Estonian Review E E S T I R I N G V A A D E VOLUME 17 NO 10 MAR 7- 13, 2007

FOREIGN NEWS Estonian Foreign Minister: EU Development Aid Should Be Better Coordinated Mar 13 - Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Paet found that the 's development aid was fragmented at present and should be better coordinated. An unofficial meeting of the European Union's development cooperation ministers in Bonn focused among other things on better division of labor in development cooperation -- on how to give more and more effective development aid. Taking the floor at the meeting, Paet said that the EU development aid was German Chancellor and Estonian Prime fragmented at present and the activity of Minister at the European Council meeting in donors overlapped on the level of both Brussels, 8 March 2007 The Council of the European Union countries and spheres. "It is necessary to have a better division of labor in the choice of both target countries and FOREIGN NEWS spheres of activity," Paet said. Prime Minister Ansip: Binding Goals Will Be Clear The meeting addressed the signing of Benchmarks for Policy Makers and Entrepreneurs economic cooperation agreements with Mar 8 - The heads of state and government discussed African, Caribbean and Pacific countries. energy and climate goals at the European Council Links between development cooperation meeting. If the goals were achieved, it would help the and energy as well as effectiveness of the environment become cleaner, slow down climate change European Union's development aid were and increase the energy security of Europe. also discussed. The main topic concerned the increase of the share of Paet said supported the signing renewable energy to 20% of total energy consumption in the of economic cooperation agreements with Union by 2020. It would be a binding obligation for all the the liberalizing countries of Africa, the member states and part of the aim of establishing a more Caribbean and the Pacific area. uniform energy policy for the Union. He added that trade barriers between According to Prime Minister Andrus Ansip, 20% is an the countries themselves should disappear ambitious goal, but binding goals will be clear benchmarks for and the European Union should curb policy makers and entrepreneurs. “At the moment, the use of restrictions to the import of goods from renewable energy is rather high in Estonia and it will not be a those countries. Estonia has a positive problem to achieve a level of 20% in 13 years,” Ansip said. He experience with the trade liberalization added that the contribution of nuclear energy to reducing and this can be one of the best guarantees greenhouse gases must also be analysed. for the economic development of Important for Estonia is the decision that in order to develop developing countries. a common market, connections must be established with the However, for developing countries to regions that are isolated so far. A common market will ensure be able to benefit of global competition, a the energy security of its participants and promote competition gradual approach is necessary, allowing between energy producers and states. them to adjust to the world market. For Integration of the energy market has been a priority for this to succeed, liberalization has to be Estonia already for a long time. That attention is paid to the accompanied by serious reforms creation of new links is good for Estonia, Ansip said. supporting competitiveness. The leaders of the member states admitted that the goals To secure a sustainable development in set by the Union had to be feasible and reliable. There are Africa, securing energy supply and countries in the European Union who have already achieved the increasing access to electricity are 20% renewable energy goal, whereas for several small necessary preconditions, Paet explained. countries such as Malta it is impossible to do so. In the near Unfortunately, in some African countries future, it is planned to agree on specific goals for each member electricity is available to less than 10% of state depending on the current level of renewable energy use in the population. these states.

