Estonian Review E E S T I R I N G V A A D E VOLUME 19 NO 18 APR 29 - MAY 5, 2009

SPANISH ROYAL COUPLE VISITS ESTONIA King Juan Carlos Introduced to Estonia’s e-Government System 5 May - The King of , Juan Carlos, in Estonia for a state visit, visited Stenbock House, where Prime Minister Andrus Ansip introduced the e-government system to His Majesty. “Our bilateral relations are great on the political level; we have great co- operation both in the European Union and NATO,” said Prime Minister Ansip when greeting King Juan Carlos. At the meeting, education-related co- operation between the two countries was discussed. It was admitted that the exchange of students between the two countries could be more active. The Lisbon Treaty was also President and Evelin Ilves present gifts to discussed at the meeting. “Estonia King of Spain Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia in Kadriorg, 4 May. supports a strong European Union and the Lisbon Treaty would make the President of the Republic Met With King of Spain Union even stronger,” said the head of 4 May - Today in Kadriorg President Toomas Hendrik Ilves and the government. The prime minister Evelin Ilves received King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia of Spain, thanked Spain for supporting Estonia who arrived in Estonia on a state visit. in its regaining of independence, but “This is a significant visit, because this is the first time Spanish also in its joining of the European royals are visiting Estonia,” President Ilves stressed. The President made a Union and NATO. “Your support has state visit to Spain in July 2007. “Relations between our two countries are been very important for us,” said very good. Estonia and Spain are strong partners in the European Union as Ansip. well as NATO, where our co-operation is helped by a similarity of views In 2005, Prime Minister Andrus regarding most issues.” Ansip participated in the summit “I am especially proud to host King Juan Carlos, who has provided dedicated to the 10th anniversary of immeasurable support for the development of democracy in his home the Barcelona Process. Spain will hold country,” the Estonian head of state said. “We are both countries that have the Presidency of the European Union successfully emerged from authoritarian and totalitarian regimes and have in the first half of 2010. arrived in the European Union, an alliance that is based on common values.” President Ilves thanked King Juan Carlos for Spain’s participation in the Baltic Air Policing Mission and support for the activities of the NATO Cyber Defence Centre that has been established in . “I am gratified that Spain understands the importance of cyber security as a 21st-century and cross-border issue and that it has joined Estonia and our other allies in the organisation of cyber defence,” President Ilves said. The Estonian head of state and the Spanish king also spoke about the global economic crisis. “One of the most pressing and painful problems, which requires our serious attention and fast solutions, is how to contain increasing unemployment,” President Ilves said. “It is also important that possible cuts and tax increases, which governments make to stabilise the economic situation and initiate a new recovery, are understandable to the people and thoroughly explained.” The other topics under discussion at the meeting were economic Prime Minister Andrus Ansip and transport cooperation and close cultural ties between Estonia and introduces Estonia’s e-government Spain, as well as the development of tourism and student exchanges. system to King Juan Carlos and Continued on page 2 Foreign Minister Miguel Ángel Moratinos

King of Spain represent Estonia for issuing visas in 14 nations: Algeria, , Brazil, Costa Rica, El Salvador, (continued from page 1) Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, The Spanish head of state also met with Ene Paraguay, Puerto Rico, Uruguay, and Venezuela. Ergma, Speaker of the Riigikogu, as well as the During the meeting, Spanish Foreign Minister parliamentary leadership and chairmen of the Moratinos gave an overview of Spain’s plans as the political factions. He also met with representatives of EU presidency in the first half of 2010. Foreign the Spanish community in Estonia. Minister Urmas Paet and Spanish Foreign Minister Yesterday evening, President Ilves and Evelin Miguel Ángel Moratinos also discussed Estonia-Spain Ilves hosted an official dinner in honour of King Juan cultural and economic co-operation as well as Carlos and Queen Sofia of Spain. common goals in the European Union and NATO.

They also exchanged ideas on overcoming the global Foreign Minister Paet: Estonia Would Like economic crisis, ensuring energy security, and Top-Level Dialogue With Spain battling climate change. Foreign Minister Urmas Paet and Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Ángel Moratinos met within the framework of the state visit of His Majesty the King of Spain Juan Carlos I and Queen Sofia to Estonia.

