision on 8 July to invest 100 companies and the governments of the countries million euros in the construction of Estlink 2, cannot interfere. They expressed hope that a the second undersea electricity cable between solution can be found to satisfy both parties. Estonia and Finland. Estlink 2 will be built by the Estonian transmission network company Elering Ansip Recognises Lithuanian Government together with the Finnish electricity system for Management During Economic Crisis administrator Fingrid, Elering announced on Monday. The cable has a projected capacity of 650 12 July - Prime Minister Andrus Ansip met today megawatts and the total cost of the project is close with his Lithuanian colleague Prime Minister to 320 million euros, making it the largest Andrius Kubilius, Lithuanian President Dalia investment made in the Estonian electricity system. Grybauskaitė, and Speaker of the Seimas Irena The construction of Estlink 2 will be financed half Degutienė. In addition to bilateral co-operation, the and half by Elering and Fingrid, with the European main topics at the meeting were economic and Commission contributing up to 100 million euros. energy issues. At the meeting, Prime Minister Ansip The size of the investment by Elering will be acknowledged the government led by Andrius approximately 1.7 billion kroons (EUR 109 mln). Kubilius for their management of Lithuania during The link is planned to be operational at the the economic crisis. beginning of 2014. The new cable will boost inter- “The developments in all three Baltic countries regional transmission capacity to nearly 1 000 have been very similar during the economic crisis, megawatts (MW) and after the completion of Estlink and thanks to rapid responses, we have all been 2 together with the full adoption of Nordic market able to decisively cut costs in the government organisation rules by then it will be possible to sector,” Prime Minister Ansip said. At the same time, speak of a common Nordic-Baltic electricity market the government leader stressed that Estonia did not starting from 2014. simply make national budget cuts and initiate The CEO of Elering, Taavi Veskimägi, said that structural reforms in order to adopt the euro, but the additional link will enable Nordic electricity producers to enter the Baltic electricity market and our producers to sell electricity on a significantly experts who examined the use of aid in Haiti been bigger market. "More producers, more connections, used well and for its proper purpose," said the an open competitive market - all this means a better minister. price for electricity and thus a more competitive economic environment in Estonia. Stepped-up Estonian Ambassador to Belgium Presents competition will also make the present providers Credentials more efficient and customer-friendly," he added. Fingrid and Elering have been making 14 July - Ambassador of the Republic of Estonia preparations for the second direct current link to the Kingdom of Belgium Mariin Ratnik between Estonia and Finland for three years and presented her credentials to King of the work is going on as planned. Fingrid made the Belgians Albert II today, 14 July. In the financing decision regarding Estlink 2 on 20 May this discussion that followed the presentation of year. credentials, King Albert II fondly recalled the visit The total capacity of Estlink 2 will be 650 MW. the royal couple made to Estonia in 2008, Currently there is a 350 MW submarine cable link confirming that he has all the best memories from between Estonia and Finland. By comparison, that trip. Estonian peak consumption is around 1 600 MW and The king expressed great interest in how much the minimal consumption during the summer period the global financial crisis has influenced Estonia and decreases to around 400 MW. what Estonia’s primary steps have been for restoring the economy. Future plans for enlivening the Baltic Rescue Unit Prepared to Help Fight economy were also discussed. Ambassador Ratnik gave an overview of Estonia’s conservative Floods in Moldova budgetary policy, emphasising that taking into 12 July (BNS) - The Baltic countries' joint consideration Estonia’s upcoming accession to the BaltFloodCombat rescue unit is prepared to go euro zone, the strict budgetary policy has been fight floods in Moldova. The River Prut has risen completely justified. over the banks and the flood has caused human Other topics discussed at the meeting were victims and major damages. A spokesman for the Estonia’s energy policy in the context of the rescue board told BNS that the European Union's European Union as well as in co-operation with its assessment and co-ordination committee sent three neighbours and the future of nuclear energy. King experts to Moldova to get a first-hand overview of Albert II and Ambassador Ratnik also talked about the situation and to assess the need for help. One of the further development of Estonia-Belgium bilateral the experts is from Latvia, another from Germany relations, focusing primarily on opportunities for co- and the third from Estonia, head of the foreign operation in the