BONJOUR L'ESTONIE

Smokie, Sweet and Suzi Quatro at Saku Suurhall : December 8, 2006

Saku Suurhall presents- "Legends Of Rock" with legendary british glam- rock artists SMOKIE, SWEET and SUZI QUATRO.

Doors open at 17.00
Event starts at 19.00

Concert lenght : 4 hours

Tickets :
Ticket prices : 390 EEK- 900 EEK

Buy a ticket here !

Tickets are available at Piletilevi and Statoil all over Estonia and before the event at the doors !

Estonian economy : July 2006

....In the middle of July oil prices reached their new record influenced mainly by rising geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and Nigeria. However, for the European economy the impact of sky-high oil prices is somewhat smaller as euro strengthens against USD. The growth of Estonian export market remained strong in the 2^nd quarter.

The growth of consumer prices decreased from 4.7% in May to 4.3% in June caused by the changes in fuel and food prices. Estonian inflation exceeded the euro area inflation by 1.5 pp.realisation accelerated to 11% and 15% respectively in May caused by increased demand on domestic and external market. The yearly growth rate of retail sales in constant prices accelerated to 22% driven by increased growth rate of manufactured goods. The volume of transit declined in May compared to the same period a year ago as the transportation of crude oil and oil products decreased.

The economic growth accelerated to 11.7% in the 1^st quarter of 2006 compared to the same period a year ago, exceeding the average growth of the EU countries by 9.5 pp. The acceleration was caused mainly by the increase of domestic demand growth rate, to 13.4%. The impact of export sector for the GDP growth was again negative in the 1^st quarter.

The yearly growth rate of industrial production and realisation accelerated to 11% and 15% respectively in May caused by increased demand on domestic and external market. The yearly growth rate of retail sales in constant prices accelerated to 22% driven by increased growth rate of manufactured goods. The volume of transit declined in May compared to the same period a year ago as the transportation of crude oil and oil products decreased.

The increase of loan volumes, both by enterprises and individuals, remained significant (53.7%) in May. Prevailing part of loans are invested into real estate sector. Though interest rates are slightly increasing it is not enough to cut down thriving domestic demand. In recent months deposits have also increased significantly but their growth rate has been smaller than that of loans. As a consequence banks are borrowing additional funds from their foreign mother banks.

According to preliminary reports revenues of the state budget amounted to 6.3 billion kroons in June, i.e. 10.3% of the budgeted amount. At the same time budgeted expenditures amounted to 5.8 billion kroons, i.e. 9.4% of the budgeted amount. By the end of June the state budget surplus was 2.0 billion kroons.

Debt of the central government amounted to 2.5 billion kroons by the end of June. Compared to the same period last year the debt has decreased by 0.4 billion kroons, i.e. 14.8%.

Estonia : Work and residence permits not required any longer from to-morrow

* Estonia has not established any restrictions towards workers from other EU member states. Citizens of other member states do not need a work permit in order to work in Estonia. Beginning from 1 August 2006 residence permit will neither be required, instead an EU citizen must register his/her place of residence with the Population Register.

More information can be obtained from the Citizenship and Migration Board

Information on working conditions in Estonia can be obtained from the Labour Inspectorate