FOREIGN NEWS Paet: European Union and Persian Gulf Nations Could Be Part of Common Free Trade Area 30 April - In his speech at the meeting of the foreign ministers of the European Union and the Persian Gulf Co-operation Council (PGCC) in Masqat, Foreign Minister Urmas Paet emphasised that the key to emerging from the Foreign Minister Urmas Paet with Spanish global financial crisis stands in improving the Foreign Minister Miguel Ángel Moratinos in the effectiveness of international economic co- Foreign Ministry, 4 May. operation, restoring the trustworthiness of the

financial sector, and reducing trade barriers in 4 May - When signing the joint declaration for the world. “Setting up barriers in the global strengthening co-operation between the economy, especially in free trade, makes emerging foreign ministries with his Spanish colleague from this crisis very complicated in the long run,” Miguel Ángel Moratinos, Foreign Minister asserted the foreign minister. Urmas Paet emphasised that Estonia’s goal is While talking about developments in the to have regular top-level dialogue between the economic crisis, Paet emphasised that it is essential Spanish and Estonian foreign ministries. to prevent the spread of protectionist economic During their meeting, the foreign ministers policies. “Instead, we must find new opportunities to confirmed that relations between the two nations resolve the crisis. For example, to expand the free are good. Foreign Minister Urmas Paet thanked trade area, including between the European Union Spain for its contribution in creating the Co- and Persian Gulf countries, and to integrate operative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence. developing nations into the world trade system,” “International co-operation for ensuring cyber said Paet. He added that measures taken for security is extremely essential,” Paet stressed. “I am overcoming the economic crisis on the level of the pleased that Spain supported the creation of the European Union and of individual member states cyber defence centre and continues to contribute to must be in harmony with the principles of a the work of the centre as one of the founding functioning internal market and take into account nations,” he added. Two experts from Spain cross-border influences. currently work in the NATO Cyber Defence Centre in Foreign Minister Paet noted that international Estonia. financial institutions, including the International Paet thanked Spain for its readiness to help with Monetary Fund (IMF), must possess a bigger role in the monitoring of Baltic airspace in the name of crisis prevention and create an early warming NATO co-operation. Spain last participated in the system based on the monitoring of financial Baltic air policing mission in the second half of 2006 markets. “A nation-based approach should replace and has confirmed that it will do so again in the regional and financial group-based approaches,” he second half of 2011. According to Foreign Minister added. Urmas Paet, defence-related co-operation could also The members of the Persian Gulf Co-operation extend to training activities at the Baltic Defence Council are the , Bahrain, College. , Kuwait, Oman, and Saudi Arabia. The Estonia and Spain also co-operate in the area of European Union concluded a co-operation visa representation. At the beginning of May, the agreement with the foreign ministers of the GCC in agreement signed by Estonian Foreign Minister 1989, on the basis of which a meeting is held on the Urmas Paet and Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel ministerial level once a year with the goal of Ángel Moratinos in February of this year came into developing trade relations and helping to ensure effect, according to which Spain will begin to stability in a strategically important area. with whom they discussed co-operation Iraqi Diplomats to Begin Studies in opportunities for promoting business relations. Estonia Estonia Improves Its Ranking in World 3 May - A 10-member group of Iraqi diplomats is arriving in Estonia today so that they may Press Freedom Index begin their 3-week course at the Estonian 2 May (BNS) - Estonia has further improved its School of Diplomacy on Monday, 4 May. ranking in the world press freedom index This is a part of Estonia’s contribution to the published by the New York based think tank reconstruction of Iraq, emphasises Foreign Minister Freedom House, rising to shared places 14-17 Urmas Paet. “Estonia completed its military from positions 16-20 last year. contribution in Iraq at the beginning of this year, but The freedom of the press index is an annual we continue to help with the building up of Iraq,” survey of media independence in 195 countries and said Paet. “Three Estonian staff officers continue to territories. serve in Iraq and Estonia is making contributions in In the report for 2008, released by Freedom the civilian sector, which includes this training in House on Saturday, Estonia is tied with Ireland, Estonia,” he added. Jamaica and St. Lucia in places 14-17, with all three The Iraqi diplomats are studying at the Estonian given 15 points. A year ago Estonia was in a tie with School of Diplomacy within the framework of a wider Germany, , St. Lucia and Portugal, getting training project that includes the foreign ministries 16 points each. of Estonia, Iraq, Kosovo, , Moldova, Georgia Iceland topped the fresh table of press freedom and Armenia as well as the Ukrainian Diplomatic with 9 points. and Norway followed in places Academy (UDA). Courses for the state officials and 2-3 with 10 points, while Denmark and diplomats of the aforementioned nations will take were next with 11 points each. Places 6-7 were place during 2009. The training projects are shared by and Luxembourg with 12 points, organised according to the needs of each project followed by Andorra, the and partner. During their training course, the Iraqi Switzerland with 13 points. Liechtenstein, New diplomats will be given an overview of the formation Zealand and Palau were given 14 points, which of Estonian foreign service; they will also address placed them in slots 11-13. various topics that are important in international With 18 points, Lithuania shared places 24-26, relations today. while was given 23 points and placed as 43- The project is being funded from the Foreign 48. Ministry’s budget for development and humanitarian More broadly, Freedom House ranks countries as aid projects. free, partly free and not free in terms of freedom of the press. The first 70 countries in the table are Paet Met With Colleagues from Oman and seen as free. United Arab Emirates The freedom of the press index assesses the degree of print, broadcast, and Internet freedom, 29 April - Foreign Minister Urmas Paet and State analysing the events of each calendar year. Country Minister for External Affairs of the Sultanate of narratives examine the legal environment for the Oman Sayd Badir Al-Busaidi discussed media, political pressures that influence reporting, possibilities for intensifying economic relations and economic factors that affect access to between Estonia and Oman during their information. meeting in Masqat. placed not far from the bottom in slot At the meeting, they acknowledged that the 174. Closing the table were Burma and treaty basis with Oman has not been sufficient to Turkmenistan with 96 points and North Korea with further develop economic and business relations up 98. until now. “We hope to conclude an agreement for A month ago Freedom House published its the protection and facilitation of investments and an freedom of the net report, a pilot study of 15 economic co-operation memorandum with Oman,” countries that analyses the state of Internet Paet stated. “For the sake of intensifying business freedom, which showed Estonia as sharing the title ties even further, we would like to name an of country with the most Internet freedom with honorary consul to Oman,” he added. Brazil, Britain and South Africa. An Estonian business delegation is accompanying the foreign minister on his visit. Foreign Minister Estonian and Finnish Foreign Ministers Paet said that Oman is of interest to Estonian entrepreneurs in the areas of information technology Making Joint Visit to and and communication as well as energy. “For Estonia, 5 May - Foreign Minister Urmas Paet will be in the issues of energy security and ensured supplies Lebanon and Syria on a visit from 5-7 May are becoming increasingly important, which is why along with his Finnish colleague Alexander we are interested in diversifying gas suppliers and Stubb. finding new providers,” said Paet. Urmas Paet said that the goal of this joint visit by Foreign Minister Urmas Paet issued an invitation the Estonian and Finnish foreign ministers is to hear for his Omani colleague to visit Estonia. the assessments of Middle Eastern nations on the With Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of the situation in that region and to discuss opportunities United Arab Emirates Anwar Gargash, Paet for resuming the Middle East peace process. “We discussed further development of relations and feel it is very important for the Arab nations to facilitation of travel for citizens. actively participate in the Middle East peace process Foreign Minister Urmas Paet and the Estonian and try to reach reconciliation in Palestine,” stated business delegation also met with representatives of Paet. the Omani Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Foreign Minister Urmas Paet said that Estonia would like to open up bilateral communication with

