BONJOUR L'ESTONIE

Musée national estonien, Tartu, Estonie

* Le musée national estonien en coopération avec le ministère de la culture et l'union des architectes estoniens annoncent un concours international d'architecture pour le nouveau musée national estonien, y compris la conception du plan masse environnant. Le futur chantier est situé à Tartu : le manoir de Raadi et les abords immédiats

Le musée national estonien a été créé en 1909. Il est à ce jour réparti dans différents bâtiments du centre de Tartu. Le nouveau musée doit se révéler accueillant, moderne, sachant que sa sphère d'influence doit largement dépasser les limites de la ville. Ce concours est ouvert à tous les architectes européens. Les langues de la compétition sont l'anglais et l'estonien. Date limite d’inscription : 10 novembre 2005 1er prix : 44.728 euros 2e prix : 31.948 euros 3e prix : 19.169 euros Deux autres lauréats se partageront la somme de 6.389 euros. Plus d'informations : Agnes Aljas, Estonian National Museum project manager Tél : (372).742.20.40 Email : [email protected] Anni Nool, Union of Estonian Architects project manager Tél : (372).641.17.37 Email : [email protected] Pille Epner, Union of Estonian Architects project manager Tél: (372).641.17.37 Email : [email protected] Web : www.erm.ee

WTA Tour's $170,000 US Sunfeast Open

Kaia Kanepi of Estonia advanced to the quarter-finals by overcoming Spain's Virginia Ruano Pascual 6-7 (5), 7-6 (6), 6-1.

Getting physical in the Baltics

* Reval Sport : Aia 20

This is the ideal facility for anyone who is budget conscious and seeking a regular workout. You may even get fit finding your way around this orange maze. There are several rooms at this multi-level gym - the nicest a wood trimmed dance studio.

The staff is friendly and helpful and it's a great price for the size and services offered. Massages are the most luxurious, though spacious changerooms and a large sauna add to its appeal. The women's change room is also multi-level and has comfortable chairs, hair dryers and toiletries for sale. The showers are clean and modern. Overall however, the facilities could be better organized.

There is a boxing studio, squash courts, a pool and a large weight room. You'll also find aerobics, water-aerobics, shaping, spinning, yoga and pilates classes offered.

If you'd like to diversify your workout, try a water-aerobics/spinning class. It'll be hard to find this combo anywhere else. While you're at it, sign up for Latin dancing. Cha-cha, rumba and tango classes are also available.

1 month Basic Membership - 450 Kroons (29 euros)
Students - 400 Kroons
Rating : 4.5/5

Stuudio 99 Fitness and Beauty : Uus Tatari 25/Veerenni 13

If you'd like your fitness and beauty needs met in one spot, this is the place to come. Not surprisingly, this gym is more popular among women. After a workout, you can get your hair or nails done.

The location is small but modern. There is a wood trimmed aerobics studio where pump, spinning, step and yoga classes are offered. Personal training is extra. Classes for youth are also available.

The changerooms have saunas and they're modern and clean. It's like working out in the comfort of your own home. Because it's so small you won't have difficulty finding a staff member to help you out.

It's in a basement so there is no natural lighting and the cramped quarters might not be suitable for some people. But if you like a quiet and inviting atmosphere, you'll like Stuudio 99.

http://www.stuudio99.ee

1 monthbasic membership - 650 Kroons (42 euros)
Youth - 300 Kroons
Rating : 3.5/5

Guitar legend just keeps on rolling

* Bill Wyman, that "dragging, booming bass player," was for three decades one half of the rhythm section of The Rolling Stones, surely the most frequently acclaimed "greatest rock and roll band" in the world.
Although no spring chicken, Wyman has lost none of his assured touch, and none of his love for good music, and he'll be rolling into the Baltic states with his Rhythm Kings outfit for three mustn't-miss dates.

