BONJOUR L'ESTONIE

Not so good for ELISA !

* HELSINKI  (AP) - Elisa Corp., Finland's second-largest telecommunications operator, said Friday it plans to lay off 200 people, or 4 percent of its work force, to further cut costs.

The move follows 500 layoffs in 2005, and the company warned that it might have to cut more jobs in its work force of 5,000 later this year. Most of the layoffs will be in the business services sector, it said.

"Competition in this field continues to be extremely tough and it forces us to make all operations more efficient," Elisa's personnel manager Risto Rintamanty said. "Our efficiency drive will continue ... and if we find some more overlapping operations, we'll have to take the necessary steps."

The Helsinki-based company has laid off more than 2,500 people since 2003. Last week, it said it will outsource its invoicing and ordering operations.

Elisa, formerly known as the Helsinki Telephone Co., has some 2 million mobile phone subscribers in the Nordic country of 5 million. It also has operations in neighboring Estonia.

What many foreigners do for little money in Tallinn

* Just 50 miles across the Gulf of Finland from Helsinki, Tallinn gets a whopping injection of cash and conviviality from the more than half-million Finns who head across every year -- frequently on multiple daily ''booze cruises'' -- to exploit Tallinn's significantly cheaper alcohol.

Pockets filled with kroons (about 13 of them equal a dollar), motivated pleasure-seekers (not Finns only) can smoke Cuban cigars at La Casa del Habano, watch rugby over a pint at Scotland Yard, sip cocktails in the Scandi-chic interiors of R.I.F.F., boogie at the huge Club Hollywood or elite Club Prive, watch women lose their clothes at the Soho strip club, and then lose their own shirts at Bally's Casino.

'THE FIRST NAIL IN THE COFFIN OF COMMUNISM'

By Paul Goble

Fifty years ago this month, Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev delivered to a closed session of the 20th Congress of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union remarks about his predecessor Josef Stalin and the latter's "cult of personality" that have passed into history as "the secret speech."

On the basis of his later comments, Khrushchev appears to have decided to deliver that speech as both a tactical move against his opponents within the Soviet leadership and as a broader effort to enhance the legitimacy of the communist system. But whatever his intentions, his remarks on 24-25 February 1956 had a far broader and deeper set of implications. Indeed, by what he said in that speech and even more by what he left unsaid, Khrushchev, in the words of Anatoly Chubais, drove "the first nail into the coffin" of that system.

Himself one of Stalin's closest lieutenants, Khrushchev faced an impossible task, even in his own terms. In order to reassure his party comrades that there would be no going back to the arbitrary violence of the past, he had to blame Stalin for all the evils of the system over which the late Soviet dictator had presided for so long without implicating himself and his supporters in those crimes or disowning the accomplishments of the system -- the collectivization of agriculture, the construction of a powerful industrial base, and the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II.

Khrushchev devoted almost all of his speech to the ways in which Stalin arbitrarily and brutally destroyed Lenin's legacy and the cream of the Communist Party, forcing party leaders to confess to crimes they had not committed and then executing them. All of the cases that the party had examined after Stalin's death, Khrushchev said, were found to have been "fabricated," and consequently he and the leadership were moving to "posthumously rehabilitate" them -- perhaps guaranteeing that that term will be as closely linked to Khrushchev as the phrase "enemy of the people" that Khrushchev insisted -- incorrectly -- that Stalin had invented is with him.

Throughout that part of his ......

An Elegant Estonian Affair at the Embassy of Estonia

* Embassy of Estonia
An Elegant Estonian Affair at the Embassy of Estonia
2131 Massachusetts Avenue, NW
Washington, DC  20008
(202) 588-0101
[Map]

Estonia - a world superlative ! Discover Estonia and you will see it is phenomenal. Like Alice in her Wonderland, you will find there is even more to see in Estonia than you have dreamed about. The dream world becomes real and the reality is unbelievable. It takes no effort to grasp that rapid changes are taking place around you. Change means development, fulfillment, and a process of improving. Estonia's technological sector is thriving while the past - our history and nature - has been perfectly preserved. From untouched nature to post-modern city culture, you can experience solitude and the forces of masses. Big business and handicrafts passed from generation to generation stand hand by hand. Everything fits snugly together. Leave your passport at home and step into Estonia right here in the Nation's Capital !

Your Estonian Evening will include :

Dinner : The main culinary influences were from Germans so be prepared to enjoy a buffet of traditional Estonian food that has its roots firmly in the countryside, relying heavily on pork, potatoes and garden variety vegetables.

Drinks : Estonia is a beer-centric land ~ indulge in an international beer tasting from the best beer makers in the world! As always other mouth-watering beverages will be available for your enjoyment from all corners of the globe including a variety of wines.

