BONJOUR L'ESTONIE

Euro-zone inflation drops to 1.9 %

Associated Press

BRUSSELS, Belgium - Euro-zone inflation dropped to 1.9 % in January, below the European Central Bank's 2 % target rate for the first time in 10 months, according to statistics released Monday.

The rate fell from 2.4 % in December and shows inflation slowing quicker than many economists predicted. Inflation in January 2004 was also at 1.9 %, the European Union's statistics agency said.

Of the 12 euro-zone nations, Greece had the highest rate with 4.2 %, followed by Spain with 3.1 %. At the other end, Finland had deflation of 0.2 %, followed by the Netherlands with inflation of 1.3 %.

Across the whole 25-nation EU, inflation was at 2 %, down from 2.4 % in December, Eurostat said.

Highest rates were in Latvia with 6.7 % and Estonia with 4.2 %. Sweden had the lowest rate outside the euro-zone with 0.5 %, followed by Denmark with 0.8 %.

Eurostat said falls in the cost of vegetables, telecommunications and clothes had brought rates down, while upward pressure was exerted by rising prices for tobacco, transport fuel and heating oil.

Estonian pilots threaten to work abroad

Estonian AIR again !

The Estonian business daily Äripäev reports Estonian pilots are threatening to work for foreign airlines since their wages differ several times from what their European colleagues are paid.
The Estonian pilots union said that Latvian aviation firms have realized the seriousness of the situation. The union said Air Baltic increased its pilots’ wages by 30% from the beginning of the year.

ESTONIA BUSINESS : WEEK 8. 2005

Monday, 21st of February, 2005

Estonian food industries successful in Finland
In one year, Estonian companies doubled their food exports to Finland selling EEK 404 million worth of food in Finland in 2004. The figure in 2003 was EEK 201 million. This made Finland Estonia’s third-largest food export market.
Äripäev

Sales of laptops to increase
IT experts say that sales of laptop computers in Estonia is likely to double in a year to 44,000 laptops in 2004. Industry observers say sales are skyrocketing because of lower prices, cheap credit and favourable Internet access packages.
Postimees

Thursday, 22nd of February, 2005

Profit of Estonian Gas up to EEK 100 million
The net profit of AS Eesti Gaas in 2004 amounted EEK 99.3 million by the turnover of EEK 1.13 billion.
Äripäev

Wednesday, 23rd of February, 2005

Nearly 124,000 passengers in January
In January, 123,703 passengers used the services of train traffic company Edelaraudtee, which is 4181 passengers more than a year earlier.
Eesti Päevaleht

Kristiine Casino earned EEK 25 million in 2004
Last year’s profit of Kristiine Casino reached EEK 25.1 million by the turnover of EEK 78.4 million. In 2003, the company earned a profit of EEK 9.7 million by the turnover of EEK 21.9 million.
Äripäev

Friday, 25th of February, 2005

Garment maker Baltika turns loss into profit in 2004
Estonia's largest garment maker Baltika reported that its net profit amounted to EEK 16.7 million in 2004. The majority of net profit (11.4 million) was earned in the fourth quarter. In comparison, the company ended the year 2003 with a loss of EEK 67.4 million.
BBN

Kreenholm forecasts profit in 2006
Estonia’s largest textile industry Kreenholm that belongs to Swedish textile group Boras Wäfveri and has been making losses for several years may return to profit already next year. “The sun is not yet shining, but we know how to bring it out,” said Thomas Widstrand, chief executive of Boras Wäferi.
BBN

Nordea’s Estonian branch reports doubled loan volume in a year
Estonian branch of the Scandinavian banking giant Nordea reported that its loan volume to private persons increased 57 % last year. Toivo Annus, head of retail banking division of Nordea Estonia, said that this is the result of being the market leader in terms of low interest rates.
Nordea’s net profit in 2004 was EEK 162 million.
BBN

Unemployment rate fell
In the fourth quarter of 2004, the unemployment rate in Estonia fell to 8.5 % Unemployment rate is the share of the unemployed in the labour force. Labour force or economically active population is the sum of employed and unemployed persons.
Eesti Päevaleht

TIIU KUIK forward to TOP

Sydney's Paablo Nevada has pulled off a major coup nabbing Estonian runway star Tiiu Kuik as the face of its winter 2005 in-store campaign. Tiiu posed for photographer Nick Leary in a long silk dress with cutout detail from PN's In The Mood For Love collection. Styling is by Michael Azzolini, hair by Brad Ngata and make-up by Liz Kelsh. PN co-director Wayne Homschek declined to comment on Tiiu's fee. She could prove an invaluable brand ambassador - on the shoot, says Homschek, she was so smitten with PN's men's T-shirt emblazoned with photos of Bruce Lee and Tom Ford she took the only two samples back to New York with a promise to deliver one personally to Ford.

