Estonian Review E E S T I R I N G V A A D E VOLUME 17 NO 37 SEP 12- 20, 2007

TOP NEWS DOMESTIC NEWS President Ilves: The Victims of Communism Deserve Commemoration and Remembrance Sep 18 - “I am proud, extremely proud, of the Otto Tief government. In the name of democracy and freedom they met their pre-determined fate, so that no one in the future could say that was “liberated” in September of 1944. That the flag that the Red Army tore down from Tall Hermann Tower was the Estonian blue- black-and-white, not the Nazi ,” said President at the opening Gas pipeline building process Nord Stream of a photo exhibition of the members of the Otto

Tief government. Government Refused Survey for Gas He recalled the Atlantic Charter announced by Pipeline Franklin Roosevelt and Winston Churchill on August 14, 1941, which enumerated the principles of the Sep 20 – refused to give Nord Stream a Western Allies in case of their possible victory, and permission to conduct an undersea survey. declared that they recognize the right of all peoples to According to North Stream’s request, the planned decide their own system of government and to extensive surveys would cover a large part of determine their own fate. Estonia’s exclusive economic zone and continental “This declaration was very important to the shelf in the Gulf of Finland. Also, the survey area occupied nations. It provided hope for restoring lost extends into the territorial waters of the Republic of independence. It resulted in the belief that help would Estonia. Since studies of the continental shelf also arrive from the Western Allies,” said President Ilves. require drilling and would provide information on the “The fate of the National Committee formed in amount and utilisation possibilities of Estonia’s February 1944 and the members of the Tief natural resources, the state has the right to refuse to government that assumed office in September 1944 is give permission for the surveys. very symbolic of the situation at the time,” said the “First of all, the laws allow us not to grant Head of State. “First they were arrested by the permission if drilling is involved,” Foreign Minister German authorities. Thereafter, those who were not said. “Specialists have assessed that able to escape were arrested by the NKVD, some were there would be drilling and use of drilling machinery killed, the rest imprisoned. Those who returned alive in the course of the survey. The second reason is from Siberia suffered restrictions of their civic rights.” that the survey would provide information on the Seeing the fates of Estonia’s democrats, there was amount and utilisation possibilities of Estonia’s no difference between the Nazis and Communists, natural resources which is also a basis for forbidding said President Ilves. “Neither tolerated Estonia or the survey,” Paet explained. democracy,” he said. “The third reason is that, taking into account the In his speech, the Head of State recommended coordinates provided by Nord Stream, part of the that the Estonian state and people focus on how to survey area would have been in Estonian territorial immortalize the memory of the people who remained waters. In this case the coastal nation has complete loyal to their professional and military oaths, ideals of sovereignty and the right to forbid surveying work. the nation, freedom, democracy and independence, „We have also repeatedly said, is that the proper and who were therefore repressed. search for an alternative is not to look for another “I repeat my appeal to establish an honourable route through the Baltic Sea,“ he continued. „Taking memorial to the tens of thousands who were victims into account the fact that the International Maritime of Communism in Estonia. Not only to the victims of Organization has certified the Baltic Sea as a Stalinism, because this would nullify the suffering of sensitive sea region, our stance is that the best those who were imprisoned, repressed, and solution for this project is not for it to go through the persecuted between 1953 and 1988.” Baltic Sea, but to go over the mainland, and such “Unfortunately, we still do not know the names of possibilities must be studied.“ all the victims. Our job is to find out and chisel them Nord Stream AG submitted the application for a in stone. By name.” said President Ilves. “I know that survey permit in the exclusive economic zone to the this is a very extensive undertaking. But the victims Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 31 May 2007. According deserve it.” to the law, Estonian government has four months to respond to the request.