Tour : Tour the Embassy, rich in culture. This ........

Groovski is back from the Baltics and bound for Cafe Nine

by Kathleen Cei, Christopher Arnott 

* The last time Elm City's favorite Polish punks Groovski rocked Cafe Nine was in November '05, at the Guilty Party's post-election shindigearlier that day, Groovski guitarist Leslie Blatteau rocked the mayoral race as the Guilty Party's candidate, too. That was the band's last local stop before taking off on a mini Baltic tour-playing a big festival (the 20-band, two-day Operation B) and clubs in Riga, Latvia and Tallinn, Estonia in November. According to drummer Bogdan Chudy and groovy Groovski pal Robert Kaczowka, they captured a lot of coolski attention from the foreign press along the way. Thanks to translator Jaana Penne , here are some excerpts of how Groovski impressed the press:

Estonian newspaper Eesti Paevaleht declared our .........

Finland/Estonia : Personec transfers payroll management

* Finnish personnel and payroll management solutions provider Personec (that is jointly owned by TietoEnator and Nordic Capital) has opened an office in Tallinn, in Estonia, and is transferring some payroll management from the Nordic countries to Estonia. According to the company, the cost level is lower in Estonia, and it is also difficult to find skilled personnel in Finland.

Mwanawasa congratulates Estonia

* ZANIS.President Levy Mwanawasa has sent a congratulatory message to his counterpart His Excellency Arnold Ruutel of Estonia on that country’s national day which falls on Saturday, 25th February, 2006.

President Mwanawasa said in a statement released to Zambia News and Information Services (ZANIS) today by his special assistant for press and public relations Arthur Yoyo that Zambia stands ready to strengthen political relations with Estonia as a basis for developing economic ties between the two countries.

Estonian ambassador on Estonia-China relations

* The Republic of Estonia was founded on 24 February 1918. This year Estonia will celebrate the 88th anniversary of the declaration of state independence. Estonian ambassador to China Mait Martinson accepted a written interview by People's Daily Online recently.

1. Achievements made in development and foreign relations over more than a decade since regaining independence.

Since Estonia regained its independence, Estonia has chosen a path of participation and contribution in its foreign policy. A constant drive towards closer integration with its partners through different development and cooperation stages has led to long pursued goal: as of 1 May 2004, Estonia became a member of the European Union (EU). Estonia became a NATO member state on 29 March 2004.

The same year saw Estonia's closer multilateral integration with Asian partners by joining ASEM and ASEF processes. On a recent International Pledging Conference on Avian and Human Pandemic Influenza, held in Beijing last month, Estonia was among pledging nations.

Estonia is a trading nation. In the mid 90'ies, the EU became Estonia's major trading partner. That partnership has been laid down on a solid legal base, what helped the country to reach another important milestone - the accession to the WTO in 1999.

This way Estonia has joined almost all relevant financial and economic institutions for its development and closer integration to the global society.

How was it accomplished ?

Estonia may be a compact country, but it has a great deal to offer to foreign investors or international businesspeople. Located in the heart of the Baltic Sea Region, Europe's fastest-growing market with 90 million people, Estonia itself has been among the fastest-growing economies in the region.

The country has some of the most liberal trade and investment laws in the world. The Wall Street Journal's Index of Economic Freedom for 2005 rates Estonia 4th in the world in terms of ease of doing business, right behind China's Hong Kong, Singapore and Luxembourg. An extra advantage is Estonia's system of low, flat rate taxes. To encourage companies to expand their business all reinvested profits have been exempted of corporate income tax. However, any redistributed profits, for example dividends, are taxed at 23%.

Foreign investment has played a key role in ........

Estonia's Merko Ehitus Q4 net up 30%

TALLINN (AFX) - Merko Ehitus (Construction) Group said net profit for the fourth quarter was 138.5 mln kroons (8.85 mln eur), up nearly 30 pct from a year earlier, BNS news agency reported.

Full year net profit rose 50 pct year-on-year to 441.8 mln kroons.

Fourth quarter sales fell nearly 13 pct to 764.5 mln kroons, although full year sales climbed 4.2 pct to 3.241 bln kroons.

Looking ahead, however, the company said, 'Limited supply may considerably affect timely completion and costs of construction projects in the near future, thus jeopardizing the sector's profitability.'

Merko employed on average 695 people last year.

Estonia lifts visa regime for Macedonia

* Macedonians will not be required visas when traveling to Estonia in the future, Estonia's Foreign Minister Urmas Paet said today in Skopje, after his meeting with the Macedonian Foreign Minister Ilinka Mitreva.

