Estonian Review E E S T I R I N G V A A D E VOLUME 16 NO 40 OCT 20 - 24, 2006 THE STATE VISIT OF HER MAJESTY FOREIGN NEWS QUEEN ELIZABETH II AND HRH EU Leaders Discuss Energy, Innovation at PRINCE PHILIP, THE DUKE OF Informal Meeting in Finland EDINBURGH TO ESTONIA Oct 20 - An informal meeting of European Union leaders in the Finnish town of Lahti focused on questions of energy policy and innovation. EU leaders attached importance to presenting a united front on questions of reliability of energy supplies and competitiveness - issues they also brought up when meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin. Heads of state and government of the bloc's member states found that it is essential to ensure adequate investment in the Russian energy sector but that this requires acceptance of principles of market economy and transparency on Russia's part to secure a reliable investment environment. Both sides admitted that energy dependence is mutual. The head of the Estonian government, Andrus Ansip, said the EU must speak about energy questions in one voice. Meeting with the Russian president was in his Thousands of people gathered in the Town Hall words a first and vital step on this road. Square to greet Queen Elizabeth II According to Ansip, other member countries' support for the necessity of linking the Baltic States' power networks with the EU market was important to Estonia. "Our concerns are also our partners' concerns," he said. Closer ties with the networks of Nordic countries and Central European networks via Poland would increase Estonia's energy-related independence. A dependable and equal partnership with Russia is essential to both Estonia and the EU, Ansip said. At the meeting with the Russian president the premier underlined that Moscow's current policy on Georgia is neither predictable nor understandable. "We find that the conflict in our common neighbourhood should be settled by peaceful means," Ansip said. Solving of the conflict between Russia and Georgia was considered important by all other EU member states as well. Queen Elizabeth II unveiled the crest of a new minehunter of the Estonian Navy and met with Estonian soldiers who have served or are about Tarja Halonen, President of Finland, in discussion to start service in Afghanistan with the Estonian Prime Minister, Andrus Ansip Russian Democracy Is Weakening - The prime minister will open a photo Estonian PM exhibition assembled by the Foreign Ministry, "Estonian Landscapes" at the Nicosia city Oct 20 - Russian democracy is weakening, the government. Estonian prime minister said ahead of a meeting of European Union heads of state and Estonian MEP Calls for End to Fear of government in Lahti, Finland. The current situation in Russia is not good Russia for democracy, Andrus Ansip said. Oct 24 - Socialist MEP Marianne Mikko from The premier acknowledged that good trade Estonia in her speech before the European and energy relations with Russia are essential for Parliament said the community should the bloc, but added that a balance between EU overcome fear of Russia and not be afraid to values and economic interests needs to be struck in stand up for Moldova and Georgia. cooperation. The relationship has to be predictable, "In our fearfulness to stand up for Moldova he said. and Georgia the spirit of Yalta lives on," Mikko said "The way Russia is treating Georgia is not in her speech on the occasion of the 50th predictable at this point. We want the EU to help anniversary of the failed Hungarian revolution of solve those problems," Ansip said. 1956. Mikko said that 50 years ago Hungarians Estonian President Attends Events were encouraged by their belief that the West would Marking Hungarian Revolution come to their help, because European unity seemed natural to them. Anniversary "But the expected aid didn't come, not even Oct 22 - Estonian President Toomas Hendrik in the form of official declarations," the Estonian Ilves flew to Hungary to attend events marking MEP said. the anniversary of the 1956 revolution and In her remarks after the speech Mikko said freedom fight. there was a pressing need for European identity. Ilves attended a gala night at the national "The 1957 Treaty of Rome was definitely opera and a banquet President Laszlo Solyom and Western Europe's reaction to tanks in Budapest's Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany gave for visiting city centre," she said. "Now also the majority of the heads of state at the Museum of Fine Arts. former Warsaw Pact countries are in the European Ilves together with Hungarian leaders and Union and we must show Russia that it cannot other visiting dignitaries attended a flag-raising declare European countries its sphere of influence," ceremony in Kossuth Square in Budapest and laid she said. flowers at the memorial to victims of the 1956 Mikko said courage to stand up for human revolution. rights must be a part of European identity in