Birds watching : British Tit in Saku

Captured in the village of Saku, just south of Tallinn. Avid North American birdwatchers or even those who put a birdfeeder out for the winter months will recognize the characters on this ball of suet as the chickadee – tihane, and nuthatch – puukoristaja.

Their characteristic shapes, not to mention behaviour, are a dead giveaway. But in the case of the chickadee, which on the eastern shores of the Atlantic is known per British English as the tit; some of its euro cousins got an extra splash of colour.

Photo : Reigo Lehtla

RUSSIAN ATTITUDE TO POST-SOVIET BALTICS DOES NOT DEPEND ON WHETHER THEY CELEBRATE V-E JUBILEE IN MOSCOW : PUTIN

BRATISLAVA, SLOVAKIA, February 25 (RIA Novosti) - Russia's relations with the post-Soviet Baltic countries-Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia-do not depend on whether their presidents determine to attend Moscow celebrations of the V-E Day 60th anniversary. Russia hopes, however, that common sense will take the upper hand in their decision, said President Vladimir Putin.

"We shall carry on relations with those countries, whatever choice they make. We hope common sense and their nations' interests will prevail, with political ambitions for historians to tackle," he remarked to a news conference in Bratislava, Slovak capital.

"There are different ways to evaluate the outcome and results of World War II.

"Some people in the [post-Soviet] Baltic countries regard WWII as having a bearing on the tragedy in which they lost independence. We hold their opinion in the utmost respect.

"Likewise, we ought to respect the opinion of Lettish riflemen as the force that helped Bolsheviks to retain power against attempts to overthrow them.

"This part of European and Russian history is extremely complicated. It must be tackled thoroughly, and in an unbiased way," added President Putin.

Slovakia's President was addressing the same news conference. Reporters asked him whether he was to appear in Moscow for May 9 galas.

"I shall take part in the Moscow celebrations. That was my personal decision. I deem it our duty to cherish the memory of those whom we owe our survival to this day. Some may see the matter differently-it's their personal opinion," he replied.

President Putin confirmed his invitation to the leaders of post-Soviet Baltic countries to come to Moscow for May 9 celebrations of the 60th anniversary of victory over nazi Germany.

"While holding in the utmost respect the opinions of our countries' people, whatever social milieu they may belong to, we think we are to orient on the future. That was why we have invited the [post-Soviet] Baltic leaders to get a constructive dialogue going, and settle all problems, frontier issues included."

Russia has called to sign respective instruments in Moscow as the upcoming galas are on. "With that, we are offering our hand in friendship. It does not depend on us whether we shall meet a handshake in reply, or not. The decision is up to the Baltic countries' leaders," stressed President Putin.

Tallinn this evening

Tallinn

25-02-2005 (18.13)             - 3 degrees

Tiiu and Carmen's photo galeries

The bad news :

Please note that to enable me to have more disc space, I will need to delete some of the photo albums on the left as from the 1st of March 2005.

1. Estonian youth
2. Night life
3. To-morrow Estonian supermodels

So please do download, should you feel like it, all needed pictures before they desappear from my weblog.

The good news :

Both the followings will get new pics soon ...

• Carmen Kass
• Tiiu Kuik

Best of luck and thanks for your visits.

Shaan

TIIU KUIK's 18th Birthday : 16-03-2005

HER PRESENT TO US (892 ko) from this super young Lady

Milan 23-02-2005 Trends les Copains video (2.49 mn), check 42", 2'02", and 2'35

Tiiu in all her beauty : J-19

RAVISHINGLY EXQUISITE .......

 

Conducting debut, premieres at Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra

By Mary Ellyn Hutton
Post music writer

A conductor from Estonia leads this weekend's Cincinnati Symphony concerts. And it's not CSO music director Paavo Järvi.

Järvi's countryman, Olari Elts, 33, will make his U.S. debut at 11 a.m. Friday, 8 p.m. Saturday at Music Hall.