3 Middle Eastern countries. During the course of the and emerge as the biggest civic initiative in Estonia's joint visit, there are meetings scheduled in Lebanon history. with President Michel Suleiman, Parliament chairman Registration started on 1 April and lasted until , and State Minister . In the morning of 1 May. In comparison with the Syria, Paet and Stubb will meet with President number of residents in different Estonian regions, Bashar Al-Assad, Prime Minister Muhammed Naji Al- turnout was highest in Hiiumaa, where the 170 Utri, Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah al Dardar, and people who took part represent 2% of the island's Foreign Minister Walid al Muallem. population. In the southeastern Voru County 516 This is the first meeting on the official level people or 1.6% of residents took part, whereas in between Estonian and Syria as well as Lebanon the West-Viru and Laane counties the rate of since diplomatic relations were established. Estonian residents involved in thinkinghouses was 1.4%. established diplomatic ties with Lebanon in 2001 and The topics that came up most often were joint with Syria in 1993. activity and collaboration of residents, rural life, enterprise and jobs, culture, education, and lifelong President of the Republic Accepted learning, Ohvril said. Credentials from Ambassadors of Benin "According to house elders, people offered very different ideas and solutions for how they could be and Sri Lanka carried out. Many of the participants said they had 30 April - Today in Kadriorg, President Toomas found people thinking in a similar way, with whom it Hendrik Ilves met with the Ambassadors of was agreed to meet again already in the near future Benin and Sri Lanka, who presented their to go on with the topics opened and carry out credentials to the head of state. concrete things," she added. Credentials were presented by Ambassador The nationwide thinking bee in search of ideas to Claudine Rita Dagnon ép Vignikin of the Republic of help make life better in Estonia started at 10 a.m. Benin, who resides in Copenhagen, and Ambassador on Friday. The participants were welcomed by the Ranjith Pemsiri Jayasooriya of the Democratic president in a televised speech. Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, who resides in The initiator of the undertaking was Rainer Stockholm. Nolvak, founder and former co-owner of the IT company Microlink, whose nationwide campaign last spring to clear roadsides and forests of garbage was joined by more than 50 000 people and earned him the title of Citizen of the Year.

