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Estonian Review E E S T I R I N G V A A D E VOLUME 17 NO 25 JUN 20- 26, 2007

TOP NEWS QUOTATION OF THE WEEK “Those who believe that some countries are far away, and therefore, have nothing to do with us do not understand the world of the 21st century”

Toomas Hendrik Ilves, President of

FOREIGN NEWS Came to an Agreement on the Future Reform of the Jun 23 –The leaders of the European Union came to an agreement regarding the reform of the base treaties. At the meeting of the European Council, it was decided to call an intergovernmental conference to develop a new reform treaty. Its goal is to increase the efficiency and Presidents and George W. Bush in the democracy of the new, enlarged European Oval Office on 25 June. Photo: Mike Theiler Union. The agreement was preceded by discussions on the content of the reform President Ilves Met with the President of the United treaty. States Estonian Prime Minister Jun 25 - “A belief in freedom has bound Estonia and the thanked current presidency Germany for United States into strong allies, who understand the their thorough work in preparing the importance of supporting each other, and who help those package of reforms and in leading the who need assistance to the best of their ability,” said discussions. Ansip conceded that it was not President Toomas Hendrik Ilves at the meeting with the easy reaching a compromise on several US President George W. Bush at the White House in innovations concerning the operation of the Washington. European Union, and the fact that the Presidents discussed the relations between Estonia and the compromises were made was a significant United States, which both heads of state assessed as good. Vice achievement in itself. President Dick Cheney was also attending the meeting. According to Ansip, the decisions of the Ilves thanked the United States for its support at the end of European Council meet the interests of April and beginning of May, when Estonia was confronted with Estonia. extensive information and cyber attacks. “Estonia’s goal is, first and foremost, a President Ilves called upon the United States to participate in strong European Union,” said the Prime the NATO Centre of Excellence, which the Estonian Government Minister. “The European Union with twenty- has proposed to establish in . seven or more members must be capable of “Estonia became famous at the end of the last century for its effectively operating. The agreement made Tiger’s Leap program, which resulted in the internetization of the today is a condition precedent to it.” country, and now we must seriously tackle the Tiger’s Security One important innovation in the work of program, which would safeguard us all from cyber attacks,” said the European Union shall be increase of the President Ilves. “Let’s be honest—in the field of cyber security, areas where the unanimousity requirement compared to the United States, the European Union seriously will be dropped, applying the principle of lags behind both technically as well as legislatively, and the majority voting instead. This will participation of the United States in the cyber security centre considerably improve the efficiency of the planned for Estonia would be a great bonus for the centre.” decision process within the European Union. Presidents Ilves and Bush also spoke about developments in The role of national parliaments in the Afghanistan and Iraq, where the military of both countries are Union’s decision process will also increase. striving to improve peace and stability for the local population. If a parliament of a member state believes that a legal initiative of the European Continues on page 2 Commission infringes the subsidiarity principle, the Commission will be required to review the initiative.

FOREIGN NEWS

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“The building of an Afghanistan that is friendly to other countries and secure for its population vividly demonstrates how important and fruitful the united trans-Atlantic front, or cooperation between the European Union and the United States, can be,” said the Estonian . “There is no doubt, that this cooperation is based on common values and a mutual interest in the world meriting a peaceful future.” Presidents Bush and Ilves spoke about the joint activities of Europe and the US in deepening democracy and stability in the southern Balkans, Georgia, Moldova, and Belarus. “No country whose government or population has aspirations toward freedom and wishes to join the line-up of reformed countries should be uncertain about the support of the free world,” said President Ilves. “Yes, we support them just as fervently as the free world has supported the aspirations of the Baltic countries.” President Toomas Hendrik Ilves and US Speaking about NATO and the future expansion Secretary of Defence Robert Gates at the of the alliance, the Estonian Head of State said that, Pentagon, 26 June. Photo: Mike Theiler at the NATO summit in Bucharest next year, the organization must present accession invitations to “Cyber-security is one of the greatest challenges more than one of the current candidate states. “The at the beginning of our century and one facet is the wider the NATO safety belt is, the more security will technical and legislative solutions needed to defeat surround us,” said President Ilves. cyber crime and cyber attacks,” noted President