economic sector. relations office at the Rescue Board, Jevgeni Ambassador Mariin Ratnik was born in 1976 in Jutkevits. The spokesman said that BaltFloodCombat Tartu. She graduated from the economics had been activated and was prepared to go to department of Tartu University and has furthered Moldova if a need for that should arise. Thus far her studies at the Estonian School of Diplomacy and Romania and Austria have given material assistance in the international relations department at to Moldova. Humboldt University in Berlin. Ratnik has worked for the Estonian foreign service since 2000. She has Estonia One of Four Countries to Deliver been an advisor on relations with the European on Haiti Aid Pledge Parliament at the Estonian representation to the EU, an economic advisor at the Embassy of the Republic 15 July (BNS) - Six months after a devastating of Estonia in Berlin, a division director in the Foreign earthquake struck Haiti, most governments Ministry’s European Union department, and the that promised money to help rebuild the director of EU affairs at the State Chancellery. country have not delivered any funds at all, a CNN investigation has found. Only four countries have paid so far: Brazil, Norway, Estonia and Australia. DOMESTIC NEWS Donors promised 5.3 billion US dollars at an aid Temperatures in Estonia to Rise Above 30 conference in March about two months after the Degrees Centigrade earthquake, but less than 2% of that money has 12 July - According to the forecast of the been given to the United Nations-backed body set Estonian Institute of Meteorology and up to handle it. Former President Bill Clinton, a UN Hydrology, the heat wave that arrived in the special envoy for Haiti, said he plans to put pressure country last week is not going to show any on governments that have been slow to deliver on signs of retreating and the temperature could their promises. He said the worldwide economic rise to 33 or more degrees Centigrade. crisis was at least partly to blame. On Monday as well as on the days to follow the Altogether, about 506 million dollars has been temperature can rise to above 30 degrees C in most disbursed to Haiti since the donors' conference in parts of Estonia, with the maximum temperatures March, said Jehane Sedky of the UN Development likely to hit to 33 or even 35 degrees Centigrade. Program. That's about 9% of the money that was Only on the coasts, which are open to winds from pledged. the sea, will the temperature remain below 30 Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Paet said in his degrees C. comments to BNS on Thursday that countries were The average temperature over 24 hours is from only halfway through their fiscal year and 22 to 26 degrees, 7 to 8 degrees higher than normal procedures were going on. "Hopefully the amount of for the period. There is a high risk of fire in Estonian donor aid will start growing rapidly. We are made forests that is rapidly growing. more confident about it by the fact that the money that has gone there so far has according to the

3 Materials Science at Tartu University Afghanistan was discussed. In the admiral's opinion, Among Most Influential in World the Afghanistan mission will be successful as NATO is a strong alliance and there are a total of 47 13 July (BNS) - According to the ESI (Essential countries contributing to security there today. The Science Indicators) database, Estonia's Tartu Estonian prime minister confirmed Estonia's University is among the top one percent of the continued participation in the international security world's most influential materials science forces, saying that Estonian soldiers would remain in centres in the world as of 1 July, the daily Eesti the area of the mission for as long as necessary and Päevaleht reported. As there are nearly 60 000 as long as the Afghan government requests it. research centres in the database, this means that Admiral Stavridis said that the courage and the Tartu University materials science department is bravery of Estonian soldiers was highly appreciated. among the 600 best such centres in the world. "The Estonian Defence Forces have sustained Indrek Ots, head of the Tartu University research serious losses on foreign missions and I express and development department, said that the deep condolences to the relatives of all the fallen influence of research centres is assessed by the soldiers.” number of articles and references in learned papers. The supreme commander of NATO forces in Ots said that the university does not receive Europe underlined the need to achieve the 2-percent monetary gain from the recognition, but it is defence spending share of the member countries of important in competition situations. the alliance, while recognising Estonia's decision to Alvo Aabloo, professor of polymeric materials at retain the level of the sum earmarked for national the university, said that belonging to the top of the defence in the conditions of the economic crisis. The database helps bring scientists to Tartu University Estonian prime minister gave to the admiral a and to involve them in international projects. The promise to raise the level of defence spending to major projects at Tartu University have been 1.19% of the gross domestic product next year. In working out artificial muscles and a robot model. addition to meeting with the prime minister, Adm. Stavridis also visited the parliament and met with Report Puts Worldwide Population of Defence Ministry officials and officers of the Defence Estonians at 1.06 Mln Forces in the framework of his two-day visit to Estonia. On Thursday Adm. James Stavridis will visit 15 July (BNS) - The number of ethnic Estonians the NATO Cyber Defence Centres located on the living in the world now is 1 060 000, of whom territory of the Staff and Signals Battalion. 930 000 live in Estonia and about 130 000, or