Winner in 2000 of the Second International Sibelius Conductors' Competition in Helsinki, Elts will lead the CSO in Shostakovich's Symphony No. 9 and two CSO premieres.

Only one of the premieres is in any sense new, "The Black Gondola," an orchestration by American composer John Adams of Franz Liszt's late piano piece "La lugubre gondola."

The other premiere is by Mozart, the ballet music to his opera "Idomeneo."

Guest artist is the well regarded Finnish pianist Olli Mustonen, who will perform Ravel's Concerto in G Major. It will be a local debut for Mustonen, who performs often with Järvi's German orchestra, the Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen.

$16.25-$67.50, $10 for students at (513) 381-3300, www.cincinnatisymphony.org .

24th Feb. 2005 : 87th Anniversary of Independance. A special thank from The Philippines

Industry is the leading driver of Estonia’s economy. It accounts for half the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and a third of total employment. Engineering and metalworking are the chief industries, followed in importance by shale mining. Others 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. Estonia 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 a fouryear term each. 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, Estonia became a member of the World Trade Organization. Last year, Estonia successfully joined the European Union (EU) and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

According to the IMF, Estonia successfully underwent remarkable transition and solid economic performance, backed up by an impressive and consistent record in implementing sound policies that have supported viable growth and a stable price level. Overall, macroeconomic developments remain favorable.

Recently, Estonia’s position in various international surveys has improved. It ranks 36th in the 2004 United Nations Human Development Report, an improvement of five notches. Worldwide, it is also the most successful country in transition, according to the Bertelsmann Transition Index (BTI), a measure to evaluate the success of reform in transition countries. In terms of competitiveness ranked by the World Economic Forum (WEF), it climbed into the 20th place from its previous 22nd ranking.

We congratulate the people and government of Estonia, and its Consulate in the Philippines, headed by Consul General Juan N. Peña, on the occasion of their National Day.

Borders could be ratified simultaneously said Konstantin Kosachev

TALLINN – A Russian lawmaker has suggested that Estonia and Russia’s parliaments ratify the border agreement simultaneously.
Konstantin Kosachev, chairman of the foreign affairs committee in the lower house of Russia’s Parliament, told a news conference in Tallinn on Tuesday that simultaneous ratification would prevent one of the parliaments from finding itself in an embarrassing situation.
He said that problems could emerge in Estonia’s legislature since, in his opinion, there were political forces who had territorial claims on Russia. He said that since the peace treaty of Tartu had lost its validity in 1940 there were no grounds for such demands.
Still, Marko Mihkelson, head of Estonia’s foreign affairs committee, told a meeting of the countries’ parliamentary committees that a roundtable of Estonian parties had backed the border treaty as it stands.
Kosachev refrained from any speculations as to when the border treaty could be signed, saying that the matter was not to be decided by parliaments. Mihkelson said that Estonia has been ready to sign the border agreement since it was initialed in 1999.
Mihkelson also said signing of the border treaty cannot be linked to any other document.
Kosachev spoke about the need to adopt some kind of joint document. He said that while not being a goal in itself, it would dot a number of i’s and help determine the nature of relations between the two countries. He suggested that the joint document doesn't have to be a political declaration. He hinted that it would be enough if Estonia recognized the Estonian-Russian agreement from January 1991.
Mihkelson expressed hope that Russia will have the courage to recognize the mistakes of its former leaders that brought suffering to many nations, including Estonians. Kosachev said Stalin was not a savior of nations and his actions were denounced even in the Soviet Union and were not being hailed in present-day Russia.
He added that while the Soviet Union's steps vis-a-vis the Baltic states in 1940 could be condemned morally and politically, the same couldn’t be done based on today’s understanding of law. He argued that international law at the time regarded “occupation” as having a different meaning than it does today.
He nevertheless listed a number of Moscow's reproaches to Estonia, including the treatment of Russian-speaking population to the alleged glorification of Nazism, the Baltic News Service reported.

Eurobarometer reveals optimistic trends

TALLINN - Estonians have become happier with their lives and believe in economic benefits from their country’s EU membership, the new Eurobarometer survey shows.
The report of the latest Eurobarometer survey, a more detailed, nation-focused version of the preliminary report released in December 2004, was made public on Feb.21. Estonians’ trust continues to remain with the defense forces, the national radio and the television just like it was one year ago, said Marko Saaret from TNS Emor, the pollster that carried out the survey.