The visiting Estonian Minister handed to his Macedonian counterpart the note for lifting the visa regime. Estonians have not been required visas for entering in Macedonia.

At his meeting with the Vice Prime-Minister Radmila Sekerinska, Paet pledged to provide experts to convey Estonian experiences in its EU bid.

Paet vowed also to boost the bilateral cooperation with Macedonia in all segments, especially in the economic field.

Yesterday, the visiting Estonian Minister held talks with the Macedonian Head of State Branko Crvenkovski.

"We are grateful for Estonian support in granting the status of country-candidate for EU membership", said President Crvenkovski.

National Day of Estonia from Manilla

TODAY is the National Day of Estonia.

Industry is the leading sector of Estonia’s economy. It accounts for half the Gross Domestic Product and a third of total employment. Engineering and metalworking are the chief industries, followed in importance by shale mining. Other manufactures include cement, textiles (cotton, linen, and wood), automobile components, and leather goods.

In 1991, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) formally recognized Estonia’s independence. It is now an independent republic whose Constitution provides for a president with limited executive authority. The unicameral national legislative body is the Riigikogu, with 101 members elected to four-year terms. In 1992, Estonia became the first former Soviet republic to issue its own stable currency, the kroon.

Estonia is one of the most advanced emerging markets in Central and Eastern Europe. In 1992, Estonia became a member of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (World Bank), and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). In 1999, it became a member of the World Trade Organization. And in 2004, it joined the European Union (EU) and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

According to IMF, Estonia has undergone remarkable transition and achieved solid economic performance. The country has an impressive record in implementing sound policies that have supported strong growth and a stable price level. Overall macroeconomic developments remain favorable.

With its policies and innovative initiatives, the Estonian Government is helping companies make the information technology sector one of the fastest growing in the country. Research undertaken by the World Economic Forum on the use of information and communications technology (ICT) in 117 countries shows a strong Estonian standing in government and the community readiness to participate in and benefit from ICT developments. Estonia leads for the 2nd year the Central and Eastern European countries with a rank of 20 (out of 117), thanks to its regulatory framework for ICT.

We congratulate the people and government of Estonia led by Prime Minister Andrus Ansip, and its Consulate in the Philippines, Consul General Dr. Juan Peña, on the occasion of their National Day.

PRESIDENT OF AZERBAIJAN CONGRATULATES PRESIDENT OF ESTONIA ON INDEPENDENCE DAY

* President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev sent a message of felicitations to the President of Estonia Arnold Ruutel on the occassion of the Estonia’s Independence Day.

In the message, the Azerbaijani leader expressed hope that they would continue to safeguard and strengthen the existing traditions of friendship and cooperation between Azerbaijan and Estonia. He wished his Estonian counterpart good health and success in work, and the people of Estonia happines and prosperity.

Lang : vehicle confiscation should be considered

TALLINN – Estonia’s Justice Minister Rain Lang admitted that existing punishments have not helped to reduce drunk driving and therefore the government should consider the confiscation of drunk drivers’ vehicles.

“Today’s practice unfortunately shows that the fear of criminal punishment is not enough for people not to drive when drunk,” he stated.

According to the minister confiscation of culprits’ vehicles is the only way to combat drunk driving.

In his opinion, a fine for drunk driving can be substituted with a short-time arrest is unreasonable because a driver, who chooses to spend his weekend in jail, is getting three meals a day at the state’s expense and does not pay a penny into state coffers.

EC warns against great number of deads

BRUSSELS - The European Commission named the Czech Republic among the countries with the most dangerous roads and drivers.

The commission named the Czech Republic together with Cyprus, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Portugal as countries causing the greatest problems.

The number of road accident victims has even risen in five of them, including the Czech Republic in 2001-04, the commission said.

Slovakia also lags behind the average, but the death toll has decreased by 2 percent in the above period.

EU Transport Commissioner Jacques Barrot conceded that the situation is partially to blame on bad roads in the new EU member countries and said that the EU should help modernise them.

He however said another problem is the inability of drivers to adapt themselves to denser traffic and to respect the traffic rules.

The European commission death data are higher than the Czech police say. The commission mentions 1334 victims in 2001 and 1431, 1447 and 1382 dead in the following three years, which makes an increase of 4 percent.

But the Czech police speak about 1215 dead in 2004 and 1319 in 2003. Last year, 1127 people died on Czech roads, the lowest number in the past 15 years.

Barrot said the difference may be caused by the inclusion or non inclusion in statistics of the people who succumb to injuries suffered in traffic accidents later.

Zdenek Bambas, director of the traffic police, told CTK that the figures released by the Czech media cover victims who die within 24 hours of the accident. The figures are more clear and more quickly available, he said.