12%, in other countries, it appears from a human resource report presented by the Estonian and Latvian Volunteer Defence Estonian Co-operation Assembly on Thursday. Corps Sign Co-operation Accord The eastern diaspora of Estonians is constantly 9 July (BNS) - The commanders of the volunteer declining. In Russia, where the number of ethnic national defence corps Kaitseliit (Defence Estonians is the largest, the decline is happening as League) of Estonia and Zemessardze of Latvia a result of a big share of elderly people in the ethnic signed a co-operation protocol between the Estonian population and assimilation of the younger two organisations in Aluksne, Latvia generation. on Thursday. As far as is known, this is the first The number of ethnic Estonians living in time since the restoration of independence that the countries of the West has been stable for the past volunteer national defence organisations of the two six decades due to the wave of new emigration that countries are signing such an accord, Kaitseliit started in the 1990s. As a result, the number of spokesman Capt. Tanel Rutman told BNS. ethnic Estonians has grown rapidly in the new The need for a co-operation agreement arises countries of destination for the emigration of first and foremost from the increase in the number Estonians, particularly Finland. of joint events in recent years. In 2011 the two In new emigration the survey identifies two organisations are planning to work together in the definite types of emigration, the first being people framework of regional exercises in the 2nd defence temporarily studying or working in foreign countries district of Latvia and in Estonia's Western defence and the second being people who have left their district as part of the Amber Hope 2011 exercise native country for good. The large size of the former held in Lithuania. As usual, the two organisations group leaves an erroneous impression of the scale will send their representatives to each other's sports on which leaving of Estonia has taken place. events and national celebrations. The commander of the Kaitseliit, Lt. Col. Raivo Lumiste, and Zemessardze commander Col. Juris DEFENCE NEWS Zeibarts found that co-operation on the level of SACEUR Recognises Estonia’s units, especially of units in the countries' border areas, is very important to ensure mutual support Contribution to International Security and short response time. 14 July (BNS) - Meeting with Estonian Prime Minister Andrus Ansip on Wednesday, Adm. Aaviksoo Meets with Singaporean James Stavridis, Supreme Allied Commander Colleague Europe (SACEUR), expressed sincere thanks to Estonia for its contribution to international 14 July (BNS) - While meeting with his security. “My message is thanks. Estonia stands out Singaporean colleague Teo Chee Hean, among members of the alliance as an active Estonian Defence Minister Jaak Aaviksoo contributor to security," Stavridis said during his discussed co-operation in the cyber defence visit to Stenbock House. sphere. According to the Defense Ministry During the meeting, the security situation in the Singaporean Deputy Prime Minister and Defence most important NATO military mission in Minister Teo Chee Hean was highly interested in the

4 activity of the NATO Cyber Defence Centre of Transit totalled 11.66 million tons, compared with Excellence in . "Singapore is certainly in the 10.19 million tons in the first six months of 2009. top ranks in terms of the development level of its e- Local shipments amounted to 1.86 million tons, up services and e-governance. The participation of the by 43% year on year. Singaporean defence forces in the cyber defence Import shipments decreased 11% to 0.44 million conferences we organise would certainly be suitable, tons while export shipments increased 30% to 0.28 and we did not rule out co-operation in the million tons. framework of individual cyber defence projects either," Aaviksoo said. Gen. David Koh, director of Finland’s Itella to Buy Estonia’s cyber security of the Singaporean defence forces, Smartpost Network also attended the meeting. Additionally, the ministers discussed the general 9 July (BNS) - Smartpost, which has created a security situation in Europe and Indo-China and high-tech parcel delivery system in Estonia participation in the operation in Afghanistan. The during the past two years, has