Hostels in Estonia

		Hostel		Address	Location		Availability		Price from (EUR) Dorm beds Rooms
		Academic , Hostel		Akadeemia tee 11, 12611, Tallinn	City Limits		Online Check		- 31.63		more info & book
		Alur , Hostel		Rannamae tee 3, 10412, Tallinn	Historical Center		Online Check		18 35		more info & book
		Baltic , Apartment		Uue Maailma 19-22, 10120, Tallinn	City Center		Online Check		- 38		more info & book
		City , Guesthouse		Pärnu mnt. 10, 10148, Tallinn	Historical Center		Online Check		16 26		more info & book
		Endla , Hostel		Endla 5, 90504, Haapsalu	City Center		On Request		- 25		more info & book
		Eurohostel , Hostel		Nunne 2, 10133, Tallinn	Historical Center		Online Check		18 42		more info & book
		Hiie , B&B		Hiie 10, 51006, Tartu	City Limits		On Request		16 16		more info & book
		Kalda , Holiday Farm		Tõlliste vald, 68302, Iigaste village	Suburb		On Request		8 20		more info & book
		Livonia Matkamaja , Hostel		Urve tn 5, 86305, Killingi-Nõmme	Suburb		On Request		- 26		more info & book
		Mahtra , Hostel		Mahtra 44, 13812, Tallinn	City Limits		Online Check		- 20		more info & book
		Merevaik , Hostel		Sõpruse pst 182, 13424, Tallinn	City Limits		Online Check		- 23		more info & book
		Nelijärve , Hostel		Nelijärve 4, 74501, Aegviidu	Suburb		On Request		- 32		more info & book
		Nepi , Guesthouse		Nepi 10, 11312, Tallinn	City Limits		On Request		- 34		more info & book
		Pub-Hostel Janune Kägu , Hostel		Paide tee 1, 73001, Koeru	City Center		On Request		- 15		more info & book
		Tatari , Hostel		Tatari 21B, 10116, Tallinn	City Center		Online Check		13 32		more info & book
		TTK , Hostel		Lastekodu tn. 13, 10113, Tallinn	City Center		Online Check		- 36		more info & book
		Vana Tom , Hostel		Väike-Karja 1, 10140, Tallinn	Historical Center		On Request		15 38		more info & book

http://www.balticbookings.com/eyha/info.php?ln=en

Sting : yesterday at Saku suurhall

....Eile esines Tallinnas Rocca al Mare suurhallis ligi 9000 inimesele maailmakuulus muusik Sting.

World Bank : Corruption

* The results of an extensive survey, conducted in 2005, based on interviews with tens of thousands of businesspeople throughout Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union who were asked to assess the scale of corruption, was released by World Bank (APA).

But the survey of more than 7,000 enterprises finds that corruption in post-communist countries is significantly higher than in Western Europe.

It was found out that the bribe is chiefly paid to officials. Bribe paying has improved since an earlier report in 2002.

World Bank says corruption in 26 former socialist countries has eased in recent years. The Kyrgyz Republic and Albania are among the countries where corruption is said to be getting worse. Albania is generally along most indicators the second worst after Kyrgyzstan and sometimes the worst, and is also not getting better.

World Bank showed Slovakia and Estonia as an example who did a success. But is it really the case ? They are among the transition countries that have moved to flat-rate taxation that both succeeded in tax collection and reduced tax evasion.

According to the survey, Azerbaijan has also registered no improvement in fighting corruption. Armenia is in the same position too. Russia, Serbia, and Macedonia have also registered little progress with companies there reporting that bribes are often necessary to get things done.

Sergei Yuran is to take charge of TVMK

* Former Russia striker Sergei Yuran has been appointed the new coach of Estonian champions FC TVMK Tallinn after the departure of Vyacheslav Bulavin.

Spartak start
The 37-year-old Yuran has agreed a two-and-a-half year contract and will take charge of his first game with Sunday's Meistriliiga home match against JK Maag Tartu. Yuran began his coaching career working with the reserves and youth teams at FC Spartak Moskva before taking charge of Russian first division side Dinamo Stavropol. He then moved on to ambitious Latvian team SK Ditton before the 2006 season but left at the end of May after falling out with club management.

European elimination
Yuran has spent time this week in the Estonian capital, and watched TVMK in their 3-1 defeat by leaders FC Levadia Tallinn last Sunday. "The level of Estonian football is not bad at all," he said. "I think both teams played attractive football." His predecessor Bulavin arrived at TVMK before the 2005 season and guided the club to their first title, as well as to the 2005/06 Estonian Cup. However, poor form and elimination in the UEFA Champions League first qualifying round forced TVMK to make changes.