DEFENCE NEWS Estonia and Montenegro Conclude Bilateral Defence Co-operation Agreement 30 April - Minister of Defence Jaak Aaviksoo, on a visit to Montenegro, concluded with his President Toomas Hendrik Ilves meeting with Montenegrin colleague Boro Vucinic a bilateral Ambassador of Sri Lanka Ranjith Pemsiri defence co-operation framework agreement Jayasooriya after the credential-presenting setting out the future directions for co- ceremony, 30 April. operation between the two countries. Minister of Defence Aaviksoo stated after concluding the agreement that Montenegro, like the DOMESTIC NEWS other countries in the Western Balkans, is entitled to More Than 11 000 People Take Part in 1st the same kind of security, stability and prosperity enjoyed by the rest of the European countries. May Brainstorming Event “Estonia recognises Montenegro’s measured and 2 May (BNS) - More than 11 000 people took constructive policy, which is important for ensuring part in the Minu Eesti (My Estonia) both regional and broader stability,” Aaviksoo said. brainstorming endeavor on Friday that saw The minister of defence also visited Montenegro’s people all over the country come together for a infantry brigade and air force base. "thinking bee" to find ways how to make life The Estonian Ministry of Defence supports better and increase social cohesion. Organisers members of Montenegro’s Defence Forces studying said that the event can be considered a success. at the Baltic Defence College and also advises The number of "thinkinghouses" that opened Montenegro on issues of integration in the direction their doors either physically or online was 527. Of of NATO and the creation of a system of defence the thinkinghouses, 409 were official and 85 attachés matching the needs of a small country. gathered on the participants' own initiative. There The minister of defence is accompanied on the were also 16 virtual thinkinghouses plus 17 visit by Eerik Marmei, Head of the NATO and ESDP thinkinghouses in 12 foreign countries. Department at the Ministry of Defence, and In the end 48% more people gathered to think Lieutenant Colonel Raul Öpik from the Analysis and together than were registered, which is a positive Strategy Department of the General Staff of the indicator, spokesperson for the endeavour Anneli Estonian Defence Forces. Ohvril told BNS. Back in mid-March, organisers said they were expecting Minu Eesti to be joined by 100 000 people

