BONJOUR L'ESTONIE

Estonia abour Russia : June, 1st decade, 2006

* Analysts point to Russia's currently weak position on the international stage and its attempts to restore its damaged image at any cost. "The history of the Russian people, their religion and national individuality were the biggest targets of Soviet repressions. The current national awakening is still in the bud and is going through an identity crisis... The Orthodox faith, the main basis of the Russian culture, is awakening. But there are some causes for concern. The Orthodox faith, especially when controlled by the state, does not contribute to the weak Russian democracy. Russia seems to have two ruling ideologies now : the Orthodoxy and vodka, both being equally hailed... Russians have little collective memory, but without it a new national identity cannot appear. You cannot go back to the rural community to get it." (Eesti Päevaleht, June 9.)

The statement of the Russian Foreign Ministry, which supported the right of self-proclaimed republics to self-identity, is viewed as radicalization of Russia's old foreign policy. The press believes that the main reason behind this move is Russia's desire to politically oppose the U.S. However, it stresses the danger of such self-identity for Moscow, as it can spur separatism inside Russia. "If the United States can afford to behave in a way that the international community does not like, so can Russia. If the United States can afford Iraq, Russia can afford at least Ossetia... That is all very well, but Russia has forgotten that it is no United States. If the United States can afford to, say, support a coup somewhere in Latin America or to use its troops to change a regime in a Middle Eastern country, it does not threaten the territorial integrity of the U.S. In Russia, the situation is different." (Pärnu Postimees, June 8.)

Estonia : Domina hotels operating firm earns profit of EUR 840,000 in 2005

* Domina Management , operator of the Tallinn hotels Ilmarine and City, earned a net profit of EEK 13.2 million (EUR 840,000)on EEK64.8 million of sales last year.

The year before the company posted a turnover of EEK 51.2 million and a loss of EEK 3.4 million, a spokesman for Domina informed.

Domina Management operates hotels in the Domina Hotels & Resorts chain in Tallinn, Riga and Poznan, Poland.

The consolidated turnover of the hotel operator in 2005 was EEK 109.3 million and the net profit EEK 10.7 million. The year before the turnover was EEK 61.4 million and the loss EEK 5.5 million.

Last April, a new 110-bedroom hotel, Domina Inn Riga, opened in central Riga. The average occupancy rate of the Riga hotel was 72 per cent in 2005.

Domina Management, operator of two Tallinn hotels, also provides the hotel management service in hotels of the Domina chain in the Baltic countries and the former east bloc area.

Mari : minister promises his assistance in obtaining a Russian visa

Mr. Mikhail Vasyutin, Deputy Head of Government and Minister of Culture, Press and Nationalities of the Republic of Mari El, was visiting Estonia from 17 to 19 January at the invitation of the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Estonia.

As well as at his previous visit in July 2005, Vasyutin opened an exhibition in the premises of the Russian Embassy in Tallinn. While the previous exhibition displayed books and periodicals published in Mari El (see the press release of the Information Centre of Finno-Ugric Peoples (in Russian only) at http://www.suri.ee/press/rus/p050705rus.html), paintings and drawings of Mari artists were demonstrated this time.

At a press-conference held for the Russian-language media of Estonia, Vasyutin said that a similar art exhibition was held in November 2005 in the Centre of Hungarian Culture in Moscow. The minister briefly characterised the situation in the Republic of Mari El, pointing at the achievements in the theatre art and mentioning that a radio station has been established with the eight hours daily broadcasting in Mari.

Remembering the criticism in .......

People’s Union to nominate Ruutel as the party's presidential candidate this Sunday

TALLINN – The leader of the People's Union is going to declare at Sunday's [June 18] party convention that is set to nominate Rüütel as the party's presidential candidate.

According to Villu Reiljan, Rüütel has been a very good president for Estonia, therefore he is going to point out that it was during Ruutel's tenure as chairman of the Supreme Council, which is how the parliament that voted in favor of Estonia's independence was called, that Estonia became a member of the United Nations in 2001, and that during his presidency in 2004 the country joined the EU and NATO

As Rüütel's outstanding services in domestic politics, Reiljan is about to name the formation of such government coalitions, which have paid significantly more attention to social justice and regional development than previous coalitions.
Rüütel's position in the presidential race is strong and in the electoral college the People's Union together with its allies will be able to nominate the incumbent president for reelection with a very large number of votes, Reiljan is about to say.
To show its popularity, the People's Union on Sunday will hand the party card to its 10,000th member.

