BONJOUR L'ESTONIE

Young, educated Estonians among strongest proponents of Euro - survey

* ER- According to a survey carried out in November by the polling agency, TNS Emor, 41 percent of Estonia's residents are in favour of the planned introduction of the Euro, while 54 percent are against it.
Supporters of the common currency prevail among respondents with a higher education.
Respondents who have a higher-than-average income and those younger than 35 were divided roughly in half over their support for the common currency.
Support for the euro was lowest among Russian-speakers and people aged over 51.
While support for the Euro has declined among most other socio-economic groups last month, support for the Euro by people with a higher education has grown by 8 percent.
The survey revealed that Estonians are generally well informed about the common European currency. 81 percent of the respondents knew the exchange rate of the kroon to the Euro.

Estonians and abroad : Vaba sõna 21-12-2005

* The Front Page wishes our readers a Merry Christmas. In the spirit of the season, two stories are brought, discussing how Christmas is being celebrated among Estonians. The top story, with a photo, comes from the Järvemetsa scout camp, where over 60 people came together to celebrate the traditional "Forest Christmas Church." The service is held outdoors, with people holding candles for illumination. The service was followed by a feast of traditional Estonian Christmas food, served indoors, which was followed by traditional singing of everything from Christmas songs to camp songs.
The second item on the Front Page reports from the Estonian House in New York, where kids celebrated Christmas with the traditional visit of Santa Claus (or Jõuluvana). The yearly traditional closes the fall season of the Estonian School.

* Ilmar Mikiver discusses the war against Christmas. Citing a new book by John Gibson, entitled The War on Christmas : How the Liberal Plot to Ban the Sacred Christian Holyday is Worse than you Thought, Mr. Mikiver notes how the book argues that there is a conspiracy afoot. While the evidence points to a concerted effort to rid the mention of 'Christmas' from being used (ie. using words such as Holiday Trees), is there truly a conspiracy ? When groups such as the ACLU and others all work toward the same goal, it seems that there is a conspiracy, argues Mr. Gibson. Even the President's annual card does not mention Christmas anywhere on it ; only greetings for the season.

* Vello Ederma writes about Communism. In excerpts from an earlier piece, Mr. Ederma writes about his first hand experiences with Communists. And most of these were not with Russians, but with Estonians who chose to support the Communist cause. He details some of the interesting occurrences that have happened during his life-long fight against communism.

* Viido Polikarpus laments the sale of the Estonian Fishermen's Society in the US House, situated in Germantown, NY. Noting how yet another Estonian social center is gone, he discusses why such events occur, and why Estonians cannot seem to be able to upkeep their social centers. Why groups that were developed to aid in keeping up Estonian culture in the US cannot come to the rescue, he cannot explain. All he knows is that Estonians in America should do what they can to hold on to their culture in the US.

Source : Vaba sõna

Häid Jõulupühi

 

Mark January 14 on your calendar : “Just a night out”

* Mark January 14 2006 on your calendar, and then head out on that evening to Alice Fazooli’s!, 294 Adelaide Street West in downtown Toronto. Four different musical acts, with Estonian heritage being the common denominator, will be in performance. We understand that the showcase is a precursor to a multi-CD launch of some of the Toronto and Golden Horseshoe area Estonian community’s most talented and popular musicians.

The line up is as follows. Doors open at 7 PM. At 8 PM Martin Ahermaa hits the stage with his set, “Shamanistic 2-step”, an effervescent mix of Brazilian and jazz.

At 9 PM it’s “Tango Naturno: Cabaret tunes that sizzle”, presented by Rosemarie Lindau and Tiina Kiik.

Tale Wind is in the spotlight at 10 PM, performing classic blues and rock. The quartet features Diane Russell, with Peeter Kopvillem, Raoul Langvee and Ray Mang.

The final set, at 11 PM is from D.A.T.E., - “originals slipped between the covers” - with Robert Vessmann, Don Paterson, Alex Brown and Martin Deemar.

Every Estonian named above has decades of performing experience, “Just a night out” is certain to draw on their wealth of professionalism and musical joie de vivre.

Robert Vessmann of Bearmoon Productions (www.bearmoon.com) is one of the driving forces behind the showcase. He notes that “The idea behind this event is to just do something that has not been done for awhile, and to provide an evening with something for ......

Russian officials prepare new crackdown on Finno-Ugric groups

By Paul Goble

Another excellent article

TALLINN – Russian officials in the Finno-Ugric republics of the Middle Volga appear to be preparing for a new round of repression against the democratic opposition there, employing language about the latter that recalls some of the worst features of the Soviet past.