After playing bass with the Stones for some 30 long years, Wyman arguably had the sense and the self-respect to quit with his legend intact and go on to more small scale things. After he left the Stones in 1993 he was a seriously busy man. He got married and developed his Sticky Fingers restaurant business. He also found the time to work on a variety of diverse personal projects including writing, archaeology and photography - things he had never had the time to get into in a serious way while a member of The Rolling Stones.

But Wyman couldn't put his guitar down for long and in late 1995 he began jamming at home with Terry Taylor (Tucky Buzzard), playing and singing gritty and authentic old blues numbers. They concentrated on the more serious music of artists like Fats Waller, Louis Jordan and Billie Holiday, and thought it would be worthwhile taking the sessions a ........

Construction industry growing fast in eastern Europe

* The contrast between the construction boom in eastern European members of the European Union (EU) and the comparatively flat market in richer western Europe has been made all too apparent by the latest quarterly figures from Eurostat.

The EU statistical agency showed second quarter growth in total construction, compared with Q1, as high as 10.5% in Estonia, 9.1% in Slovenia, 8.2% in Poland, 7.5% in Slovakia and 4.7% in Lithuania.

These figures compared with Britain’s 0.8% growth, Germany’s 1.9%, France’s 0.4% and Spain’s 0.5%. Only Belgium, at 5.4% showed healthy second quarter growth in western Europe.

The eastern figures are also not a flash in the pan - these countries have shown strong construction growth in most quarters over the past 18 months.

TVMK close on maiden triumph

by Margus Luik from Tallinn

The Estonian title looks destined for either FC TVMK Tallinn or FC Levadia Tallinn after both sides enjoyed four successive wins to stride eleven points clear of stuttering third-placed team FC Flora.

TVMK lead
TVMK remain favourites, lying five points above Levadia, and given their run of 15 games unbeaten, few would bet against them with just eight matches remaining. They have kept clean sheets in nine of those outings, but TVMK's biggest success has been in attack where they have registered a staggering 112 goals in 28 games, including 12 in one match against JK Dünamo Tallinn. They have already broken Flora's two-year-old seasonal scoring record.

Neemelo form
Estonia striker Tarmo Neemelo has hit 30 of that total, and is now nine off Tor Henning Hamre's Meistriliiga record. Should he reach that personal milestone, TVMK will surely claim a maiden championship, but much could rest on their 2 October trip to Levadia which is already being billed as a title decider. The in-form duo have also been paired together in the Estonian Cup quarter-finals on 9 November after TVMK defeated fourth division team FC Toompea.

In brief

TALLINN

*For years, local TV channels have kept Estonia's broadcasting freedom in check. Recently, however, there has been discussion to merge TV networks, which could limit the media's current independence.

*A Finnish business magazine stirred emotions last week when it published a prediction that Finland's Silja Line would snap under the competition and Estonia's Tallink Group would take over its routes.

* Police officers found a number of powerful bombs in the town of Loksa on the northern coast on Sept. 20. Two men believed to be connected with the lethal devices were detained in a bar. The policemen, who went to check a tip about the illegal sale of alcohol in the bar, found powerful explosive devices, firearms and ammunition on the premises.

* Recent polls conducted among opinion leaders and society show that there are contrary views of former banker Ain Hanschmidt’s suspicious deal in acquiring ownership in passenger ferry operator Tallink. Three out of four people questioned by the Baltic News Service and Faktum condemn the deal.

* Security police announced on Sept. 16 that they would not launch a criminal investigation against the Foreign Ministry over recently leaked documents that nearly led to a government crisis.

Controversial monument returned to owner

TALLINN - A regional court in western Estonia has ruled in favor of returning a controversial World War II monument removed from Lihula to its owners. The memorial, which depicted an Estonian freedom fighter in a German SS uniform, was disassembled a year ago after raising considerable consternation both at home and abroad.

The Laane Country Court has since tracked down the monument's owner, the daily Postimees reported.