signed a ministers stated that being small countries next to contract for the sale of its network to the big neighbours, the defence policy views of Estonia Finnish logistics company Itella Corporation in and Singapore were largely similar. "I was pleased order to fully dedicate to expansion to foreign to hear that Minister Hean regarded compulsory markets. By a mutual agreement, the parties will military service as important from the point of view not disclose the price of the transaction, the of growing the feeling of one nation, and if its works companies said on Friday. there in an extremely varied ethnic environment, In the future, Smartpost will focus on its main the more expedient it is in Estonia from the point of activity – the development of parcel delivery view of the civic feeling," Aaviksoo said. software and hardware and its sale to foreign countries. Use of the Smartpost trademark in Estonia will pass to Itella. The employees connected with the provision of parcel delivery services will ECONOMIC NEWS also continue in Itella. Itella will set up a new Number of Overnight Tourists Up by 11 company, OU Itella Smartpost, to continue providing Percent in May the parcel delivery services in Estonia. Peep Kuld, member of the supervisory board of 9 July (BNS) - The number of overnight tourists Smartpost, said that the management of the at Estonian accommodation establishments company had achieved its first aim and had proved was 213 000 in May 2010, 11% more than in the success of its business idea in Estonian the same period last year. In May 152 000 conditions. "The main aim of the creation of a parcel foreign and 62 000 domestic tourists stayed delivery system in Estonia was supporting our overnight at accommodation establishments, with export plans and the aim has been achieved by the number increasing by respectively 13 and 7 today. The system has been very successfully percent, Statistics Estonia said. geared and it is the main argument in the sale of Of the overnight foreign tourists, 70% came to our technology on foreign markets,” Kuld said. Estonia on holiday, 20% on business, and the rest The technology and logistics company Smartpost, had some other reasons to visit Estonia. Nearly 5 which is based on domestic capital, has a total of 38 000 overnight foreign tourists said that the aim of parcel delivery systems throughout the country. By their stay was to take part in a conference, training means of Smartpost it is also possible to send course or congress. parcels all over Europe, although the parcels will be The most popular destination for foreign tourists delivered by the traditional postal service. In the was Tallinn, and the number of overnight tourists company's own assessment more than 90 000 from Finland, Russia, Germany and Latvia increased people have used the services of the company. in the hotels of the city, while the number of tourists from Sweden and Norway declined. Most of the conference tourists (72%) also remained in Tallinn. Experts Forecast Good Summer Crop Contrary to the two previous years, the number Yields of domestic tourists also increased this May. Nearly 13 July (BNS) - Experts are forecasting a good 4 000 Estonian residents more than last year used summer crop harvest in Estonia this year. "If the services of accommodation establishments. we get a reasonable amount of rain during the The average price of an overnight stay was 28 coming week we can expect a very good summer euros, 10% lower than in May 2009. In Tallinn the crop harvest," Ando Adamson, researcher at the cost of an overnight stay was 32 euros, 15% down Estonian Research Institute of Agriculture, told BNS. from last year. "Summer crops look very fine this year. Dry weather or rain may have caused damage in individual places H1 Rail Freight Volumes Up 17 Percent across Estonia, but that is not remarkable," he said. 12 July (BNS) - Rail cargoes transported using Adamson said the cool and wet spring gave the infrastructure of the state-owned Estonian summer crops a start that was even too good and company Eesti Raudtee (Estonian Railway) made plants come up densely. Another researcher during the first half of this year amounted to talking to BNS, department head of the Jõgeva Plant 14.25 million tons, which is 16.7% more than Breeding Institute Ilmar Tamm, said forecasting of in the same six months a year ago. In June rail crop yields was difficult as it depends greatly on the freight totalled 2.16 million tons, which marks a weather in July and in August. year-on-year increase of more than 12%, Eesti He, too, said that the situation of summer crops Raudtee said. During the six months, rail shipments was predominantly good at the moment. "The yield of oil and oil products totalled 9.88 million tons, now depends on whether there'll be drought and 10.7% more than a year earlier. what the weather will be like during the harvesting