Rüütel, who turned 78 last month, has said he would run for a second term as president in the electoral college vote, skipping the parliamentary rounds. An electoral college will be convened only if the parliament fails to get the required two-thirds majority behind any presidential candidate on three successive attempts early this fall.

Estonian-Russian drug dealers detained in Helsinki

* Finnish customs guards detained seven members of an Estonian-Russian drug group set on smuggling amphetamine into the country, the Finnish news agency STT reported. Police had been investigating the case for months, during which time 11 kilos of amphetamine and more than 1,000 Subutex tablets were seized. The first confiscation took place when nearly three kilos of amphetamine was found stashed in the spare tires of two cars. The largest haul, more than five kilos of amphetamine, was recovered in Helsinki from an Estonian man who smuggled the narcotic in from Sweden.

Stateless citizens being taken care of.

* The Foundation of the Integration of Non-Estonians is launching a free nationwide preparation course for the citizenship exam, with up to 10,000 applicants registered already.

The course will include nearly 80 professional instructors, with curriculum and study aids prepared by the Jaan Tonisson Institute.

The course is part of a project commissioned by the State Chancellery supporting the integration of stateless persons. The program aims to increase citizenship among persons whose nationality is currently undefined, offering them assistance in preparing for the Constitution exam.

Looking at Estonia through the eyes of Mother Nature

* By Zane Apse

If you are tired of the pace of the city and the worries that accompany our modern, technological lives, why not consider peaceful and relaxing weekend away from it all. There are many things that you could consider, but for a range of options that are sure to thrill any nature lover, one company on Hiiumaa Island has cornered the market.

Moonsund ECO has, for several years now, been working in the field of eco-tourism on Hiiumaa Island and offers clients the opportunity to spend an interesting few days on the Estonian island. Their tours will provide you wit both a new outlook on the richness of the area as well as a chance to simply enjoy the calm that can only come from a weekend in a remarkable part of the world.

The eco-company offers a range of activities depending on the time of year. In the early fall, take a trip out onto the sea in a boat and see the seal colonies. This is nature up close and personal. Or if seafaring isn’t your thing, take a hike in the ancient Kopu forest with a local guide. In the winter, skate along the island’s 326 kilometer coastline or try your hand at ice fishing.

The beauty of Hiiumaa and the animals that make it their home are amazing. And it is no doubt that no matter what time of year you visit the island, there will always be something new, for the feeling on the island seems to change with the seasons.
If you are looking for some more hard core adventure, you can give the Tahkuna adventure trail a try. This approximately 8 kilometer long trail will take you approximately 3 hours to complete, leaving you an entire weekend to relax and consider your accomplishment in the peace and quiet of the island.

Moonsund ECO offers complete packages with activities, food and accommodation for your entire group and can customize the tour to suit your own wishes and needs.

For more information, contact :
www.moonsund.ee
info@moonsund.ee
Tel : 56 480 998

Estonians fear growth in HIV

by Joel Alas

TALLINN - An international health specialist has warned that Tallinn could become a “take-off point” for HIV infection across Europe, a fear that is fuelled by Tallinn’s thriving sex tourism industry and Estonia’s growing rate of HIV infection, which remains the highest in Europe.

The disease also appears to have spread from injecting drug users and into the general population, with reports of growing infection levels amongst university students in Tartu. American health economist Jeffrey W. Mecaskey said Estonia’s health care sector should brace for the impact, as thousands of HIV sufferers are now entering the disease’s critical phase. Mecaskey, who has visited Estonia three times in the past year, is part of a team of health experts attempting to help the country deal with its HIV epidemic.

“People may believe this is a problem isolated to Narva and the northeast, but Tallinn would be regarded as the other epicenter,” Mecaskey told The Baltic Times. “There is a concern transnationally that this could be a take-off point for infection around the world. As long as sex tourists can comfortably negotiate away the use of a condom with a sex worker for a couple of euros, we have a problem.” Estonia has the highest prevalence of HIV in Europe. About 1.1 percent of its population carries the disease – more than double the average rate of infection in OECD nations.