After several weeks of examining evidence, judge Aita Rajavere ruled that the memorial stone must be returned to veteran Ants Teder.

The engraved plaque, however, will be handed over to the Lihula local government.

Since its removal on Sept. 2, 2004, police have kept the monument in an undisclosed location.

Although the government initially ruled that the memorial was state property, since it was erected on ...........

Politicians debate necessity of vote observers

TALLINN - A debate over whether Estonia should invite outside observers for next month's municipal elections has crept to the fore and even divided coalition partners.
The policy-making extended board of the People's Union, a mainly rural party in the ruling coalition, proposed that the Foreign Ministry and the central electoral committee invite international observers to local elections on Oct. 16, because of e-voting.

Estonia squad for Slovakia, Luxembourg World Cup ties

TALLINN - Estonia named the following squad on Tuesday for their World Cup European zone Group Three qualifiers against Slovakia in Bratislava on October 8 and Luxembourg in Luxembourg on October 12 :

Goalkeepers : Martin Kaalma (Flora Tallinn), Artur Kotenko (Levadia Tallinn), Mart Poom (Arsenal).

Defenders : Teet Kallas, Alo Barengrub (both Flora Tallinn), Enar Jaager (Torpedo Moscow), Dmitri Kruglov (Lokomotiv Moscow), Raio Piiroja (Fredikstad FK), Andrei Stepanov (Torpedo Moscow), Tihhon Shishov (Levadia Tallinn).

Midfielders: Aivar Anniste (Tammeka Tartu), Aleksandr Dmitrijev (Levadia Tallinn), Ragnar Klavan (Heracles Almelo), Liivo Leetma (KooTeePee Kotka, Finland), Joel Lindpere, Martin Reim (both Flora Tallinn), Taavi Rahn (Volyn Lutsk, Ukraine), Andrei Sidorenkov (Flora Tallinn), Maksim Smirnov (TVMK Tallinn), Sergei Terehhov (Shinnik Yaroslavl, Russia), Martin Vunk (Flora Tallinn).

Forwards: Tarmo Neemelo (TVMK Tallinn), Andres Oper (Roda JC Kerkrade), Ingemar Teever (TVMK Tallinn), Kristen Viikmae (Flora Tallinn).

Kanter – threatening Alekna’s throne

God-given talent allied to some inspired parental pushing has produced one of the world’s foremost discus throwing talents, Gerd Kanter.

It was at the age of 17 that Kanter’s father, Jaan, with his intense passion for the throwing events took his son out onto a field in his native village of Tiduvere in western Estonia and put a discus in his hand. It was to be the beginning of the road that led to an August night in Helsinki this summer where the 24-year-old Estonian was to lead the incomparable Virgilius Alekna until the nail-biting final round when the Lithuanian finally managed to shake off the upstart.

Estonia Business : Week 37, 2005

Tuesday, 13th of September, 2005

8-month turnover of Rimi Eesti over EEK 3 billion
The eight-month turnover of trade chain Rimi Eesti reached EEK 3.1 billion and turnover grew 20 percent. Turnover in August was EEK 430 million.
Äripäev

Wednesday, 14th of September, 2005

Estonia ranks on 16th among business friendly countries
According to the recent survey of the World Bank, Estonia ranks on 16th position in the chart of most business friendliest countries in the world. The survey ranks countries by how they create simple and favourable climate for business activities. The analysis covered 155 countries.
Postimees

Estonian economy is doing very well
The 10-percent growth of Estonian economy in the 2Q was expected. Analyst Tõnis Oja does not agree with those who claim that the economy of Estonia is overheated and the inflation makes it impossible for Estonia to join the eurozone in 2007. Estonia has become a tax revolutionist and proportional income tax has become more and more popular in Western countries. In international media, Estonia is praised for the flat tax revolution.
Äripäev

Friday, 16th of September, 2005

The credit rating of Eesti Energia improved again
Yesterday, the rating agency Standard & Poor’s raised the credit rating of Estonian Energy (Eesti Energia) again. The credit rating was raised from earlier negative level to stable and affirmed the rating on the level of A-. So far, this is the highest rating given to Eesti Energia by S&P.
Äripäev

Prosecutors investigate threats against Pro Patria in Narva

TALLINN – A leading daily has reported that prosecutors found that Narva police were lenient in investigating charges of threats against the nationalist Pro Patria Union.