5 time," he said. "For summer crops we can forecast a traditional Turkish music. The concert begins at yield at least from average to good," said Tamm. 20.00 and admission is free. The Ellerhein girls’ choir was established in 1951 Container Terminal Infrastructure by Heino Kaljuste. Tiia-Ester Loitme has been the Completed at conductor of the choir since 1989. Ellerhein has won many awards in Estonia as well as abroad—the choir 15 July (BNS) - Thanks to an EU subsidy, the is recognised for its unique, pure sound. Ellerhein’s infrastructure for an additional container choir master is Ülle Sander, its concert masters are terminal of a yearly capacity of 350 000 TEU Katrin Kuldjärv and Piret Habak, and the vocal that cost nearly one million kroons (EUR 64 teacher is Mare Jõgeva. Ellerhein has visited Turkey mln) to build has been completed in the before in 2005, when it participated in the eastern part of Estonia's Muuga Harbour, international choir competition in Ankara and won controlled by the . first place in the women’s and men’s choir category "Containers are the business of the future and it and second place in the folk songs category. was high time for the Port of Tallinn to increase its competitiveness and create conditions for the The Times Compares Sofi Oksanen to expansion of container transport," the press service of the port reported Erik Ringmaa, commercial Sweden’s Stig Larsson director of AS Tallinna Sadam, as saying. Ringmaa 12 July (BNS) - According to Monday's issue of said that also the timing supported the project and the Times, Sofi Oksanen, a Finnish writer of compared with the initial plans the price was nearly Estonian roots, is becoming as popular a writer one sixth lower due to the fall in building prices. as the Swede Stig Larsson. The Times wrote that At the moment talks are underway with several although Oksanen has sold only a few hundred possible operators, including AS Muuga CT, which thousand copies of her books compared with already operates a containers terminal at Muuga Larsson's millions, her popularity is increasing. The Port. paper mentioned her last book, “Purge”, which has The development project was of 71 hectares, of been published in 29 countries, adding that in which 27 hectares was prepared for the container Finland the writer's status was similar to that of a terminal and 44 hectares for its reserve area. A rock star. wharf of 378 meters was built and an existing wharf The Times said that despite her age (33), was extended by one hundred meters. Oksanen has achieved a lot and, among other At the end of 2006 the European Commission things, has won the coveted Nordic countries' allocated 361 million kroons (EUR 23 mln) from the literature prize of about EUR 47 000 that would be European Union's Cohesion Fund, most of which was handed over to her in November in Iceland. used for financing the container terminal extension “Purge”, Oksanen's third novel, which speaks and the reserve area. Work for the building of roads about Estonian history from the 1940s until today, and technical networks for the new part of the port tells the story of one family's women through their is continuing. tragic experiences. “Purge” was first born as a play whose first performance in Finland's National Revenues, Profit of Playtech Estonia Up Theatre was a great success. In 2008 the novel won Last Year Finland’s highest-rated Finlandia literature prize, and in 2010 the Runeberg prize. Last year “Purge” was 15 July (BNS) - The revenues and profit of the also published in Estonian. This year Estonian Estonian unit of the online games software President Toomas Hendrik Ilves decorated Sofi developer Playtech grew last year. It appears Oksanen with the Order of the Cross of Terra from the Playtech Estonia report that the sales Mariana IV Class. proceeds of the company totaled 219.7 million Oksanen was born in 1977 in Jyväskylä; her kroons (EUR 14 mln) last year compared with 191.6 mother is Estonian and her father Finnish. million kroons in 2008. The net profit of the company stood at 8.8 million kroons last year. The year before the same figure was 6.7 million kroons. Playtech's expenses on labour, including taxes, totalled 167 million kroons.

CULTURAL NEWS ESTONIAN REVIEW (ISSN 1023-1951) Pärt’s Music Performed in Istanbul Again Is issued by the 12 July - On Friday, 16 July, the girls’ choir Press and Information Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs ISLANDI VÄLJAK 1, TALLINN, ESTONIA 15049 Ellerhein, conducted by Tiia-Ester Loitme, will TEL +372 637 7600 give a performance in Istanbul featuring the FAX +372 637 7617 best of Estonian choir music. Ellerhein, which is Estonian Review is also available over the participating in the international youth festival in internet at http://www.vm.ee Turkey, will be performing in the Hagia Irene Church To subscribe, please contact: [email protected] Museum, the same place where the world premier of Estonian Review is compiled in co-operation with Arvo Pärt’s work “Adam’s Lament” took place on 7 the Baltic News Service http://www.bns.ee/ June. The concert, which was made possible by co- operation between the Estonian Embassy and

Istanbul 2010, will include the works of Arvo Pärt, Veljo Tormis, and Cyrillus Kreek, as well as

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