Researchers have tracked the disease’s spread from Russia through St. Petersburg and into northeastern Estonia as ......

Man accused of planning to blow up Soldier Liberator monument in Tallinn

TALLINN - The Estonian Prosecutor's Office has brought charges against Juri Liim for threatening to blow up the Soldier Liberator monument in Tallinn.
     Liim  "breached the peace and social order in public addresses made on TV threatening the use of explosives," the Prosecutor's Office of the Northern District said.
     Liim,  twice  granted  awards  by  President  Arnold Rüütel for his achievements  in  the  reconstruction  of  Estonian  independence in the 1990s, repeatedly  said  on  the  Estonian  'KANAL-2' TV channel that he intended  to  blow up the monument unless the authorities remove it from the city center.
     He  said  he  knew  where  he  could  obtain the explosives and had "already  determined  where  he  would  place  them so as to prevent the destruction of the nearby Kaarli Church."
     During  the  investigation,  Liim  said  that he had only wanted to encourage  the government to remove the monument and he had not intended to actually blow it up.
     However,   the  Prosecutor's  Office  considered  his  explanations insufficient  and  passed the case to the Harju district court. If found guilty, Liim could face a fine or up to five years imprisonment.
     The  District  Prosecutor's  Office  proposed  a 15,180 krooni fine (about 1,000 euro).
     Estonian  nationalists  have repeatedly demanded the authorities to bring down  or move the monument and were joined in their calls by prime minister  Andrus Ansip, who declared that the monument should be removed "the sooner the better."

Baltic states' entry to Schengen zone could be delayed

TALLINN - The accession of Estonia and other new EU member states to the Schengen visa area could be delayed by a minimum of six months, the daily Eesti Paevaleht reported.
The delay is caused by problems with setting up the second-generation information system, the paper stated.
“The information system was planned to be ready by March 2007, but as things stand we can now say it definitely will not be completed by that time,” spokeswoman for the European Commission’s representation in Estonia, Marit Ruuda, said.
Experts call the Strasbourg, France-based Schengen information system a “key compensation mechanism,” which should make up for the diminished domestic security of each state joining the Schengen area.

May unemployment down down 43.1 % year-on-year

TALLINN  - Unemployment in Estonia fell 10.8 pct in May from April, and fell by 43.1 pct from May a year earlier, Baltic News Service reported, citing Estonian Labor Market Board.

The number of unemployed was 15,725 in May.

The unemployment rate in May was 1.9 pct of the Estonian working age population, the Labor Market Board said.

A total of 19,235 people were looking for work through the Labor Market Board during May.

'The continuing fall in the number of registered unemployed is due to high economic growth in Q1 and completion of some activities financed from European Social Fund projects as a result of which a considerable proportion of people from risk groups have found jobs,' said Tiina Ormisson, director general of the Labor Market Board.

The number of unemployment is still high in the East-Viru County where 4.6 pct of the working age population are registered as unemployed, and in Valga County, where the figure is 3.5 pct.

The unemployment level is the lowest, 1 pct, in Parnu and Rapla Counties.

METALLICA break attendance records in Estonia

According to a press release issued by the Estonian concert agency BDG, METALLICA's June 13, 2006 concert at Tallinn Song Festival Grounds in Estonia was attended by around 78,000 people — breaking all previous audience records (the previous record was set by MICHAEL JACKSON in 1997).

Preparations for the massive event started already last Friday (June 9). METALLICA arrived in Tallinn few hours before the show and left with police escort right after the concert to Austria. The band also gave a unique small press conference to the Baltic press. Some traditions continued: "Like in year 1999 when METALLICA was here first time, we went with drummer Lars Ulrich for a half-hour run by the seaside near the venue," commented executive producer of the show, Peeter Rebane from BDG. "This show crossed all our expectations. I'm convinced that both the band and the audience got unforgettable memories."

Estonian Prime Minister Andrus Ansip and the Mayor of Tallinn Jüri Ratas came to greet the band before the show. Georgian Defence Minister was also present at the concert.