On Aug. 26 the party's flag was pulled down from the wall of its Narva office, and a local paper included an opinion piece that included a threat to exterminate Pro Patria members.

Pro Patria, a right-wing party that is perceived as being insensitive to minorities, is widely resented in Narva, a town that is predominantly Russian. Local police refused to launch an investigation into the matter, forcing Pro Patria members to file a complaint at the Prosecutor’s Office.

Russian planes violate Estonian airspace

TALLINN – The Defense Forces’ General Staff said on Friday that the seven Russian military planes that flew to Kaliningrad had violated aviation rules and jeopardized the safety of Estonia’s civilian air defense traffic.

The Russian aircraft had applied received permission to fly within Estonia’s flight information region, yet when their transponders relaying flight information were switched off while en route to the Kaliningrad exclave, the General Staff explained.

By doing so the aircraft placed civilian aircraft in the same area in jeopardy, Defense Forces said.

The Russian aircraft consisted of an A-50 radio surveillance aircraft and six Sukhoi and MiG jets.
One of the six fighters – a Sukhoi-27 – entered Lithuanian airspace without permission and crashed.

Fatal accident halts Rally of Britain

By Alan Baldwin

LONDON (Reuters) - British co-driver Michael Park died when his Peugeot crashed on the final day of Rally of Britain on Sunday, organisers said.

The rally, 12th round of the world championship, was stopped immediately and the final two stages in South Wales were canceled.

Park, 39 from Newent in Gloucestershire, was partnering Estonian Markko Martin who was unhurt in the 15th stage accident. Radio reports said Märtin crashed into a tree on the passenger side.

"It is with deep regret that the organisers of Wales Rally GB confirm that Michael Park.. has been fatally injured," a statement said. "Next of kin have been informed."

Organisers said competitors would be returning to rally headquarters in Cardiff. There would be no champagne celebrations at the finish and the post-race news conference was canceled.

The final stage 17 would have run through the same Margam forest as the 15th.

Sex advertising to be banned ?

* The Minister of Transport Ainars Slesers wants to ban all advertising that promotes sex tourism at Riga airport. He wants the airport to develop criteria that would determine unacceptable advertisers. Slesers believes that breaking such agreements would not cause significant losses to the airport. The press secretary of the airport, Andorijs Darzins, claims that negotiations about breaking existing advertising contracts have begun. He says that the airport has received complaints from locals about this advertising. He also admitted that there are no shortage of companies wishing to advertise at the airport in their place.

And for a start, others should follow this exemple ...

Hooligans sex maniacs : After Tallinn, Kaunas ... Who is going to be next ?

* The first planes of the Irish low-fare airline Ryanair should land in Kaunas in a week's time. It is said that Lithuania will be swamped by British youth, who are big fans of cheap entertainment. Businesspeople are, of course, trying to take advantage of this situation. Some companies, which used to offer their services in Vilnius, are establishing their branches in Kaunas, as well. The heads of Kaunas hotels are planning to offer special services from the airport to hotels. Linas Ceikus, the head of the company Active Holidays, says that British people, who like cheap entertainment, are choosing Lithuania as an attractive place to celebrate wedding stag parties. He says that as soon as Ryanair launches low-fare flights from Kaunas to London, the flow of British youth will undoubtedly grow in Kaunas. Sigitas Godelis, the CEO of the hotel Takioji Neris, says that hotels of a higher class are trying to avoid such tourists. “I mean their behaviour, manners and the general level of culture,” he says. Still, Takioji Neris is planning to offer accommodation to the hedonistic British crowd. “We have agreed with the company Kautra concerning the special route “Kaunas airport-Takioji Neris”. Sigitas Sidaravicius, the director of Kaunas Tourism Information Centre, says he is surprised that none of the night clubs are still advertising themselves at Kaunas airport. He says that it is very important to make the first tourists interested in Kaunas, since the first impressions about this city will become the best advertisement or 'anti-advertisement.' Kaunas Tourism Information Centre will soon start its work at Kaunas airport. The workers of the tourism centre will provide all the necessary information about Kaunas, places of interests, bars, restaurants, etc.