By TBT staff

8th March 2005 : Naistepäev

Naistepäev (Hando Runnel) Juba eile õhtust saadik on üks asi meeles - emmekene, kalli - kalli täna sulle teeme. Enne teeme keerupatsi, pärast pai ja musi. kas sa tead ka, mille pärast ? Kui ei tea, siis küsi. Täna pidupäev on naistel. Isa ütles seda. Isa ise käskis emmet täna õnnitleda. Sellepärast kalli - kalli täna sulle teeme, õnne soovime ja muidu rõõmu sulle teeme.	Veel on tuulepoisid õelad, küüned teravad kui nõelad. Meil on meeled kurvad, aja kas või nutupilli- metsas veel ei ole lilli, ainult pajuurvad. Pisikesed urvanupsud, siledad kui siiditupsud ! Kui nad tuppa sooja kanda, paisuvad ehk pikemaks, sametiselt kollakaks. Siis ehk võib neid kingiks anda. Küll on tore! Vaata, sõber ! Urvad säravad kui hõbe! Nad on tõesti imekenad. Paneme nad vaasi suurde: “Naistepävaks sulle, ema !” (J.Kaidla)
MÕTLESIN VÄLJA ... (Maia Talinurm) MIKS ON NÕNDA PALJU NAISI ? MILLEKS TEHA SELLIST KULU ? KÕIGILE PEAKS TOOMA ÕISI, OSTMATA JÄÄKS MITU ÕLU ! KUI EI OLEKS ÜLDSE DAAME, OLEKS MEIL SEST ROHKEM KASU ? TÄNA OLEN NÄOST KAAME, OLEN MEES, KAS SEE ON TASU ? MIKS KÜLL LUMI VEEL ON MAAS ? NOPIKS LILLE PÕÕSA VILUST. MIKS EI HALJENDA VEEL AAS ? MÕTLEN RAHAST, MÕTLEN ILUST... VARSTI NÄRBUB KALLIS ÕIS... RAHAKOTIS LÕÕTSUB TUUL. NAISI VÄHEM OLLA VÕIKS, VÕI OLGU PIDU JUULIKUUL !	NAISTEPÄEVAKS (Maia Talinurm) TÖÖL ON ARMAS NAISTEPERE, KUUMAKS KÜTAB MEESTE VERE. MEIL ON NAISI MITUT MASTI, KÕIK EI MAHU ÜHTE KASTI, SEE JUST ONGI ASJA VÕLU, IGAL ÜHEL OMA ILU. MÕNEL MEIST ON SALE PIHT, TEISEL VEIDI KAUNIM RÜHT. ÜHE NAERUST MAJA KAJAB, KEEGI VEIDI TOETUST VAJAB. KUI JÄÄKS ÄRA KÜLAJUTUD, NUTMATA JÄÄKS MITMED NUTUD, AINUS KOHT, KUST KITSAS KING, KUI SEE KAOKS SAAKS RAHU HING. ... KÕIGIL AGA RÕÕMUS MEEL, ET MEIL TÖÖD JÄTKUB VEEL. OLGU IKKA NAERU - NALJU, MEILE ÕNNE PALJU, PALJU ! OTSI ISE KAUNEID LILLI, LEIA KOHT, KUST KUULED PILLI, KÕPSUTA JA TANTSU LÖÖ, ÄRA ÜLELIIA SÖÖ !

'Why I want to work in Britain'

By Cindi John BBC News community affairs reporter

The newsagent's window is where many migrants find work

Glance in the window of the newsagent on the corner of Dalling Road in Hammersmith, west London, and you might think you have somehow been transported to eastern Europe.

The job advert cards in Polish and other Slavic languages greatly outnumber those in English, and most of the people scribbling down details hail from the European Union's newest member states.

More than 130,0000 people from Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia and Poland have registered to work in the UK since their states joined the EU last May, according to Home Office figures released on Tuesday.

Unlike previous waves of migrants, fewer than a quarter of the new arrivals have settled in London with many finding work in rural areas in the agricultural sector.

'More profitable'

But for many who have stayed in London - particularly Poles who make up more than half of the new migrants - the starting point to work is the Hammersmith newsagent's window.

One job seeker is Anna who's been in the UK for a year.

The 25-year-old says that in the past she has been a cleaner and kitchen porter, but she has been unemployed for the last four months.