On December 6, Ilya Klebanov, the plenipotentiary representative of the Russian president to the North West Federal District, called a meeting of officials from these republics to discuss what he said was a rise of extremism there and the measures he proposed to take against those responsible.

The next day, Klebanov told a press conference in Syktyvkar that the situation had become “a matter of concern” because “a large number social organizations [in that region now were by their public actions] ever more clearly demonstrating their nationalist extremist strivings.”

There are now more than 400 non-governmental organizations in the district, he continued, “and the overwhelming majority of them are special structures who under the form of social work are involved in business or something else. We know this as well. But nevertheless, it is impermissible to simplify the situation in any way.”

“For Russia, this is intolerable,” the presidential representative continued. “Russia is a multi-national country and has lived for centuries in national peace and accord,” adding quite reasonably that “such tendencies sharpen in a society when social problems exist.”

At one level, of course, Klebanov’s remarks are nothing more than an effort by a representative of Moscow to follow the lead of the center in all things. His remarks came at precisely the time that the Duma and President Vladimir Putin were working on the new law restricting the activities of NGOs .....

Does Santa live in Canada, Finland or Eesti...?

* If you grew up abroad but were visited by an Estonian-speaking Santa on Christmas Eve where do you think he began his journey ? You might have sent your wish list to the Canadian North Pole where the postal code is HOH OHO, or given the letter to your ema to pass on to the Estonian Santa ...

Ulvi Haagensen, who grew up in the Estonian community in Sydney Australia says when the man of the hour arrived at their Sõrve summer camp, which was held each year before the holidays, there was no doubt about where he had donned his long-johns and mitts – Eesti! Sure, he had stripped down by the time he reached the balmy Southern Hemisphere and had abandoned his sleigh for a tractor, motorboat or canoe, but he came from the north and to those kids that meant Eesti. (Read more about Ulvi’s Christmas then and now in Tallinn in the Märkmik column in this week’s paper.)

Although Canada Post is extremely scrupulous about getting mail to and from Santa stationed at the North Pole (põhjanaba), has anyone ever actually been there and seen it firsthand ? There simply is no access. This is of course a great way (ploy ?) to secure Santa’s privacy. But what about Santa’s Village in Bracebridge, south of Kotkajärve? Is that where he has his cottage (suvila) and does his PR (suhtekorraldus), OR is it safe to assume that there is a larger diplomatic corps of Santas – his aides and representatives, trained in all possible tongues, dialects and customs at the nerve centre in the Canadian arctic ?

Luckily in Scandinavia roads north don’t simply end in a snow bank, at least not until they reach the polar ice cap and/or Santa, whichever comes first. And so there is tangible proof, after an 11 hour train or car ride north from Helsinki, that there is life and a beautiful, magical land no less, above the Arctic Circle (põhjapöörijoon). Most of Europe and even Japan (with direct flights from Tokyo), sees Santa’s village outside of Rovaniemi as jõuluvana’s home. After all, his reindeer (põhjapõdrad) would not be able to graze at the North Pole…

As for the teams of helpers and look-alikes, there are a .........

Liisa's fun and fast Christmas recipes

Last year's Christmas issue featured Estonian holiday recipes from Karin Annus Kärner and Liisa Ullman. (Karin's Estonian Tastes and Traditions cookbook was launched last Saturday just in time for jõulud, available now throughout North America and in Estonia by spring.) We asked Liisa, who has been winning awards with regularity in Montana for her jams and jellies, for some fun recipes for Christmas entertaining that fast and easy. Here's what she sent, along with a hearty häid pühi for all her esto friends across North America.

Strawberry Zip Sauce
(great on ice cream, cheese cake or angel cake)
* 2 cups crushed strawberries
* 1/2 cup granulated sugar
* 1/3 dry red wine
* 4 teaspoons Amaretto
Place crushed strawberries in saucepot with sugar on medium heat. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and add wine and amaretto. Stir well and let simmer for 5 mins. Makes 3 cups. Can be served warm right away or can be refrigerated - then heated up when ready to use.

Raspberry Cranberry Sauce
(great on pancakes, waffles or eggrolls !)
* 2 1/2 cups fresh cranberries
* 1 8oz jar of raspberry jam or preserves (can be store bought)
* 3/4 cup cranberry juice
* 1/2 cup brown sugar
* 1/2 corn syrup
Combine all ingredients in a saucepot on medium heat -mix well. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and boil gently for 20-25 mins or until fruit is soft. Use hand mixer or blender to puree until smooth. That's it ! Ready to eat !

Estonian demands fine from Estonian Railway owner

TALLINN – The government has demanded that Baltic Rail Service, the private owner of Estonian Railway, pay a 958,000 euro fine for allegedly not meeting the terms of the privatization agreement signed five years ago.