Ilves meets with Estonian Center Party

TALLINN - MEP Toomas Hendrik Ilves, Estonian presidential candidate, answered matter-of-factly all the questions put to him at a meeting with the board of the Center Party on July 27, and also Ilves' position on the relocation of a controversial Red Army monument in Tallinn was to Centrist leaders' liking, a member of the party board said.

However, the Centrist board is not going to make a decision on whether or not to back Ilves as a common presidential candidate of five parties before Monday's meeting with the other potential candidate, Ene Ergma, Ain Seppik told BNS.
According to Seppik, board members were interested in Ilves' views on domestic and foreign policy, and also the citizenship policy, relations with neighbors, the past, and privatization problems were under discussion.

"Ilves answered (our questions) correctly and matter-of-factly," Seppik said. "Another thing we liked was that Ilves absolutely did not share Prime Minister (Andrus) Ansip's view that the monument at Tonismagi should be removed at once."
Centrist leaders have ......

Eight EU states given final warning on electronic waste

Eight E.U. countries have been given a final warning to introduce laws to deal with electronic waste or face action in the European Court of Justice, the European Commission said Monday. The eight countries are the U.K., France, Italy, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Malta and Poland.

The Commission, which is responsible for enforcing compliance with environmental legislation in the 25 state bloc, said it had sent final warnings to the eight countries, ordering them to adopt the directive on waste electrical and electronic equipment, known as the WEEE directive, into their national legislation. Otherwise, the Commission will bring the cases before the European Court of Justice, which could impose fines on the countries if they fail to comply.

Disposing of waste electrical equipment, including PCs and telecommunications devices, is one of the fastest growing waste problems in Europe. Many of the common components of such devices contain heavy metals such as mercury, lead and cadmium, and other substances that are dangerous to the health of humans and other animals and can contaminate water supplies or the air if not properly disposed of.

The share of .........

Clinton held 'vodka-drinking contest' during congressional trip to Estonia

* On a congressional delegation trip to Estonia in August of 2004, Senators Hillary Clinton (D-NY) and John McCain (R-AZ) held a "vodka-drinking contest," according to an article slated for Saturday's edition of The New York Times.

"Two summers ago, on a congressional trip to Estonia, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton astonished her traveling companions by suggesting the group do what one does in the Baltics: hold a vodka-drinking contest," reports Anne E. Kornblut for The Times.

"Delighted, the leader of the overseas delegation, Sen. John McCain, quickly agreed," Kornblut continues.

"The after-dinner game went so well — memories are a bit hazy on who drank how much — that Mr. McCain, an Arizona Republican, later told people how unexpectedly engaging he found Mrs. Clinton to be," Kornblut reports. "'One of the guys,' was the way he described Mrs. Clinton, a New York Democrat, to some Republican colleagues."

"What happens in Estonia stays in Estonia," a Clinton spokesman tells The Times.

The 2004 delegation also included Senator John Sununu (R-NH), Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) and Senator Lindsay Graham (R-SC) and was scheduled to meet with Estonia's Prime Minister Juhan Parts, Foreign Minister Kristiina Ojuland and Defence Minister Margus Hanson to "focus on the further development of bilateral relations as well as the partnership of the two countries in international organizations," according to the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Website.

Estonia to open Waffen SS soldiers memorials

* On July 29, in Estonian town of Sinimäe, Ida-Virumaa county, two new memorials to soldiers of the 20^th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS, also known as Estonian Legion, are to be opened, Postimees reports referring to the Division veterans’ union. There are already several memorials in Sinimäe of German and Soviet soldiers who were killed there in 1944.

The veterans’ union administration head Kaljo Vest said that guests are going to honor the memory of and open memorials to the fallen Dutch and Walloons who fought with the Division at World War II. The organizers are expecting 200-300 guests from Estonia and abroad to come to Sinimäe this weekend. Pastor of the Mikhkli parish Peeter Kaldur will bless the memorials, and the district elder Vaivara Veikko Luhalaid will greet the guests. “We have sent invitations to all the parliament and government members but, unfortunately, have not got a reply,” Vest said. Following the formal ceremony, the meeting attendants will see sights of the past fighting.