Ilves. President Ilves and the United States The Estonian Head of State and United States Secretary of Defence Spoke About Cyber Secretary of Defence also spoke about bringing the Defence Georgian and Ukrainian armed forces into compliance with NATO standards, which both Jun 26 – „Today it is clear that those who Estonia and the United States are supporting. believe that some countries are far away, and “We are not speaking today about an exact date therefore, have nothing to do with us do not for accession to NATO, but about what the military understand the world of the 21st century,” of a contemporary and intelligent nation, which has said Toomas Hendrik Ilves at meeting with chosen democracy, should be and how to establish Robert Gates, the United States Secretary of civil control in a society,” said President Ilves, also Defence. affirming that if the current positive developments At the meeting, the Estonian Head of State and continue in Georgia, Estonia will support giving the United States Secretary of Defence spoke at Georgia a Membership Action Plan (MAP) at next length about the foreign missions in which the year’s NATO summit. military forces of both countries are participating and also about the general situation in Afghanistan and Iraq. Estonian Foreign Minister Paid a Visit to “Our objective is that these countries become Montenegro safe for their residents and not pose a threat to Jun 25 - Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Paet other countries,” said President Ilves. “However, this paid an official visit to Montenegro. means that, along with military solutions, civilian Paet met with President Filip Vujanović, solutions are also important, which can help to win parliament Speaker Ranko Krivokapić, Prime the hearts and support of ordinary Afghans and Minister Zeljko Šturanović and Foreign Minister Milan Iraqis.” Roćen during the visit. The United States Secretary of Defence According to Paet, the relations between Estonia expressed his condolences to Estonia in connection and Montenegro are excellent but there still are with the death of two soldiers in Afghanistan on many ways to deepen cooperation. "I'm certainly June 23rd and wished the wounded soldiers a going to discuss with my Montenegrin colleagues speedy recovery. possibilities of development and economic President Ilves and Secretary of Defence Gates cooperation," he said. spoke in detail about the NATO cyber-defence centre Estonia supports Montenegro's bid for integration planned for Estonia, about the practical questions into the European Union and NATO and encourages related to its creation and the participation of the the Balkan country to stay on the course of reform, United States in this project, for which United States the foreign minister added. President George W. Bush expressed his support Montenegro became an independent state on during meeting with the Estonian Head of State. June 3, 2006 after 55.5 percent of participants in a referendum at the end of May had backed The Estonian President Received separation from Serbia. Credentials from the Ambassador of Chile Estonia became a few days later the first country of the world to establish diplomatic relations with Jun 21 - President Toomas Hendrik Ilves the newly independent state and also was the first received credentials from Carlos Parra Merino, to appoint an ambassador to Montenegro. the Ambassador of Chile. "We shall always remember this and highly According to President Ilves, both Chile and appreciate the will of the Estonian government," Estonia have been stable success- and reform- Montenegro's then Foreign Minister Miodrag Vlahovic oriented countries, and Estonia is interested in said at the time. developing closer contacts. “We definitely wish to develop trade relations between Estonia and Chile,” Prime Minister Ansip Met with Prime stated President Ilves. “Whereas Chilean wines have been the best ambassadors of your country,” he Minister of Bosnia and Herzegovina added. Jun 26 – Prime Minister Andrus Ansip said, The Chilean Ambassador Carlos Parra noted that meeting with the Prime Minister of Bosnia and information technology is a field where Estonia and Herzegovina Nikola Spiric, that the political Chile could cooperate and added that he sees great and security situation had become potential in the development of tourism. considerably more stable in the country and The discussions centred on the future prospects that there was more reason to look forward to of the two countries in a globalizing world and the future. relations between the European Union and South According to Mr Ansip, Estonia has hands-on America were also discussed. experience in building up a state. “If needed, we are Chilean Ambassador Carlos Parra resides in ready to help you in the process,” assured Ansip. Helsinki and his wife, Ella Maria Gleisner de Parra, is ”We understand very well how important it is for Honorary Consul of Estonia in Chile. you to join the EU and NATO. For us too, NATO and EU were a dream for a long time. Now, this dream The Ambassador of Ghana Presented His has been fulfilled,” said Ansip. According to the Credentials to the President of Estonia Prime Minister, both joining the NATO and the European Union took a lot of labour and reforms. Jun 21 - President Toomas Hendrik Ilves Just homework was not enough to join those received credentials from Grant Ohemeng organisations; we also needed friends and Kesse, the Ambassador of Ghana. supporters. “Relations between Estonia and Ghana are good,” Ansip reassured that Estonia supports Bosnia and said the Estonian Head of State upon accepting the Herzegovina’s integration with the European Union. credentials. “We would gladly see these relations be “There is no doubt – Bosnia is a European country, activated further and this primarily in the field of the door must be open for you,” Ansip added. Ansip tourism.” President Ilves said that Estonia also said that membership in the EU depended acknowledges the advances made by Ghana in the mainly on the country’s progress in implementing liberalization of its economy and the establishment reforms. of a democratic state. Estonia supports the continuation of NATO’s open The Ghanaian Ambassador expressed interest in doors policy. “At the Riga top summit you were the development of information technology in invited to join the peace partnership programme. It Estonia, and said that Ghana could learn from this. was recognition of your reforms in the defence President Ilves noted that Estonia is ready to help sector. I encourage you to use all the opportunities Ghana with these issues. offered by this programme,” said Ansip. The Ghanaian Ambassador accredited to Estonia, The Prime Minister also visited members of Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland resides in Berlin. in Tuzla, who are soon to leave the country. The downsizing of the crisis The President of the Republic Confirmed regulation and peace operation EUFOR by the the New Estonian Ambassadors to European Union and closure of the Tuzla base is a Greece, the United States, and China positive message to all of Europe, according to the Prime Minister. “You have achieved a lot in the Jun 25 - President Toomas Hendrik Ilves signed defence area and we are leaving from here with a the resolution whereby the following were peaceful heart,” said Ansip. appointed Ambassadors Extraordinary and The Prime Minister also said that Estonia has Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Estonia: made a contribution to securing peace and stability Peep Jahilo to the Hellenic Republic, Väino in Bosnia and Herzegovina and, if necessary, would Reinart to the United States of America, and continue to do so in future. Andres Unga to the People’s Republic of China. Since 1996 up to now, Estonian military have The President of the Republic also recalled the participated in peace securement operations. former ambassadors: Andres Unga from Greece, Jüri ESTGUARD-3 will be the last infantry unit serving in Luik from the United States, and Mait Martinson Bosnia and Herzegovina. from China. ESTGUARD units were formed on the basis of the national defence league. According to the Prime DEFENCE NEWS Minister, it was the first foreign operation of the Two Estonian Soldiers Killed in Defence League which provided valuable experience Afghanistan for the League. June 23 - Two members of the Estonian ordnance disposal team (EODT-11) were killed on 23 June while doing their duty in the NATO- led mission in Afghanistan.