Baltic Rail Service, which consists of a group of U.S. and Estonian investors, has one month to either eliminate the shortcomings or pay the fine, according to the Economy Ministry.

“The state has been a very patient and tolerant contractual partner in the hope that BRS takes the obligations stipulated in the privatization contract seriously,” the ministry said.

In recent days the situation around the railroad company has escalated dramatically, with some private owners announcing their intention to bail out and others hinting that they were ready to sell.

Source : Baltic Times

Success for Swalex as Cumbrian sheep arrive in Estonia

* This week saw the successful arrival of hundreds of Cumbrian breeding sheep into the Eastern European country of Estonia.

A group of four Cumbrian sheep farmers have formed a new Company, Swalex Ltd, which has been set up to find markets for breeding sheep outside the United Kingdom.

Assistance from the Cumbria Fells and Dales LEADER + Programme and EBLEX helped the group make contact with an entrepreneur in Estonia who runs a chain of restaurants and who wanted not only to rear his own livestock to supply these outlets, but also to contribute to the regeneration of the sheep industry in Estonia which has suffered massive decline since the end of collectivisation.

Chairman of Swalex Ltd, Paul Dixon, said : "this export is the result of 5 years of hard work. I have just come back from Estonia where we saw the sheep being unloaded and I am both delighted and relieved that this first consignment has arrived so successfully."

He went onto say, "we were awarded the .....

Estonia to acquire Sandown class mine hunters

The Cabinet today approved the Defence Ministry's application to acquire used Sandown class mine hunters from the United Kingdom.

According to the decision the Minister of Defence will start Government-to-Government negotiations at the result of which the number of vessels, concrete financial aspects and delivery conditions will be determined.

According to the defense forces' development plan the budget of replacing existing outdated vessels by Sandown class mine hunters will be around 800 million crowns (EUR 51 mln).

The mine countermeasures vessels currently in use in the Estonian Navy are more than 40 years old and prevent the Navy from achieving the capability objectives set out in .......

Finnish man held on suspicion of grisly killing in Tallinn

Alleged perpetrator and victim were believed to be partners in charity scam.

A 22-year-old Finnish man has been remanded in custody in Tallinn on suspicion of involvement in a grisly killing that was revealed in the Estonian capital last week.
      Estonian police arrested the man already on the evening of December 12th, following an international request by Finnish authorities that he be apprehended on suspicion of a number of high-profile fraud cases.
      The Estonian authorities confirmed on Tuesday that the man who was found slain and partially hacked into pieces in a Tallinn apartment some days ago is a Finnish citizen born in 1984. The victim was also suspected of involvement in two fraud cases in Finland. Apparently the victim and the man now being held knew each other.
      
The victim was a tenant in the apartment, and the killing came to light when the landlord found the body - cut up and wrapped in plastic sacks - nearly a week ago, last Wednesday evening (December 14th). He had been dead for a couple of days.
      According to the Estonian central criminal police, the man had first been shot and then dismembered for eventual disposal. The suspect in the case has been remanded in custody for six months. He has thus far refused to communicate with the authorities.
      The victim was the main suspect in a fake invoicing scam that attempt to milk funds from as ...

French catholic bishop of Estonia becomes Estonian

TALLINN  (AFP) - The French-born bishop of the Roman Catholic Church in Estonia was granted Estonian citizenship for promoting inter-religion ties in the Baltic state, officials said Friday.
    "Granting Philippe Jean-Charles Jourdan Estonian citizenship, the government appreciates his contribution to promoting ecumenical work in Estonia," the government said in a statement.
    Jourdan, who was born in France but moved to Estonia nine years ago, this year the first diocesan bishop in Estonia since World War II.
    "Jourdan is a well-known religious figure in Europe who has done very much to promote the developments of Estonia abroad," the government statement said.
    The 45-year-old Jourdan, born in Dax, France, said taking Estonian citizenship was a ........

Tit-Bits : 23-12-2005

1. The most expensive flats in Tallinn are in the Centre and in Haabersti. In the Centre the cheapest are at EEK 1391.00/m² , the most expensive : EEK 86 207.00/m². In Haabersti, the cheapest : EEK 1010.00/m² and the most expensive : EEK 65 511.00/m².  At this price, some would need to work all their lives to be able to afford the toilets room only ….

2. During the first 11 months of 2005, Estonian consumers drank 526 400 tons of milk - this is 7% more as compared with the same period of 2004. Are beer and vodka gradually being replaced ?