Vest commented that his organization plans to unite all Sinimäe memorials in one assemblage.

In Sinimäe where in 1944 combat between the Nazi and Soviet troops lasted for seven months and where, according to varying estimates, about 200, 000 German and Soviet troops were killed, there are also a memorial of the Soviet soldiers, a memorial of Estonians soldiers who fought with the 20^th Waffen SS division, and memorabilia of Waffen SS legionaries of Danish and other nationalities.

Estonia needs to raise productivity

TALLINN - To maintain rapid economic growth, Estonian businesses need to make significantly larger investments to raise productivity starting this year, Hansabank Markets said in its latest Baltic macroeconomic survey. Modernization of production and growth of productivity would ensure the competitiveness of the Estonian economy and keep the economy growing at a rate of 6 – 6.5 percent annually in the coming years, the report said.

Large investments would allow for the creation of more value-added production with a smaller number of workers, which in turn would mean a significant structural change in the economy. Such development would, in the bank’s estimate, entail inflation of 3 - 4 percent in forthcoming years.
Under a negative development scenario, investment in the economy would remain modest, as a result of which growth will slow down to 5 - 6 percent, and inflation will climb to the same level, the bank added.
Hansabank’s forecast at present is more in keeping with a positive scenario, but over the past month the likelihood of a positive scenario materializing has diminished rapidly.

Due to fast economic growth and shortage of labor, the two development scenarios could also become topical in neighboring Latvia and Lithuania in coming years, Hansabank noted.
Regarding labor shortages, the Statistical Office confirmed last week that problems are due to arise due to the shrinking pool of workers - the number of employed 15 - 64 year-olds will drop by 50,000 to 550,000 by 2015, the office said - and that people should be brought in from outside or productivity should be raised.

“Our productivity currently makes up about 50 percent of the EU average,” said Mihkel Servinski, chief analyst at the statistics office. “That doesn’t mean that Estonians don’t know how to work, it’s rather a problem of management or obsolete technologies.”

Tallinn : Green capital .....

* European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso gave his support to the idea of introducing the title of Green Capital of Europe.

The expression of support came in a letter to Tallinn Mayor Juri Ratas, who devised the proposal for a Green Capital competition to encourage cleaner cities. Barroso said the excellent initiative should encourage local governments even more to improve the environment of towns and cities and aspire toward healthier and more sustainable cities. Barroso said the proposal complemented the EU’s “Thematic Strategy on the Urban Environment.”

Ratas, a member of the Center Party, said the letter from Barroso was enormous recognition for Tallinn and all Estonia. Ratas earlier made the proposal of Green Capital of Europe, which would be awarded annually to the European city that has excelled the most in protection of the environment.

So far, 40 cities have thrown their weight behind the concept, which needs the full approval of the European Commission to come into effect.

Tallinn stinks !

TALLINN - For weeks now, mystified Tallinn residents who have drifted toward the seashore have been asking – what is that terrible smell ? 

Answer : A pungent odor has been brewing along the seafront near the war monument at Maarjamae thanks to warm weather and rotting algae. It wafts into the nostrils of passers-by as they zoom along the seafront highway toward the beach.

Do you wish to play American football in Estonia ?

I represent the recently founded and only football team in Estonia. It is the spiritual  successor of the Tallinn Dragons which played  in the Finnish league in 1995. Our aim  is also to play there and we have basically the approval from the Finnish federation  that we can do so. Thus we plan to start practicing in fall and join the league next  season in spring/summer.
As you know the game is not very popular in Estonia to say the least.
There are hardly any people who have playing experience except the former Dragon players.
Thus we are looking for anybody who's interested to join the team or help out otherwise. Especially  the local Americans who might have playing, coaching or team management experience.
Thus if you are interested in playing or coaching (any position) don't hesitate to contact us. Also if you think you can help with management (let it be equipment, communication, finding supporters or whatever) you are very much welcome.
And if you know anybody who might be interested then please forward them this letter.
Of course if you have any question, feel free to ask.
Regards
Tom Haidak
[email protected]

Ministers sign Narva bridge protocol

TALLINN- Estonia and Russia’s transport minister over the weekend signed a long-awaited cooperation protocol for the construction of a new bridge spanning the Narva River. If built, the much-needed bridge will ease border crossings at the Narva-Ivangorod junction and facilitate improved trade between the two countries.