FOREIGN NEWS "Only when the energy market has been liberalized and opened to competition will the New Ambassador to the United States European Union be able to negotiate with one voice Presents Credentials with the countries from which energy is being Sep 18 - The new Estonian ambassador to the bought," the president said. United States, Väino Reinart presented his Ilves and Sobotka both said that matters of credentials to President George W. Bush. history need to be opened up in more detail and the In the conversation that followed the ceremony, sufferings caused by communism have to be Bush and Reinart spoke about relations between the brought to light. countries, including matters related to visa-freedom, "In view of all the people who had to suffer from possibilities for cooperation on international the crimes of communism, the sole right step would missions, and relations between the European Union be to condemn communism on the international and the United States. level," Ilves said. The president and the ambassador stated that Sobotka also met during his stay in Estonia with relations between Estonia and the United States Prime Minister and speaker of the have been good and close throughout the 85-year parliament Ene Ergma. history of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Estonia in Favour of Visa Facilitation Reinart thanked the United States for the Agreement with Georgia cooperation of so far and expressed hope that as a result of common efforts visa-free travel for Sep 14 - Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Paet Estonian nationals to the United States will become said Estonia was in favour of starting talks possible already in the near future. over a visa facilitation agreement with The US president voiced appreciation of the Georgia. activity of Estonia on the NATO operations in "The European Union should launch talks on the Afghanistan and Kosovo as well as on the mission in issue of a visa facilitation agreement with Georgia as Iraq, describing Estonia as a good and reliable ally. soon as possible, as it benefits both the sides," Paet Bush also recalled his visit to Estonia in said at a meeting of Georgia's Friends in Vilnius. November 2006, adding that Estonia has been The foreign minister added that strengthening of successful in carrying out reforms and can now contacts between people was essential also for the support new democracies by sharing its experience. growth of mutual credibility between the European The Estonian president appointed Reinart as Union and its neighbours. ambassador to the United States in June. Foreign Ministers of the Georgia's Friends group Reinart came to work as adviser at the Foreign of countries also discussed Georgia's aspirations to Ministry in 1992. In 1994 he became director of the accede to the European Union and NATO and first political office and in 1995 adviser of the solution of Georgia's frozen conflicts. political department. Paet said that Estonia was in favour of granting In 1995-1999 Reinart was Estonian ambassador the NATO Membership Action Plan (MSP) to Georgia to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in already at the next NATO summit in Bucharest. Europe in Vienna, in 1991-2001 he worked as "Georgia has been carrying out successful director- of the Foreign Ministry political reforms and MAP would be a significant sign of NATO department and was deputy secretary-general of support and future plans," he said. political issues in 2001-2002. Paet added that the so-called frozen conflicts, or From 2002 onwards Reinart served as Estonia's the issue of Southern Ossetia and Abkhazia, should ambassador to the EU in Brussels. President Toomas not become an inhibiting pretext in Georgia's further Hendrik Ilves has also signed an order to appoint integration with NATO. Reinart as Estonia's ambassador extraordinary and The aim of the Georgia's Friends group of plenipotentiary to Mexico, in which post he will serve countries set up in 2004 is to help Georgia in based in Washington. aspirations on the NATO and European Union course. Other members of the group are Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, Romania, Bulgaria, Sweden and the Estonian President, Speaker of Czech Czech Republic. Senate Discussed Cooperation Sep 13 - Estonian President Toomas Hendrik Georgian, Estonian Border Guard Ilves and the president of the Czech Senate, Authorities Signed Cooperation Accord Premysl Sobotka, during their meeting in Tallinn discussed cooperation between the two Sep 18 - The director general of the Georgian countries in the European Union and NATO. border police, Badri Bitsadze, paid a visit to Among other things, the participation of the Estonia to sign a cooperation agreement with Czech Republic in the missile shield to be set up by the Estonian border guard. the United States was talked about. Bitsadze and his Estonian counterpart, Roland Relations between Estonia and the Czech Peets, visited the Estonian border guard college at Republic have historically been very good and the Muraste near Tallinn, the Narva border guard base two countries are also linked together by similar and a road border checkpoint. foreign policy priorities in the process of The Georgian guest also visited the