Source : Linnaleht

1. Estonian inhabitans like most of all : tea (89%), coffee (84%), yoghurt (84%) milk (81%) and juices (79%). This is what I was saying … Beer and vodka definitely are off in Estonia …

2. Tallinn Authorities will give EEK 30 000.00 this year to have the end of the year firework. This will be done by "Arnika" company, who won  the competition and whose offer was the cheapest. This seems cheap enough to me, but will it be this good … ?

Source : Vesti

To Polina, Grigori and Jelena

A Merry Xmas and a truly wonderful New Year from Salsk to Tallinn

from us and from Maria.

The new 'Cold War'

Russian gas clampdown could fuel alternative energies

By Kevin Kerr

TARTU  (MarketWatch) -- In the ever changing world of energy in Eastern Europe, it can be very difficult to keep up with who's running what.

The Republic of Estonia for example is a small country located next to the Baltic, nestled between Russia and Finland. With a long history of occupation and war, Estonia once again achieved independence in 1991 and has struggled to get on its feet. Now, as one of the newest members of the European Union, it is coping with the reality that is capitalism; the good, the bad and the ugly.

Like most of the Baltic countries, Estonia has relied on Russia to provide a vast amount of its energy supply throughout the years. But that relationship has soured somewhat with Estonia. A far worse situation is brewing in some of the former Soviet Union States.

For example, the Ukraine has been a thorn in the side of Russia and the Putin administration. Now Russia is pursuing a geopolitical goal to block Ukraine from joining NATO and the E.U. something that Ukraine certainly wants.

Turning off the spigot and turning up the heat

The Kremlin is well aware that energy is a tried and tested political weapon and they are ready and willing to use it. When I turned on the evening news last night from Russia, watching from my home in Estonia, the first three stories pertained to the Putin administration, energy and the cold, cold winter.

The Kremlin is seeking control over pricing of the vast pipelines that crisscross the Ukraine. These vital pipelines are at present the primary gateway for the wealthy European market. The Kremlin has Rubles on the brain and sees Ukraine as a major impediment to the riches that lie beyond.

Other former Soviet Union States like Belarus have capitulated to Russia and continue to given Russia a cut-rate, bargain basement deal. As a reward Belarus will continue to pay only $49 a thousand cubic meters for Russian Gas in 2006.

On the contrary, the defiant Ukraine is getting socked with an increase from $50 per thousand cubic feet to a whopping $160-$230 price tag in 2006. Other countries feeling the energy pinch include: Moldova ($150-$160), Estonia ($120-$125), Lithuania ($120-125) and Latvia ($120-$125).

It could be a very long and cold winter for many of these countries citizens that live on fixed incomes. Capitalism has provided many comforts not seen during communism and war, but has also brought with it the growing pains of a free market economy.

In an attempt to further legitimize its position, the Putin government and the state owned Rosneft, (formerly Yukos), is seeking out Western leaders to put a better face on the situation and encourage Western investment in the major Russian energy company.

'Bushneft or bust'

When the Kremlin seized Yukos and ........

Estonia could join NEGP

TALLINN (RIA Novosti, Nikolai Adashkevich) - Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Paet said in Moscow Thursday that Estonia could eventually join the North European Gas Pipeline (NEGP) project through a pipeline between Estonia and Finland, which were debating the wisdom of its construction.

"The idea of building a natural gas pipeline is being discussed at the moment in terms of its economic viability. So far, it is difficult to speak about the cost of such a project," the minister said. "Although we have been receiving natural gas from Russia, any new sources would enhance the country's energy security."

Paet said Estonia and Finland would start laying an electric cable along the sea floor soon.

The minister said options had to be studied to ensure national energy security.

"In theory, everything is possible, if countries display willingness. However, an environmental analysis has to be done and risks minimized before we can move further," the minister said.

Some Estonian parliament members have proposed expanding Estonian and Finnish economic zones in the Gulf of Finland to obstruct the ........

Germany and Estonia in marzipan feud

LUBECK  (UPI) -- A bitter dispute has erupted between Germany and Estonia over bragging rights as to which is home to the sweet candy marzipan, a Christmas staple in Europe.

Major festivities are planned next year in Lubeck on the Baltic coast of Germany, where Germans claim European production began 200 years ago at the Niederegger marzipan works.

"We will be throwing open our factory to all our customers around the world," said Willi Meier, a Niederegger senior executive.

However, in Tallinn, Otto Kubo, the founder of Estonia's marzipan museum said his country shares the founding distinction and just might have its own celebration.

"The sweet manufacturer Kalev was established in 1806, so it is exactly as old as the Lubeck confectioner," Kubo told The Times of London.

Those unable to attend either festivity can find a recipe on the Internet for making marzipan at marzipancakes.com.