Economy Minister Edgar Savisaar and Russian Transport Minister Igor Levitin decided to review matters related to the location of the new road bridge and border checkpoints, with the corresponding decisions to be made based on viability and environmental studies.

Construction of the bridge and enlargement of the border checkpoint will cost approximately 1 billion kroons (64 million euros).
A timetable will be hammered out by a working group made up of representatives from both countries. The construction of the bridge would be financed by Estonia, Russia and the EU.
“There is no common stance as regards the location of the bridge at this point,” Levitin said at a news conference. He explained that while the Russian side was suggesting a southern location, the Estonians wanted the bridge to be built further to the north.
“Each of the sides wishes that the location would be the most favorable for the development of the border region, yet we agreed that we’ll take into account the interests of transit in deciding about the location,” Levitin said.

Savisaar said the Estonian and Russian ministries had .........

Estonia : first female head of state !

* TALLINN - Estonia faces the prospect of electing its first female head of state after MP Ene Ergma was selected as one of two candidates in the presidential race slated to take place at the end of August. Toomas Hendrik Ilves, the widely respected representative to the European Parliament and former foreign minister, was selected as the other candidate on a shortlist prepared by a roundtable of the nation’s major parties.

Last week the parties announced that the list of four names had been culled to two, as businessman Jaan Manitski and Tartu University Rector Jaak Aaviksoo were dropped.
Still, political analysts believe neither candidate will become president and that incumbent Arnold Ruutel will likely gain a second term through the electoral college after Parliament fails to muster the required number of votes for either candidate. The president has already announced that he would not participate in the parliamentary round of elections.

Indeed, the Center Party, one of the groups negotiating the shortlist for a parliamentary ballot, has begun separate negotiations with Rüütel’s People’s Union, the only party that has openly declared its support for Ruutel. Both the Centrists and the People’s Union have enough seats to prevent either Ergma or Ilves from getting elected in the Riigikogu (Estonia’s parliament).
Be that as it ........

AvtoVAZ seeks a replacement for the French

* The management of Russia's leading automotive concern AvtoVAZ has decided the Russian car market must stay Russian and refused to sell a blocking stake in their plant to Renault. Experts told the paper this had put an end to a joint venture with the French concern. Instead AvtoVAZ is planning a new C-class car platform with Porsche Engineering Group.

"AvtoVAZ will not sell its shares to France's Renault," Vladimir Artyakov, AvtoVAZ chairman, said on Friday. "We have looked at the situation [with Renault] purely from an engineering point of view," he said. "AvtoVAZ was only interested in the joint development with the French of a new platform, and it is now being negotiated," an AvtoVAZ top manager explained Artyakov's words.

Negotiations between AvtoVAZ and Renault were initiated by former AvtoVAZ head Vladimir Kadannikov. After they took over at the plant in December, Rosoboronexport managers resumed them in spring. In June, Artyakov visited Paris to talk with Renault Nissan president Carlos Ghosn. Renault offered to buy no fewer than 25% of Russian shares, promising to set up a joint venture to assemble 450,000 cars a year based on its cheapest model, the Logan.

Experts said the offer was highly attractive for AvtoVAZ. Deutsche UFG, in a special report, highlighted the benefits such as access to modern technologies and "advanced Western management experience." But selling a blocking stake would have meant giving up control of the Russian car market to foreigners, Igor Yesipovsky, AvtoVAZ director-general, told Vedomosti. He said AvtoVAZ had better offers than the Logan.