FOREIGN NEWS commander of the Defense League. He has been adviser to the commander of the defence forces, a Issue of Iraqi Refugees Needs to Be senior officer at the defense forces General Staff, Solved Rapidly - Estonian Foreign Minister senior officer at the Allied headquarters in Northern Mar 9 - After meeting with fellow EU foreign Europe, chief of the defense forces planning and ministers, Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas analysis department and deputy chief of the General Paet said that members of the EU regard it as Staff. important to solve the issue of Iraqi war Saar was born on June 28, 1955 in Valga. He is a refugees as quickly as possible. graduate from the Zhitomir higher radio electronic "At present there are an estimated four million military school of AA warfare, academic courses of Iraqi refugees, two million of whom are internal the Kharkiv anti aircraft academy, the refugees and the rest people who have gone to Führungsakademie of Bundeswehr in Germany and neighboring countries," he said. courses at the NATO defense college in Bonn. Saar Estonia backs Iraq's national unity, territorial has served in various anti-missile posts in the integrity and stable development, the minister said. former Soviet Army. After the restoration of "We hope that the Iraqi government will manage, Estonian independence he served as commander of with the support of the international community, to the independent radio engineering anti-aircraft create a stable state in the government of which all battalion, chief of the Air Force Staff, deputy the ethnic and religious groups will take part," he commander of the defense forces General Staff and was quoted as saying. deputy chief of staff at a NATO training mission in Paet added that the regional conference Iraq. organized by the Iraqi government was "in every The earlier chief of the general staff, Brig. Gen. way appropriate." Alar Laneman, has handed in his resignation, Likewise, the EU foreign policy chiefs have a justifying his wish by long-term studies at the Royal common understanding that at this point both College of Defense Studies in Great Britain. political as well as economic support for Iraq Laneman enrolled in the college in January, internationally should be stepped up. becoming the first Estonian officer to study there. "We must give humanitarian aid to ease the people's situation along with aid for reconstruction," Paet said, admitting however that giving aid was DOMESTIC NEWS complicated because of the complex security Reform Party Started Coalition Talks with situation and the country's low capability to absorb IRL, Social Democrats and Greens aid. Mar 10 - The governing board of the Estonian Estonian Member of Parliament Met with Reform Party decided to open formal coalition Pakistan's President as Part of NATO negotiations and started talks with Pro Patria and Res Publica Union (IRL), the Social Parliamentary Assembly Tour Democratic Party and Greens of Estonia. Mar 9 - Social Democratic MP Sven Mikser met Before the decision about opening of coalition in Pakistan with President Pervez Musharraf as negotiations was made the negotiating delegation of part of a tour to that country by members of the Reform Party met on three occasions with the political committee of the NATO representatives from IRL, Social Democrats and Parliamentary Assembly (PA). Greens, and on one occasion with the Center Party. The visit took members of the NATO PA to After the outcome of the March 4 parliamentary Islamabad and Lahore. In addition to the Pakistani elections became clear, leader of the Reform Party, president, Mikser, the head of the Estonian Prime Minister Andrus Ansip indicated that they were delegation to the NATO PA, met with Pakistan's in favour of a coalition with IRL, whose platform is Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz. much closer to that of the Reform Party than the The meeting brought the NATO MPs together also platform of the Center Party. Ansip also said the new with Pakistan's Foreign Minister Khurshid Mehmood coalition should include a left-wing force for greater Kasur, representatives from various organizations, balance. and journalists. Reform Party won 31 seats, Center 29 seats, the nationalist conservative IRL 19 seats, Social DEFENCE NEWS Democrats 10 seats, and Greens and People's Union President Appointed Chief of General six seats each in the 101-seat legislature. President Ilves has promised that he would make Staff and Commander of Air Force the proposal to become the candidate for prime Mar 13 - President signed minister to the head of the party that received the a decision on appointing Col. Neeme Väli as most votes in parliamentary elections. chief of the General Staff and Col. Valeri Saar as commander of the Air Force. Four Estonian Parties Agreed on Tax Simultaneously the head of state relieved from Reform office chief of the General Staff Brig. Gen. Alar Laneman. Mar 13 - Representatives of the Estonian Väli was born on June 1, 1965 in Paide. He has parties holding coalition talks said that completed the course of the Führungsakademie of agreement had been reached on the tax reform Bundeswehr in Germany and the Tartu University package. Academy of Law. Väli has served as company Andrus Ansip from the Reform Party, Mart Laar commander, chief of the general staff and acting from the Pro Patria and Res Publica Union, from the Social-Democratic Party and Agu research company Turu-Uuringute AS carried Kivimägi from the Greens of Estonia stated after out in February reveals. another round of talks that the income tax rate Last month police enjoyed the trust of 78 percent would be lowered to 18 percent while the tax-free of respondents which is 2 percent more than the minimum monthly income would rise to 3,000 previous high recorded in March 2005. kroons (EUR 192) and a tax exemption on the birth "The population has not shown such trust in of the first child would also be introduced. police before. This is high recognition for us," the deputy head of the Police Board, Erik Nelis, said. Estonian Center Party Will Join In his words, it is essential for people to inform Parliament Opposition police about all crimes because such information is used by law enforcers and their cooperation partners Mar 8 - Estonia's Center Party will join the to plan anti-crime measures. ranks of parliamentary opposition, the leader "Even if a crime remains unsolved for some of the party said. reason each person helps thereby to create a safe The future governing coalition is in fact already living environment," Nelis added. decided and Center faces going into opposition, The trust rating of the police averaged 72 percent declared at the government's news last year, 71 percent in 2005 and 70 percent in conference. 