Russia and EU divided over rights in Baltic nations

MOSCOW (Interfax) - The Partnership Agreement signed between Russia and the European Union in 2004 has been successfully put into practice, but little progress has been made in resolving the problem of cargo transit across Lithuania to the Kaliningrad region or as regards the rights of the Russian-speaking population in Latvia and Estonia, State Duma international affairs committee chairman Konstantin Kosachyov said. The Duma hosted a joint session of members of the international affairs committees of both chambers of the Russian Parliament and the European Parliament on Wednesday.

The session's participants agreed that Lithuania's and Poland's intention to join the Schengen treaty in 2007 should not create difficulties for Kaliningrad cargo transit, Kosachyov said. "We agreed that Russia will provide the European Parliament with a list of problems related to this matter in the near future," he said.

As for the observance of the rights of the Russian-speaking population in Latvia and Estonia, the deputy said that "we disagreed on this issue. European Parliament representatives believe that these countries' laws meet EU standards, but we do not share the same opinion," he said. The issue of Russia-EU cooperation was raised because the bilateral Partnership Agreement is due to expire in November 2007, he said. European Parliament foreign affairs committee chairman Elmar Brok told the briefing he hopes that Russia will have joined the World Trade Organization by late 2007.

Commenting on Russia's relations with Latvia and Estonia, Brok said that the countries need to return to their original border agreements. Kosachyov said that Russia "calls on the European Parliament to clearly formulate its position on the need for the parties to sign bilateral border agreements before ratifying them as technical documents without any reservations." Brok said in response to a question from Interfax that the status of non-citizen exists not only in Latvia and Estonia, but also "in Germany and a number of other countries. The best way to resolve this problem would be for such people to ask the authorities of Latvia and Estonia to grant them Latvian or Estonian citizenship on these countries' terms," he said. Russia had agreed to the term 'non-citizen' being added to the OSCE's judicial vocabulary, Brok said.

Estonia in brief : 21-12-2005

* Two men escaped from a deportation center, after being detained for staying illegally in Estonia.

Ashot Mikaelyan, 34, and Alexander Bespalov escaped at around 2:45 a.m. on Dec. 20, a representative of the Citizenship and Migration Board told the Baltic News Service.

Police and officials of the Falck Eesti security company, the deportation center and the Tallinn and Tartu migration bureaus of the citizenship authority will all join in on the search. In-house investigations have begun to establish the circumstances of the escape.

* Reports that Finland may outlaw the purchases of sex services have prompted Estonian politicians to suggest that the Baltic country do the same.
Justice Minister Rein Lang said that Estonia should pass the legislation at the same time as Finland. “Right now the criminal purchase of sex is not on the agenda, but the situation may change as soon as Finland passes a corresponding law,” he told the Postimees daily in an interview.

* Ganiger Invest, one of the owners of Baltic Rail Service, the controlling shareholder in Eesti Raudtee (Estonian Railway), said it was ready to sell its holding, not just the Port of Tallinn as earlier reported.

* The announcement that a shareholder in the controlling owner of Estonian Railway was prepared to sell has created a storm of speculation, with government officials saying they would monitor any change of ownership from start to finish.
Ganiger Invest, owner of 33.3 percent of shares in Baltic Rail Services, which controls a holding of 66 percent in Eesti Raudtee (Estonian Railway), has proposed that Tallinna Sadam (Port of Tallinn) buy its stake.

Source : Baltic Times

Religious education may return to Estonian schools

TALLINN - Prime Minister Andrus Ansip said last month that religious freedom does not mean one should be uneducated about religion. Since his speech at a religious conference, a nationwide debate has ensued, though in reality the question of a religious - or spiritual - education has been on the agenda since right after the collapse of the Soviet Union.

The main question now is should religious education be optional or obligatory.

By law, schools where at least 15 students want spiritual courses in one age group should offer religious studies as an optional course. Religion currently is an optional class in more than 40 out of 600 schools, with a total 1 percent of Estonian students taking some sort of religious studies.

Such courses are offered under different titles. In some schools it is called “ethics,” in others “confessional teaching of faith” or “religious education.” According to Tauno Teder, executive secretary at the Estonian Council of Churches, religious education as a course is the most neutral way of teaching spiritual issues. It gives an overview of main world beliefs and develops tolerance toward other faiths.

Since Estonian history and culture is mainly related to Christianity, it also grabs the most attention. Courses such as faith-teaching are sometimes seen by parents as “brainwashing sessions” where students can be easily converted.

Earlier research carried out by newspapers among 800 people in 2003 showed that only 14 percent favored obligatory religious courses – mainly women and .........