It's easy for me to find work and I earn much more money here Marco from Krakow

However, she believes the higher wages in the UK mean it is more profitable to work sporadically here than steadily back home in Krakow.

"In England I can earn £5 or £6 an hour which is five times more than I can earn in Krakow," she says.

However, Marco from Krakow, who's been in the UK for three years, says he never has any trouble picking up jobs.

"I work in the building industry, doing painting and decoration, that sort of thing. It's easy for me to find work and I earn much more money here."

Unlike Marco, Luca, who's peering at the adverts with a friend, is a newcomer having been in the UK for just a month.

"We've come here looking for work every day but so far haven't found any. We're looking for cleaning, labouring jobs, anything like that," he says.

'More competition'

East European migrants cannot claim unemployment benefit until they have registered with the Home Office and worked continuously in the UK for a year.

Marius says the competition for work is much stiffer now

But like most of the newcomers, Luca is young and without dependents so he is not too worried by his lack of work.

"Luckily I can live with my brother, he's been in London two years," he says.

He knew he might have trouble finding work but decided to come to the UK anyway, Luca adds.

Marius, from eastern Poland, agrees it can be tough getting a job.

He's been back in the UK for just two days, he says, having spent 18 months here working in the construction industry before Poland joined the EU.

He believes there is more competition for jobs since residents of the eastern European states became eligible to work in the UK.

"It's not that easy to find work in England now, it was much easier before. But If I don't find work soon I'll just go back to Poland," he says.

Salmond opens 'Scotland House' in Estonia

Westminster, 2005-02-22 13:53:25

‘Scotland and Estonia have been trading for over 700 years’

Alex Salmond MP, Leader of the Scottish National Party today opened ‘Scotland House’, in Tallinn, the capital of Estonia along with Professor Ene Ergma, the Speaker of the Estonian Parliament.

Scottish business has entirely funded the venture which will provide services to Scottish and Estonian businesses that wish to trade within either of the countries as well as promote Scotland in Estonia. The official opening was attended by senior Scottish and Estonian business people, representatives of the diplomatic community in Tallinn and senior Estonian politicians.

Speaking in Tallinn, Alex Salmond said:

“Both Estonia and Scotland were in the Hanseatic League and our trading relationship from the great ports of Aberdeen, Leith and Dundee, is a well established one of 700 years! I am delighted to be part of this renewal of an old and venerable trading relationship and I am excited by the opportunities this will give to Scots and Estonians in their business dealings with one another."

“The opening of Scotland House here is an exciting initiative and I hope it is followed by many more. Other developments must follow – for example, direct flights from Scotland to Estonia would greatly promote trade and other links between our two countries."

“Scottish businesses and business people have been trading across Northern Europe for centuries and this is a significant development in our progression as a trading nation."

“During my few days here I will also be meeting Mr Sven Mikser MP, Chairman of the Estonia-UK Parliamentary Group and Mr Mart Laar MP Former Prime Minister and I hope this will signify the developing of political and cultural as well as economic links."

“Since independence in 1991 Estonia has shown what a small nation can do when it has responsibility for its own affairs. Scotland can learn a lot from Estonia’s experience and I am learning a great deal on my trip. I hope today’s opening is the start of a new chapter in our shared friendship.”

Estonia asks EU to keep sugar fine low

22/02/2005

Estonia has repeated a plea to the European Union to keep an impending fine for surplus sugar stocks low, arguing that stiff punishment would dent the EU's good image among Estonians, press reports said Tuesday.

"The popularity of the EU has increased among Estonians since accession (last May)", Estonian Prime Minister Juhan Parts said in a letter to European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso, which was published in the Estonian press Tuesday.

"I am deeply concerned that the image of the EU may get a serious backlash when we will have to pay the fine for surplus sugar stocks," Parts said in the letter.

The EU has threatened to fine Estonia about 850 million Estonian kroons (55 million euros, 72 million dollars) for stockpiling 91,650 tonnes of sugar prior to joining the EU on May 1 last year.

The EU decided to keep checks on sugar stocks and fine countries holding big surpluses to prevent companies stocking up on and then selling EU subsidised sugar that was imported before accession.

In his letter, Parts asked the EU to take into account that the surplus was mainly created by private consumers worried about sugar price increases after accession.