METALLICA's show in Tallinn was the only one in Northern Europe and brought to Estonia almost 30,000 people from the ........

Report on anarchism in Estonia

* What's up in Estonia ? Some months ago we opened a website called PunaMust (in English : Red'n'Black). The aim of the webpage was to unite anarchists and create an anarchist movement in Estonia. It's all in the beginning stages, but we are slowly making some progress. There are about 20 people around Estonia (mostly in Tartu and Tallinn) who are actively participating in the movement right now and there are about 100 people who are taking part in the discussions on our web-forum. About a week ago we had to move our webpage to another server because the forum and data traffic had got too big (we had some documentary movies and mp3 lectures about anarchism and the "anti-globalization" movement there) and we had to find a bigger server. We lost all our Forum data and now we are slowly recovering from that (users of the old forum have to register again in the new forum and it takes a bit time).

About some actions :

On 8th April we took part in the demonstration against police violence in Tallinn. There were about 150 people - mostly young punks.

On 1st May we handed out anti-consumerist leaflets in front of big shopping malls in Tallinn and Tartu.

On 4th May we were guests on the TV3 talk-show "Kahvel" (one of the most popular TV talk-shows in Estonia), where we talked about anarchism and our organization.

On 15th May we had a joint action with the "Green" bicycle club Prussakov to protest against the abuse of the public space by the private security company Fack which is using one of the most important squares in Tallinn as a parking lot. We occupied the parking lot - legally - we bought parking tickets and "parked" our bikes and flowerpots in the parking spaces for one day. It got quite a lot of positive media attention. Afterwards we left without paying for the parking tickets but as far as I know no charges were made.

This Monday (29th May) we organized in Tartu ........

Prime Minister at EU Council on Thursday and Friday

Stenbock House —Today and tomorrow, Prime Minister Andrus Ansip will be in Brussels where he is participating in the work of the European Council. The main topics of the European Council are enlargement, the future of the European Union and energy.

The Council is very important for Estonia as a country that has continually supported EU enlargement and considers this to be one of the most important policies of the EU.
The summit is a preparatory meeting for the enlargement discussion that will start in the autumn. The decisions to be made at the Council will determine where and to what extent the planned enlargement discussion will take place.

Additional information Inga Jagomäe
Tel : +372 528 1467

Government Communication Office
_____________________________________
Valitsuse kommunikatsioonibüroo briifinguruum
http://www.valitsus.ee/brf/
press@riik.ee

Day of Mourning

Dear fellow countrymen,

Freedom is the most cherished treasure for every nation. Estonia has chosen to show reverence for the ideals and pursuits that brought freedom to our people. This is our duty to all the generations who have dreamed about freedom and fought for it, using weapons or words. We also respect the road to freedom of all other nations — we understand that this respect adds to our self-esteem and also motivates the respect of other nations in the world for Estonia’s independence. We are well aware that the message of freedom must not be buried in the dust of everyday life but must always sound fresh and convincing. This is the strongest guarantee that we will be able to keep our freedom safe both today and in the future.

The faith that justice will prevail helps the truth surface and dooms the lie.. Such faith does not mean that we will forget, but that we will remember — all the crimes committed against humanity and their victims. Our memories will never allow the violence that destroyed people and their work to find justification for itself. We will remember: that is how we will keep the ideals of freedom alive.

President of the Republic Arnold Rüütel
President of the Riigikogu Toomas Varek
Prime Minister Andrus Ansip
_____________________________________
Valitsuse kommunikatsioonibüroo briifinguruum
http://www.valitsus.ee/brf/ 
press@riik.ee   

Innovation must become a way of life for Estonians

Stenbock House — When speaking about the situation of research and development before the Riigikogu today, Prime Minister Andrus Ansip highlighted the three main success criteria for Estonia : development of human resources, a favourable innovation and business climate, and concrete development choices within research.

“Estonia has one of the most rapidly growing economies in Europe. Yet, when this economic growth has been achieved only or largely on account of increasing domestic consumption boosted by foreign funds and cheaper production input, there is no reason to speak about sustainable development,” said Ansip.

According to Ansip, in order to avoid the deceleration of economic growth and a budget deficit if the inflow of foreign funds decreases, the capacity of our own economy to create marketable value must become increasingly important.