Estonian Air to review fleet

* According to Eesti Paevaleht, Estonian Air is planning some radical changes in its fleet within two to four years. At present, the company owns five leased Boeing 737-500 planes. It is likely that the company will give up this plane type, as these Boeings are too small for longer flights and too big for shorter flights. Possible replacements include the 140-seater Boeings and other craft with 70-80 seats ; possible brands are ATR and Dash.

AirBaltic, Lithuanian Airlines and SAS do not use ATR and Dash planes.

Russia’s revocation of border treaty consistent with its perception of past

Estonian Central Council in Canada

Historian and ex-parliamentarian Lauri Vahtre has put Vladimir Putin’s bizarre ramblings of this spring into historical perspective. He has also reinforced the pessimistic perception of many that Estonia’s destiny has been determined by the geo political ambitions of large powers.

Vahtre reminds us of Putin’s interpretation of history: through the Brest-Litovsk Peace Treaty after WW I, Russia ceded Eastern European regions to the control of Germany. In 1939 through the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact Germany simply returned those territories to the USSR, to the “rightful owner”. Putin presented this version of the past events at a press conference in Moscow following the gala May 9th 60th anniversary celebration of the “liberation” of Europe by the Soviets in 1945.

Putin’s strange musings were recently followed by Russia’s formal withdrawal from a border agreement signed with Estonia. Reason : the Estonian parliament had the gall to remind the world that Russia had occupied and did not liberate Estonia at the end of WW II.

Vahtre says we shouldn’t be surprised. Large powers have always claimed territories outside of their own ethnically indigenous regions. When the Spanish reached Cuba before the British or Portuguese, Spain was recognized as the owner of the island. Because Russia reached the far-east before the Portuguese, Spanish or British, Russia claimed the region as its own.

It follows that small, usually underdeveloped nations are viewed as parts of a territory (as are its natural resources) without any rights. Thus the borders are to be established by agreements between the large powers. The USA got Alaska from Russia and the Philippines from Spain ; Britain appropriated Canada, Louisiana and India from the French ; Russia took Estonia, Latvia and Finland from the Swedes, etc.

The „Grey House“ – Tartu KGB Cells Museum

Peeter Bush

* Tartu is home to the KGB Cells Museum in the basement of the building formerly used by the KGB and known locally as "The Grey House". The signs for this place are so inconspicuous that I walked right past it and had to ask a taxi driver for directions. By that time I had arrived at the train station which was closed and a real dilapidated eyesore.

I thought that here had been an oil spill somewhere, given the horrible stench, but it turned out that there was a kilometre long train of tanker cars from Russia sitting on the siding. It seems that the Russians simply keep filling until the oil flows over the side of the tanker car. Perhaps this is Mr. Putin’s crude but effective way of showing his customers that they have not been cheated of full measure, ecological impact be damned. I was surprised that the city authorities would allow such a potentially devastating fire hazard right into the city centre.

Most museums in Estonia seem to be staffed by retirees that quietly sit in a corner and keep an eye on things. They are usually older women, who supplement their meagre pension income which is currently about $300 a month. They are paid the minimum wage which they told me amounted to about $300 a month net, so they manage to somehow get by on $600 a month. Even with current Estonian prices this is not a lot of money. Most of them own their apartments and many have their adult children with families living with them.