Private consumers bought 63,000 tonnes of sugar of the total 91,650 tonnes that made up the surplus stock in Estonia, the letter says, adding that the amount in private hands should not be treated as speculative stocks.

Estonia has proposed to pay a fine for the remaining 28,650 tonnes of sugar, which were imported prior to EU accession by companies.

Last month, the Estonian agriculture ministry sent a similar letter to the European Commission, saying most of the excess sugar was created by residents who stockpiled sugar to make jam and syrup ahead of the Baltic state's admission to the EU.

Tallinn airport cares for its passengers

TALLINN : Postimees writes about passenger stations at night. Only one out of the city's four main stations (bus station, the Port of Tallinn, Balti Train Station and Tallinn airport) is passenger friendly. Tallinn International Airport is cooperating with the Tallinn City Enterprise Board, which means it is well run with its passengers well cared for. The airport terminal is the biggest of the passenger points, the cleanest and the warmest at night. It is possible to buy food, drinks, magazines and even souvenirs until midnight. Alcohol is sold until 11 pm. There is also an assistant to answer tourists' questions. The airport will not close its doors before all passengers have found shelter for the night. The situation is completely different elsewhere. At the port, it is not even possible to buy a cup of coffee in the late evening. Passengers must wait for the last trains and buses outside as the stations close for the night.

Teleglobe and Estonia's Largest Telecom Provider Elion Double IP Capacity to Accommodate Broadband Growth

HAMILTON, Bermuda, Feb 22, 2005 (BUSINESS WIRE) --

Teleglobe International Holdings Ltd (NASDAQ: TLGB), a leading provider of international telecommunications services to Internet service providers, fixed and mobile network operators, today announced that Elion, the largest telecommunications and IT provider in Estonia, has doubled its IP capacity with Teleglobe to accommodate Elion's growth in its retail broadband subscriber base.

Teleglobe has provided international telecommunication services to Elion since 1990. Through its expanded relationship, Teleglobe will provide Elion with dedicated IP access to Teleglobe's robust tier 1 internet backbone, which directly connects to over 90 countries.

"As the broadband market in Estonia continues to accelerate, Elion is committed to meeting the growing demand by providing the highest quality of internet access services to our residential and business customers," said Toivo Praakel, Director of IT and Data Communications Division at Elion. "Teleglobe's fast, reliable internet connectivity solidly satisfies our customers and thus helps us maintain leadership in Estonia's highly competitive Internet marketplace."

"We are pleased that Elion has chosen to expand its relationship with us to meet their growing bandwidth requirements," said Michel Guyot, Vice President of International Markets at Teleglobe. "With Estonia's rapid adoption of high-speed broadband, it is critical for Elion to continue to offer the best internet access services to its customers in order to compete."

Dedicated international access to the Teleglobe IP backbone is available from virtually any country at bandwidth speeds from 64 Kbps to 10Gbps. Carriers, and ISPs can connect to the Teleglobe Internet backbone using access alternatives such as satellite or cable, leased line or local loop, Ethernet.

Teleglobe's global IP network supports a wide variety of advanced data and IP services including global IP transit, international private leased circuits (IPLs), bandwidth capacity, and broadcast services. Teleglobe has ownership in over 100 subsea and terrestrial cable systems and has access to over 40 teleport antennas and transponder capacity serving the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans. Teleglobe is a global Tier 1 Internet service provider (ISP) and operates the IP backbone AS 6453 which circles the globe. Our MPLS-enabled IP network connects more than 90 countries to the Internet and is ready for IPv6, the new generation IP protocol.

Elion's DSL subscriber base had grown more than 50% in 2004. Elion accounted for approximately 63% of the Internet access market in Estonia at the end of Q4 2004.

About Elion :

Elion (www.elion.ee) is the largest telecommunications and IT provider in Estonia. It is owned by AS Eesti Telekom which is listed on both the Tallinn and London stock exchanges (TSE:ETL/LSE:EETD). In Estonia, Elion is the market leader in fixed network calls, in Internet subscriptions and data communication solutions and it has made a powerful impact on the IT market. In 2004 the consolidated net sales of the Elion Group were 171 million Euros, and the consolidated net profit was 22 million Euros. Currently the Elion Group employs a staff of 1454.

SOURCE : Teleglobe International Holdings Ltd

Teleglobe International Holdings Ltd Megan Cannell, 609-750-3262 email : [email protected]

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