Another source close to AvtoVAZ said the management was not pleased either with Renault's bid to purchase the shares at market price. On Friday, the plant's RTS capitalization stood at $1.7 billion, and the AvtoVAZ and Rosoboronexport managements thought it was underestimated.

AvtoVAZ is not fixated on Renault, however. In spring the plant had talks with PSA Peugeot Citroen, and is now thrashing out a deal with Porsche Engineering Group (PEG) to develop a new C-class car platform and a matched engine, a source in the AvtoVAZ management told the paper.

PEG had a hand in developing the VAZ Model 8. Porsche is also expected to undertake the engineering of further models, another top manager of the auto concern added. Besides, Rosoboronexport chief Sergei Chemezov prefers the option of cooperation with Porsche, the Rosoboronexport top manager told Vedomosti. Porsche would not comment on its client relations, a company spokesman said. Renault likewise declined to comment on Artyakov's and Yesipovsky's statements.

But experts told the paper they were certain that the French deal was off. The purchase of shares would have guaranteed Renault a role in putting together an AvtoVAZ strategy and pricing policy, said Aton analyst Tatyana Kapustina.

Sergei Alekseichuk, an independent car market expert, said that the Logan was a direct rival for Lada models and the French should take the view that it would be pointless helping a competitor free of charge and sharing technologies with it.

Kapustina said ideology was behind the refusal to sell : AvtoVAZ managers are hugging the idea of a national car. This, she says, is a mistake, because it is always better to buy a ready-made model than spend good money on development. A spokesman for one of the auto groups estimates that every model developed from scratch with Porsche will cost AvtoVAZ minimum $300 million.

Vremya Novostei

Eesti Polevkivi head dies in car accident

* Mati Jostov, the CEO of Eesti Polevkivi (Estonian Oil Shale) died in a car accident in the early hours of July 25 on the Johvi-Tartu road.

Jostov, 47, was driving a four-wheel-drive vehicle, when he suddenly veered off the road, where he was thrown out of his car and died on the spot, according to a spokesperson for Jogeva County police.

The spokesperson said the police believe Jostov either fell asleep behind the wheel or had a health problem which prevented him from properly handling the vehicle.

“There was no other traffic on the road at the time of the accident which could have disturbed the driver and caused the car to veer off,” the spokesperson said. “Nor is there evidence that he collided with an animal.”

His seat belt was not fastened and he was in the car alone. A spokesman for the company told BNS that Jostov had finished a one-month vacation and was on his way back to work.

Jostov was a forestry graduate from the Estonian Academy of Agriculture. Before becoming CEO of Eesti Polevkivi in 1999, he had worked at several banks and at the national power company Eesti Energia.

A one-time politician, Jostov joined the Center Party in 2002, ran for parliament in 2003 but gave up a seat he had won. He quit the party in fall 2003. Jostov is survived by a wife and three children.

Callaway, Von Essen and Vincent set for Lloyd Webber concert in Estonia

* Performers from Broadway, Germany, London, Norway, Hong Kong and Estonia will take part in a concert titled The Very Best of Andrew Lloyd Webber.

The one-night-only event will be held in Estoria July 29 at The Tallinn Song Festival Grounds. Those scheduled to appear include Broadway stars Liz Callaway, Max von Essen and Tony Vincent as well as Maarja-Liis Ilus (Estonia), Aivar Tommingas (Estonia), Carolin Fortenbacher (Germany), Helen Hobson (London), Marsha Yuan (Hong Kong) and Stephen Hansen (Norway). Show time is 8:00 pm.

Andrew Lloyd Webber is the award-winning composer of Cats, Evita, The Phantom of the Opera, Sunset Boulevard, Jesus Christ Superstar, By Jeeves, Whistle Down the Wind, The Beautiful Game and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. His newest musical, The Woman in White, played Broadway last season.

For more information visit The Really Useful Company website at www.reallyuseful.com