3 Sgt. Kalle Torn, 24, assistant to the commander “Sooner or later—but rather sooner and already of the ordnance disposal team and Jr. Sgt. Jako now—this attitude will take its revenge on these Karuks, 33, driver of the team, were killed in a countries,” said the Head of State. “The relativity missile attack. and impermanence of their wealth will become According to preliminary information the Estonian clear—their inability to successfully cope in a post- mine clearance team was attacked with a 107 mm petroleum world,” said the President. missile in the Sangin Valley in Helmand Province in Southern Afghanistan. Four soldiers sustained injuries in the same ECONOMIC NEWS attack, of these two light and two grave injuries. Estonia has taken part in the operation in Afghanistan since 2003. On December 7, 2005 the Currency rates in kroons Estonian parliament extended participation of the () Estonian defence forces in Afghanistan by two years with up to 150 soldiers at any one time. Citigroup Says No Rough Landing Due for Baltics DOMESTIC NEWS Jun 22 - One has to keep an eye on the risks President Ilves: Our Wealth Is Our that the Baltic economies are faced with, yet a Knowledge sudden slowdown is not likely in the region, Citigroup said in a recent survey dealing with Jun 20 - “Estonia does not have any oil or gas Baltic banking. deposits. Just like many other leading research "While it is right to look at the downside risks in and industrial countries in the world. In our the region, we do not subscribe to any 'hard-landing' actions, we must be guided by the fact that the scenarios for the Baltics. The region simply does not most valuable resource in the world today is fit the model of a system nearing crisis point," brains,” said President Toomas Hendrik Ilves Citicorp Research said in the survey. at a reception for the country’s best university It said that a currency shock was near impossible graduates. “Our wealth is our knowledge; our to manufacture. smartest people are our wealth. You are "A 'stagnation' scenario, such as in Portugal in Estonia’s wealth.” 1999, is also unlikely; there is plenty of economic In the globalizing world, this is a resource that is catch-up left to run, and the region is supported by in great demand, is well rewarded, and therefore, is a Nordic quality institutional framework," Citicorp very marketable. “In other words, the doors to the Research said. world are open to you,” said the Head of State in his Also the Estonian central bank has considered a address. so-called soft landing of the economy as likely. It “Open one of these doors and continue your warned at the beginning of this week, however, that studies in Estonia or at the leading universities and the likelihood of a more abrupt adjustment had research centers of the world. Your academic grown somewhat lately. journey has just started,” said President Ilves.