The Prime Minister said that the Government’s goal was to transform Estonia into a country that would be recognised all over the world and have an attractive innovation environment by 2010.

“Our main problem is the low level of research and development investments from the private sector. Although the share of the private sector in development expenditure has increased twofold over the period 1998–2004 and the volume of investments has increased sixfold, they only accounted for 36% of the total research and development expenditure in 2004,” said the Prime Minister in his speech.

Andrus Ansip estimates that it would be feasible to reach the level where 3% of GDP is used for research and development by 2014. ........

Ruthless competition on the Baltic Sea

* With Silja Line going in the hands of Tallink one important player will be eliminated from the Baltic Sea and Tallink will become the market leader.

But Silja’s second purchase candidate Viking Line is not sleeping and lower ticket costs plus expensive fuel make competition tough.

Although from November till January Tallink’s competitor Vilja Line managed to grow its turnover, the loss was still over EEK 79 million.

After the purchase of Silja Line Tallink’s net debts surpass equity capital by over 200 percent.

As the main income of Tallink comes from tourism and ticket sale Tallink must inevitably raise ticket prices, agree Nordic shipping experts.

Nordic Jet Line already added EUR 5 to ticket prices at the beginning of June.

Helin-Mari Arder will sing in the yard of Stenbock House

Stenbock House — Thursday, 15 June will open a series of open air concerts organised in the yard of Stenbock House throughout summer. The opening artist will be Helin-Mari Arder with her quintet.

The concert titled “Summer Samba — Samba de Verão” will include enjoyable samba and bossa tunes from here and elsewhere. There will certainly be pieces from the endless music collection of Antonio Carlos Jobim; but besides Brazil a number of pieces have been written also in Estonia and all over the world, which sound natural in bossa or samba versions. Helin-Mari performs songs in their original language (Portuguese, French, Italian) as often as possible, and will certainly sing bossa novas and sambas by Estonian authors too.

Helin-Mari Arder will be accompanied in the yard of Stenbock House by Teet Raik (guitar), Siim Aimla (saxophones, flute), Marti Tärn (bass), Ahto Abner (percussions).

Everybody is welcome to the music event in the yard of Stenbock House. The concert will begin at 6 p.m. and admission is free as usual.

The open air music at Stenbock House is a concert series organised by the State Chancellery and the State Concert Institute Eesti Kontsert, celebrating its sixth season this summer. The artists who have performed in the yard of Stenbock House (Rahukohtu 3) at Toompea have included, for example, the saxophone quartet Sax Quatuor, Rein Rannap, Tallinn Chamber Orchestra conducted by Eri Klas, Sergio Bastos & Raivo Tafenau Quintet, Jaan Tätte and Marko Matvere, and the Spanish guitar player Pepe Justicia. The concerts are free and open to everyone.

The programme of open air concerts to take place in the yard of Stenbock House is available on the homepage of the State Chancellery : http://www.riigikantselei.ee/ouemuusika 

Additional information :
Producer Kadri Tali
Tel: +372 5159 243

Sincerely
Kersti Luha

Government Information Officer
Tel : +372 6935 713
+372 5213 085
_____________________________________
Valitsuse kommunikatsioonibüroo briifinguruum
http://www.valitsus.ee/brf/ 
press@riik.ee 

Statu Quo in Haapsalu : August 6th, 2006

STATUS QUO "PARTY AIN'T OVER YET"

Piletite hinnad :
Esimesed 1000 piletit hinnaga 395.-
Järgmised 1000 piletit hinnaga 495.-
Edaspidi pileti hind 595.-
VIP istekoha piletid 895.-
Soodustusi ei ole ! Igal kontserdi külastajal peab olema kehtiv pilet, ka sülelapsel.

HAAPSALU LOSSIHOOV	Osta pilet!

Sting at Saku Suurhall : July 27th, 2006

As part of Sting's European Broken Music Tour he'll come to Saku Arena with a concert on 28th of July 2006.

Warm-up by his son Joe Sumner's band Fiction Plane!

Tickets :
Ticket prices : 695 EEK- 2000 EEK
Tickets are available at Piletilevi and Statoil.

Buy a ticket here !

Organizer : BDG

More information : www.sting.com