4 Aaviksoo Invited Croatia to Join NATO group. The passenger volume was positively Cyber Defence Centre influenced by the higher cruising activity during the Easter holidays, which last year fell in March, Tallink 30 April - Today in Zagreb, Minister of Defence said in a disclosure to the stock exchange. Jaak Aaviksoo met with his Croatian colleague The increase in passengers was biggest in the Branko Vukelić and invited Croatia to join the Latvia-Sweden, Estonia-Finland and Finland-Sweden collective NATO Cyber Defence Centre located operations. in Estonia. On the route between Latvia and Sweden the At the meeting, Aaviksoo congratulated Croatia shipper carried 39 452 passengers during the on becoming a NATO member. “Croatia is a good month, 78.8% more than a year ago. example of how to overcome instability in a very The number of passengers on the Finland-Estonia short time and become a provider of regional route grew by 27.7% to 278 396, whereas on the stability. Some ten years ago it was Croatia itself Finland-Sweden route it moved up 24.8% to 238 that needed the support of foreign peacekeepers. As 407. of today, Croatia itself has become a country that Passengers travelling between Tallinn and provides security for foreign missions, including to Stockholm numbered 57 722, 3.2% more than in Afghanistan,” said the Minister of Defence. April 2008. Aaviksoo also expressed his support for Croatian The number of transported cargo vehicles efforts to join the European Union. In Zagreb, the decreased by 33% year on year to 19 389 units. minister of defence also visited an exhibition of the Tallink's ships carried 50.2% more cars than in Croatian defence industry, and will meet later today last April, however. The total number of passenger with Croatia’s Deputy Prime Minister Jadranka cars carried was 65 184. Cars carried between Kosor. Estonia and Finland numbered 41 572, marking an Estonia has so far supported Croatia’s NATO increase of 64.2%, whereas between Estonia and integration efforts, primarily through co-operation in Sweden the number increased by 19.7% to 4 042. terms of the Adriatic-Baltic charter, the objective of AS Tallink Grupp runs ships on seven different which is sharing the NATO integration experience of routes under the Tallink and Silja Line brands. The the Baltic States with the Adriatic countries (Croatia, group owns altogether 20 vessels. Macedonia, and Albania). Minister Aaviksoo’s three-day visit to Montenegro Nordea Bank Boosts Q1 Profit by 22 and Croatia ends today. It is the first time that the Estonian minister of defence has visited these Percent countries. 29 April (BNS) - The net profit of Nordea Pank Eesti was 95.4 million kroons (EUR 6.1 mln) in the first quarter of this year, up by 22% ECONOMIC NEWS compared with the same period of last year; operating profit soared 27% to 104.8 million Eesti Energia to Use Enefit as Brand Name kroons. in Other Markets Assets of the Nordea bank in Estonia swelled by 5 May (BNS) - The state-owned Eesti Energia 41% in annual comparison to 48.2 billion kroons, energy group is adopting Enefit as its brand the bank said. name on markets outside Estonia. Nordea's loan and leasing portfolio stood at 40.2 On the home market the group will continue to billion kroons at the end of March, growing by 8.4 use the name Eesti Energia, bringing from 8 May all billion kroons or 27% over the year. its subsidiaries with different names and logos under Clients' deposits exceeded 12 billion kroons at that name, Eesti Energia said. the end of the first quarter. "The uniqueness and strength of Eesti Energia CEO of Nordea Eesti Vahur Kraft said the bank lies in the integrated value chain, which is created has every reason to be satisfied with the quarterly through co-operation between all the companies of results. At the end of the quarter Nordea Eesti had Eesti Energia," the group's CEO Sandor Liive said. 102 295 clients, 22 offices and 440 employees Eesti Energia is planning to scrap most of the couple throughout Estonia. of tens or so sub-brands and logos it is using currently. With the national energy development plan, the state has set itself the goal to separate Põhivõrk

(Main Network), the transmission grid subsidiary of ESTONIAN REVIEW Eesti Energia, from the group in 2010. (ISSN 1023-1951) Arising from that, Põhivõrk as the administrator Is issued by the of the Estonian power supply system and creator of Press and Information Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs market conditions will start using a visual identity ISLANDI VÄLJAK 1, TALLINN, ESTONIA 15049 and business name separate from Eesti Energia. TEL +372 637 7600 FAX +372 637 7617 Tallink’s April Passenger Numbers Soar Estonian Review is also available over the internet at http://www.vm.ee by One Fourth To subscribe, please contact: [email protected] 5 May (BNS) - The listed Estonian shipper Estonian Review is compiled in co-operation with Tallink Grupp carried a total of 621 674 the Baltic News Service http://www.bns.ee/ passengers during April, which marks an increase of almost 25% compared with the same month in 2008. Tallink's passenger traffic market shares increased in all of the main routes operated by the

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