“However, those who continue this journey outside Estonia to Sign Cooperation Project with Estonia—please remember that this door opens in both directions. Come back to Estonia to seek and European Space Agency find challenges in academic work. You are the ones Jun 20 - Estonia became the first Baltic country who have the opportunity and responsibility of to sign an agreement with the European Space providing the content for the economic model that Agency (ESA) on the development of peaceful we hear so much about, the key phrase for which is space cooperation. a knowledge-based Estonia.” Prime Minister Andrus Ansip and parliament The Head of State appealed to the university Speaker Ene Ergma met with ESA Director Rene graduates by saying the following: “If you can, don’t Oosterlinck to discuss opportunities of cooperation give in to the very human temptation to immediately between Estonia and the agency. head toward salaried employment, which is scantily, Ansip said the agency carries out programs in or in the best case, only partially related to your which Estonia can be both provider and user of education and abilities.” services. Ansip said Estonian scientists had been According to President Ilves, the Estonian state involved in space programs before with the result of has the responsibility to create and expand the various unique devices worked out. opportunities for study, while it must also be On the other hand it is in Estonia's interests to guaranteed that fraudulent products are not offered develop companies' technological capabilities and to under the label of education. “Today, lifelong motivate them to take part in ambitious global education and self-improvement is unavoidable—a projects. fundamental issue for the life and future Space exploration and use has today become an development of a small country,” said the Head of inseparable part of spheres such as State. telecommunication, navigation, weather forecasting “There are countries in the world that are and environmental monitoring. Technologies worked immeasurably better off than Estonia, but where out in the course of development projects are often knowledge, research and innovation are totally applied in other spheres in the future. backward,” said President Ilves. “Where, for Ansip said that there are companies in Europe political, cultural or ideological reasons, a free and that work on the frontline of technological critical exchange of ideas is not promoted. In those development, above all in the IT and material countries, a person’s individuality and originality, sciences spheres, but also in biotechnology. Besides, which is an indispensable precondition for new Estonian companies could be interested in issues knowledge and discoveries, is repressed.”

4 connected with navigation and satellite communication. On the Estonian part coordinator of the agreement will be the Enterprise Estonia Foundation. ESA is an intergovernmental organization aimed at the development of space exploration, new technologies and strengthening the competitiveness of European industry. ESA currently has 17 member countries and its activities are financed by the member countries in accordance with their gross domestic product. One of the principles of ESA activity is a unique industrial policy, according to which member countries' companies and research and development institutions will get orders from ESA to the tune of at least 90 percent of the member country's membership fee.

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