headquarters enlargement of the European Union and NATO, Ilves of the Border Guard Board and the centres for said. operational information and maritime surveillance. Ilves highlighted the need for a common energy policy of the EU as one guarantee of security. The cooperation agreement on exchanges of implementation environment for conducting cyber know-how and information in various areas related defence. to border control was signed. Baltic Defence Ministers Signed Three Memorandums DEFENCE NEWS Sep 14 - The defence ministers of Estonia, Germany Ready to Take Part in Activity of Latvia and Lithuania signed three Centre for Cyber Defence in Estonia memorandums on defence cooperation among Sep 18 - Germany's defence chief Gen. the Baltic countries . Wolfgang Schneiderhan, who paid a visit to Meeting in Kuressaare, capital of the Estonian as part of his working trip to Estonia, island of Saaremaa, the ministers spoke about said Germany was ready to take part in the matters related to Baltic defence cooperation, air work in the NATO Centre of Excellence in policing, joint procurements, and operations. Cooperative Cyber Defence to be set up in They also signed three extensive memorandums Estonia. of understanding regulating the development of Meeting with the German general, commander of Baltic defence cooperation. the Maj. Gen. Ants Laaneots One of the memorandums deals with the offered an overview of Estonia's national defence organization of the work of the Baltic defence and its directions of development. college, the other with air policing and the third with Gen. Schneiderhan expressed support for the development of the Baltic battalion. plan to develop the Estonian national centre for The ministers also signed a joint communiqué cyber defence into an NATO centre of excellence. He setting out guidelines for further work on the also expressed readiness on the part of Germany to cooperation projects. contribute to the activity of the centre of excellence. The previous meeting of Baltic defence ministers The parties stated that constructive cooperation took place in Panevezys, Lithuania, in January this between the countries continues both in officer year. training as well as in the area of equipment. Germany will continue sending its experts to teach DOMESTIC NEWS at the Baltic Defence College in Tartu and supporting EU Science Commissioner Commends Estonia in the training of ground intercept Estonia for Success controllers. Gen. Schneiderhan also spoke at an international Sep 14 - Meeting with Estonian Prime Minister conference on Baltic defence issues in Tartu, Andrus Ansip, Janez Potocnik, EU focusing on the political and strategic goals of NATO commissioner for science and research, in Afghanistan. expressed recognition to Estonia's activity in the area of science and research as well as to NATO Assistant Secretary General Backs the Knowledge-based Estonia innovation strategy. Centre of Excellence in Estonia Giving an overview of science and research Sep 17 - Commander of the defence forces Maj. activity in Estonia, Ansip underlined that of EU Gen. Ants Laaneots presented to Peter C. W. member countries the growth of expenditure in the Flory, NATO assistant secretary general for sphere had been the highest in Estonia. defence investment, the priorities of "In the year 2000 373 million kroons (EUR 23.8 development of the Estonian defence forces mln) was earmarked for science and research and spoke about the establishment of a NATO expenditures and last year the sum had risen to centre of excellence on cyber defence here. above one billion kroons, 1,392 million kroons," "The NATO assistant secretary general supported Ansip said. the plan of Estonia to develop the national centre for The prime minister underlined that the share of cyber defence into a NATO centre of excellence," these sums in the gross domestic product could not Laaneots said. be the main indication of the results of science and Flory voiced appreciation of Estonia's rapid and research activity, but also the quality and adequate response during the attacks of late April, effectiveness of the expenditures was very stressed the importance of the topic and promised important. to do everything on his part so that as many Potocnik, who described the Estonian countries as possible would join the project of the development plans as ambitious, praised both the NATO Centre of Excellence on Cooperative Cyber impressive developments and expressed the Defence. conviction that implementation of the Knowledge- The commander of the Estonian armed forces based Estonia keeps the country on the right course. spoke to the visiting NATO assistant secretary Potocnik also said that Estonia had examples to general about the resources available to the follow, as both Sweden and Finland were known as Estonian defence forces and the equipment used in very successful innovation countries. operations. Also talked about were the security In addition to issues of the development of situation in Europe and the NATO decision making science the prime minister and the commissioner mechanism. discussed the effects of economic structure on The centre of excellence would be an labour productivity. international organization established within the The prime minister stated that Estonia was framework of the NATO transformation program, the inevitably faced with structural changes in the goal of which would be to promote cooperation in economy, because this was the only way to raise cyber defence between NATO and its member states productivity and international competitiveness. as well as to set out the principles and