Bambas said that the police also collect the numbers of people who died within 30 days of the accident and which Barrot mentioned, and sends them to the European Commission. ..........

Ukrainian newly appointed Ambassador to Estonia presents credentials to President of Estonia

* Ukrainian Ambassador to Estonia Pavlo Kiryakov and President Arnold Rüütel of Estonia highly assessed bilateral relations between the countries.

The Estonian President confirmed his country's intention to further support Ukraine on its way to European and Euro-Atlantic integration. He appraised political transformations in Ukraine and aired his belief with regard to successful holding the parliamentary elections.

Georgia to cooperate with Estonia and Kazakhstan for pension reform

Tbilisi – Georgia is to cooperate with parliamentary groups of Estonia and Kazakhstan for elaboration of pension reform.

Experience of Estonia and Kazakhstan in pension systems reform is important for Georgia, Gigi Tsereteli, Chairman of the Healthcare and Welfare Committee of the Parliament of Georgia said at the committee session on Wednesday.

A group under the committee oversight will be set up for reform’s elaboration and will include the MPs, NGO officials and businessmen.

According to Gigi Tsereteli, the group will start intense meetings and discussions in March and will come up with drafts on reform in several months.

Technology governance for growth and development

* Technology Governance is an approach and a set of policies undertaken by the public and private sector and society actors in a given space in time to develop a knowledge base, social cohesion and competitiveness at the same time. So far, both in academic research and in policy advice, these aspects have tended to be separated. The Technology Governance program at Tallinn University of Technology is designed to bridge these gaps and to focus on research, teaching, and advice in an interrelated way.

Our one-year Masters program in Technology Governance is a technology-focused special graduate degree that could be placed in such areas as Innovation Policy, Industrial Policy and Development Economics as a realistic alternative to mainstream ("Standard Textbook") Economics. Our curriculum includes the theory of uneven development and the history of economic policy. In that sense, this is the international Innovation Policy and High-Tech program with a solid foundation in history and theory, embedded in an exciting environment, that so many students and scholars were always looking for yet could not find !

To find out more, follow the links above. Pictures of Tallinn form the right side bar of this page. Please click on each picture for enlargement.

A little of Estonia for USD 4,295.00

INTRAV Introduces Discovery Along The Baltic Coast

Award-winning international tour operator INTRAV introduces a new discovery of the nations along the Baltic coast vibrantly emerging from behind the veil of the Iron Curtain. The 14-day Faces of the Eastern Baltic adventure offers guests the opportunity to explore the charming villages, medieval cities, and remarkable cultures of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Russia, and Poland.

"After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the former Communist bloc countries have witnessed dramatic reforms, yet have kept hold of their legendary histories," President David Drier said. "While fostering nationalism, democracy, and capitalism, the people within these nations have also reasserted their individual cultural identities and welcomed newcomers to discover their well-preserved architecture, fantastic museums, and impressive monuments. Along with 12th- and 13th-century landmarks and centuries-old artifacts, INTRAV passengers will enjoy the fresh optimism and renewed spirit within these proud nations."

Upon landing in Europe, guests will transfer to Tallinn's Hotel Domina City and open the first half of the adventure in Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. Free time and included escorted tours offer an interesting look at life in Tallinn, which was first settled in the 10th century. On a day trip en route to Latvia, they'll enjoy a scenic drive through the Estonian forests and tour the seaside town of Pärnu, which once served as a resort village for Russian czars and the Soviet elite. .......

Estonia : Toyota Corolla review

1997 Toyota Corolla Si from Estonia

What things have gone wrong with the car ?

Leaking power-steering, too expensive to fix. Burns a lot of oil, engine rebuild too expensive to consider. Rear brakes stuck, due to faulty regulator, too expensive to even consider. Clutch failed at 180000km. Rust, rust and more rust, the body just fades away. Wheel bearings whine, unable to replace due to enormous cost.

General comments ?

Although I got a lemon, I must say it is reliable. The main problem is, that when the car gets about 8 years old, every two or three failing components cost a total of the cars current value, so you can't fix it, just wait and see how long it will last. I believe this is different in Japan for example, but here in former USSR it is really impossible to deal with this car when it starts loosing pieces, the money numbers just aren't realistic.

Russian and Belgian FMs discuss Estonia-Georgia conflict

Moscow, Feb. 21, (BNA) Foreign Ministers of Russia and Sergey Lavrov and Belgium's foreign Minister and current Chief of EU Security and Cooperation Organization, Karel De Gucht, expressed concerns over the deteriorating situation in south Estonia.

This came during a telephone conversation during which they reviewed ways of resolving Georgian-south Estonian conflict, calling the two sides to seek a solution to the crisis.