the The Estonian head of state was scheduled to 21st century. view the exhibition "A Tribute to the Heroes of 1956" and attend a ceremony dedicated to the 1956 Estonia Climbs to Sixth in Worldwide Declaration of Freedom in the parliament building. Press Freedom Index The 50th anniversary of the Hungarian revolution and fight for freedom is expected to bring Oct 24 - Estonia is tied with Norway for sixth to Budapest numerous heads of state and place the fifth annual Reporters without government, public figures and historians from Borders Worldwide Press Freedom Index. across the world, among them presidents of Estonia, Estonia had ranked 11th in the table last Latvia and Lithuania, the secretary-general of NATO year. and president of the European Commission. The report by Reporters without Borders covers 168 countries, evaluating restrictions on the Estonian PM on Official Visit to Cyprus press in different countries. Northern Europe once again is at the top of Oct 23 - Estonian Prime Minister Andrus Ansip the index, with no recorded censorship, threats, began an official visit to Cyprus. intimidation or physical reprisals in Finland, Ireland, Ansip was scheduled to meet with Cypriot Iceland and the Netherlands, all of which share first President Tassis Papadopoulos, parliament Speaker place with 0.5 points. The Czech Republic is fifth Demetris Christofias, the minister for economy, with 0.75 points, while Estonia and Norway, which industry and tourism, Antonis Michaelides, and the come next, were given two points. mayor of Nicosia, Michalakis Zampelas, who also Places 8 and 9 are shared by Slovakia and acts as honorary consul general for Estonia. Switzerland with 2.5 points, and places 10-13 by The purpose of the visit is to foster bilateral Hungary, Latvia, Portugal and Slovenia with three relations, gain a better understanding of Cypriot points each. Belgium and Sweden share the 14th foreign policy views, and throw light on Estonian and 15th positions with four points each. positions concerning the European Union. Lithuania and Britain are in a tie with 6.5 Also under discussion will be Middle East points in places 27-28. problems and the sides will consider possible joint The United States dropped nine places to actions to promote their bid to join the Euro zone. 53rd and 13 points, the same as Botswana, Croatia Of EU-related topics, further enlargement of and Tonga. the bloc, common energy policy, and preparations Russia, with 52.5 points, is placed in the for accession to the Schengen visa space are to be bottom part of the table, in place 147. discussed too. The last place among the 168 countries was The group of officials from the ministries of claimed by North Korea, ahead of Turkmenistan and defence and environment and several other agencies Eritrea. visited the Salisbury training area with a view to "Each year new countries in less-developed making use of the know-how gained in building parts of the world move up the index to positions training areas in Estonia. above some European countries or the United The delegation was given an overview of the States. This is good news and shows once again training grounds and the related environmental that, even though very poor, countries can be very issues and attended a demonstration battle situation observant of freedom of expression. Meanwhile the in which naval, air and land forces participated. steady erosion of press freedom in the United Mart Piirsoo, an adviser at the Defence States, France and Japan is extremely alarming," Ministry, said the officials got an overview of the Reporters without Borders said. regulation of defence issues and in particular The organization set up in 1985 is questions relating to the building and operation of headquartered in Paris. training areas in Britain. The information about legislative regulation Armenian Officials Looking at Estonia's of questions which have not yet been solved here is Health Care System essential for Estonia, he said. Besides defence and environment ministry Oct 23 - Health officials and experts from officials the delegation included representatives of Armenia are familiarizing themselves with the the environmental agencies of the Võru and Harju reforms carried out in the Estonian health care counties, the State Forest Management Centre, and system, first and foremost the introduction of the Land Board. the system of family doctors. The training program for the Armenians is arranged by the Praxis Centre for Political Studies DOMESTIC NEWS and it will include presentations of Estonia's health Uniting Party Picks Laar for Candidate PM care policy, legislation and structure of the health Oct 21 - The joint council of Estonia's uniting care system, comparing the periods before and after opposition party Pro Patria and Res Publica 1998, along with the health insurance system and Union picked Mart Laar for the party's prime the promotion of the skills of medical workers.