3 High-level Conference of FBI Academy In cooperation with tour operators, Estonian Air Associates Held in Tallinn performed last month 102 charter flights or 20 less than in August 2006. The company scaled down Sep 17 - A high-level conference of the US charter operations in order to develop and increase Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) National scheduled flight opportunities. Academy that started in Tallinn is attended by Estonian Air is to launch four new services in FBI Director Robert S. Mueller and the chief of September: Tallinn-Vilnius, Tallinn-, Tallinn- Europol, Max-Peter Ratzel, among others. Kuressaare and Kuressaare-Stockholm. Estonian national police chief Raivo Aeg described In 2006 the airline served 689,800 passengers. hosting the FBI international conference as a great Estonian Air is owned by the Estonian state, SAS honour and challenge for the Estonian police. Group and the investment bank Cresco. Contacts and cooperation between Estonian police and the FBI have continued already for years, Estonian Energy to Redouble Oil he said. Fourteen police officers from Estonia have studied at the FBI National Academy and three Production in Coming Years experts from the Estonian police are now being Sep 14 - The newly-released report on the trained at the FBI school in Budapest, Hungary. previous business year of Eesti Energia Aeg, former Estonian police chief Kalle Laanet (Estonian Energy) mentions the company's who heads the European Chapter of the FBI National plan to build by 2010 a new liquid fuel plant Academy Associates this year, and Louis Quijas, and raise sale of shale oil to 500,000 tons a adviser to the FBI director, underscored the year. importance of similar conferences as a forum for Existence of domestic liquid fuel production personal contact and exchange of experience for law capacity is an important security-boosting factor enforcement officers from different countries. that allows to ensure the country's liquid fuel needs, Conference participants were welcomed on by the state-owned company said. Estonian President Toomas Hendrik Ilves. Apart from Eesti Energia further said the concern should the FBI director, speakers included Estonia's Justice invest in oil production in countries possessing raw Minister Rein Lang, US Ambassador Stanley Davis material similar to Estonian oil shale. Interest in Phillips and Europol Director Max-Peter Ratzel. liquid fuels produced from shale is great everywhere More than 200 law enforcement professionals are and the company is at present studying a concrete taking part in the FBI National Academy Associates project in Jordan as well as eyeing other European Chapter 25th Conference held from Sep. perspectives. 17-19. In the business year ended in March Eesti The main topics of the conference are the fight Põlevkivi, the power utility's mining arm, sold more against organized crime and developments in than 106,000 tons of shale oil at an average price of forensic science. 3,508 kroons (EUR 224) per ton. Supported by the The conference of the European chapter is held rise of fuel prices on world markets, the average annually in some European location. During a similar price rose by a fifth compared to the previous event in Bern, Switzerland, four years ago, Estonia business year. was given the opportunity to host the event as the Extracting oil from shale is Eesti Energia's most first country from Eastern Europe. profitable activity. Sales revenue of the Narva oil From its inception in 1935, the FBI National plant was 451 million kroons and net profit, 207 Academy has been a vital element in the continuing million kroons or nearly 46 percent of revenue last improvement of law enforcement standards, year. knowledge, and cooperation throughout the world. About 2,500 officers from countries other than the US have graduated from the academy. ESTONIAN REVIEW (ISSN 1023-1951) Is issued by the ECONOMIC NEWS Press and Information Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs ISLANDI VÄLJAK 1, TALLINN, ESTONIA 15049 Currency rates in kroons TEL +372 637 7600 (Bank of Estonia) FAX +372 637 7617 Estonian Review is also available over the Internet at http://www.vm.ee To subscribe, please contact: [email protected] Estonian Air's Passenger Numbers up 16 Percent in August Sep 14 - The number of passengers on Estonian Air's scheduled flights in August, at 66,546, was up by 16.2 percent year-on-year. Including charter flights, the company carried 78,361 passengers last month. If in the first half of the year the results were more modest then in the second half passenger numbers have grown on account of an increase in the number of flights and better availability of cheaper tickets, the company said. The average load factor of regular flights rose in August to 76 percent, up by 7 percent compared to the same period last year.

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