2004. The monthly rating has not dropped below 70 In his words, at this point the Center Party still percent since March 2006. has a chance of becoming part of the future governing coalition. The head of the Centrist group in parliament, Ain ECONOMIC NEWS Seppik, said Center intended to negotiate with the Social Democratic Party, but Social Democrats said they take part in one set of talks at a time. Currency rates in kroons () Estonia Naturalized over 800 Individuals Estonian Government to Give New Breath Mar 8 - The Estonian government decided to grant citizenship to 838 people who have met to Estonian Tourist Industry the conditions for acquiring citizenship and in Mar 7 - The Estonian government is planning to whose case there were no grounds to deny endorse an implementation plan of the national them citizenship. tourism development program for the years The government also released from citizenship 2007-10. six applicants who live permanently in a foreign Under the plan 1.8 billion kroons (EUR 115 mln) country and wanted to give up Estonian citizenship would be invested in order to achieve considerable due to naturalization in their country of residence. growth in the number of foreign tourists' overnight The action plan of Estonia's national integration stays in Estonia, export of tourism services and program for 2004-2007 sets the target at modernization of the tourism information system. naturalizing at least 5,000 people annually. According to the plan, the number of foreign Last year the number of people with undefined tourists' overnight stays at Estonian accommodation citizenship decreased by 10,201. As of Dec. 31, institutions must grow from three million in 2005 to 2006, stateless individuals numbered 125,799 in 4.7 million in 2013. Estonia. The plan includes investment of 85.9 million kroons this year to make Estonia better known in Finnish Paper Recommended Estonia as the world and to support marketing. In the next e-voting Example three years the sum spent for the purpose will be 86.4 million kroons a year. Mar 12 - Kaleva, a paper published in Oulu in The plan envisages spending 90.8 million kroons northern Finland, suggested Finland should this year to spread information about opportunities follow the Estonian example and introduce e- of domestic tourism, and 91.9 million kroons a year voting. in the next few years. The paper wrote in its editorial that in Estonia it According to the plan the export of tourism was possible to cast votes via the Internet already products must grow from 15.2 billion kroons in 2005 for the second time in the general elections on to 20.5 billion kroons in 2013. March 4 and although e-voting had its weak points, To achieve that aim the plan includes investment positive aspects outweighed them. of 131.2 million kroons a year in 2007-2010 from The editorial found that e-voting was not the Estonian state budget and from EU structural complicated and quoted the example of 30,000 funds into the development of different tourism votes cast in Estonia that way. Kaleva wrote that the products to step up international competitiveness. Estonian experience had triggered a discussion over To promite tourism-linked education the plan e-voting also in Finland, where the new method had envisages investment of 131.8 million kroons this both been supported and criticized. year, 138.9 million kroons in 2008 and in 2009-2010 The paper said that it had studied the attitude to 139.2 million kroons a year each. e-voting in the Oulu electoral district and found that six out of ten people would like to vote Contract with China Supported Playtech’s electronically. Shares Estonians' Trust in Police Hits All-Time Mar 8 - Shares in the online games software High development company Playtech received new vigor after a contract was signed between Mar 7 - Estonians' trust in police has risen China and the company on software supply. higher than ever before, a survey the market 3 On 6 March the shares closed at 3.43 pounds, City harbor bringing about 300,000 next day they soared to 3.65 pounds. passengers to Tallinn. Shares in Playtech touched the bottom on London Ships of four different cruise ships should call at Stock Exchange, when their price fell to 1.43 points. the Port of Tallinn's Saaremaa harbor on six Later the shares have climbed. The previous price occasions. high was registered last April when it cost 3.49 According to plans the first coastal cruise ship will pounds. visit Tallinn on April 17 and the first traditional Playtech signed a cooperation contract with cruise ship on May 1. Foundation Group Ltd for the supply of Internet Last year Port of Tallinn receiveed 299 cruise games software to China. ships with more thn 300,000 passengers. Playtech went public last March. Most of the company’s development is conducted by a development team based in Tartu, Estonia. ESTONIAN REVIEW Estonian Company Wishing to Build (ISSN 1023-1951) Windmill Park Off Osmusaar Island Is issued by the Press and Information Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Mar 8 - The Estonian private shareholding ISLANDI VÄLJAK 1, TALLINN, ESTONIA 15049 company Neugrund wants to build a wind park TEL +372 637 7600 of 20 to 40 turbines on the Neugrund shoal FAX +372 637 7617 Estonian Review northwest of Osmussaar Island. is also available over the Board chairman of the company Raivo Vilberg Internet at http://www.vm.ee To subscribe, please contact: [email protected] said that the capacity of the park and the number of turbines would be decided in a respective study by the Tartu University Institute of Geography to be completed in a few weeks. Vilberg said that as the wind potential of the area was very good, the turbines would be of three megawatts and higher. Vilberg said that also the size of the investment was open as the number of turbines was not clear. On the average, the cost of building one megawatt of power would be one million euros, he said. Vilberg said that a meteorite had fallen 550 million years ago to where the wind park would be built and a higher place was formed there where it was good to build wind turbines. According to plans the wind park should built in an area of ten square kilometers where the average depth of the sea is not more than 15 meters. The area and depth of the sea are now being studied and would finally be established in the environmental impact assessment.

Net Profit of Estonian Railway Down by Nearly One Third Mar 9 - The state-owned Eesti Raudtee (Estonian Railway) earned a profit of 249.3 million kroons (EUR 15.9 mln) in the financial year 2006, 28.4 percent less than in 2005. Eva Vanamb, chairwoman of the supervisory board of Eesti Raudtee, said that the company's operating profit grew by 5.6 percent to 1.9 billion kroons against the year before, while the operating expenses increased by 17.9 percent to 1.65 billion kroons. In 2004 the railway earned a net profit of nearly 315 million kroons and 348 million kroons in 2005. The turnover of the company was 1.69 billion kroons in 2005 and 1.76 billion kroons in 2005.

Port of Tallinn to Receive More Than 280 Cruise Ships Mar 9 - Organizers of cruise trips have booked more than 280 cruise ship visits to harbors of Tallinna Sadam (Port of Tallinn) for the forthcoming cruise season. Tallinna Sadam public relations manager Sven Ratassepp said that there should be 278 visits to the

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