BONJOUR L'ESTONIE

Warm water all year long

By Marge Tubalkain-Trell

TALLINN - When a friend of mine kindly pointed to my pale and sickly complexion, I decided to go to Tervise Paradiis, a spa and water park in Pärnu, to try to get that healthy glow that the season always promises but sometimes can’t provide.

The resort is located close to the sea, and I can imagine how great the views from the hotel rooms are. Tickets to the water park and its many attractions are valid for three hours or a whole day.
The first stop was the dressing room, which I was relieved to find was separate for men and women — when I visited the pool at another spa, in Pirita, the co-ed dressing room had been something of a surprise. In the washing room are a sauna and a cold pool.

Impatient to get to the main event, I didn’t spend much time in the sauna. And finally, there I stood in among the chutes — tubular water slides — and the various other pools and opportunities to relax, all waiting for me.
First I tried the children’s chute, the shortest one. Quite good, but not comparable to the cascade, which came next. It was similar to a chute, but the water flows much faster and there were ups and downs, which the chute lacked. We all grabbed each other and started our trip down. I got stuck and had a hard time getting out of there, but it was fun.

Top executives of Rescue Service suspected of receiving bribes

Toomas Hõbemägi

Two executives of the West Estonian Rescue Centre are suspected of having received a bribe from a contract partner.

Äripäev writes that Jaanus Teearu and Marek Kukk have been indicted and court hearings in the bribery charges will begin in October.

Both are suspected of having masterminded a scheme where Tafrix that won a lucrative contract to build a new depot building for the Pärnu Rescue Centre also built for them two homes in the Meremetsa housing estate near Pärnu.

At the time of contracting Tafrix, Teearu was head of the Pärnu County Rescue Service and Kukk was his deputy.

Tafrix that won the EEK 7 million construction tender in 2005 belongs to Taavi Jaaniste who is a classmate and long-time friend of Teearu.

According to the security police, simultaneously with building the new depot Tafrix made construction works at the private homes of Teearu and Kukk. Among others, Tafrix acquired construction materials at a discount and made construction works in the amount of EEK 368,491 at the private home of Teearu. Some of the costs made at Teearu’s home were accounted as costs made at the construction of the depot.

Although Teearu said he paid EEK 312,281 in cash to Tafrix for the construction materials and works, he did not pay VAT.

Taavi Jaaniste did not wish to comment the bribery accusation.

Balance sheet total of BIG Group reached 132.3 million lats in II quarter of 2008

Nina Kolyako - Riga

By the end of the 2nd quarter of 2008 the balance sheet total of Balti Investeeringute Grupi Pank AS (BIG), the parent company of Latvian consumer loans provider AS Baltijas Izaugsmes Grupa, reached 132.3 million lats (2 699.5 million Estonian kroons), thus exceeding the balance sheet total as of the beginning of the year by 3.9 million lats (79.4 million Estonian kroons), informs BC AS BIG Chairman of the Board Juris Puce.

There have not been any significant changes in the structure of assets ; receivables from customers form the majority of the total assets (82%). The growth of loan portfolio in the 2nd quarter was modest as planned, which is associated with the changes occurred in the macro environment and conservative loan policy and also liquidity management. As of the end of the period the number of loan contracts amounted to 128 000 (122 000 as of the end of the 1st half year). In terms of percentage the loan portfolio has increased the most in Lithuania, during the 1st quarter increase was 109%, i.e. 3.3 million lats (67.6 million Estonian kroons). In Estonia and Latvia the granting of loans and loan repayments are at the same level, thus the loan portfolio has not increased in these markets.

As of the end of the quarter the volume of monetary instruments amounted to 19.7 million lats (401.7 million Estonian kroons), forming 14.9% of the balance sheet total.

In Q2 2008 total liabilities decreased by 6.9 million lats (142.1 million Estonian kroons), whereas term deposits increased by 10 million lats (205.1 million Estonian kroons), bank loans decreased by 8.8 million lats (180.3 million Estonian kroons) and issued bonds decreased by 8.6 million lats (176.4 million Estonian kroons).

Estonian president congratulates China on success of Beijing Olympics

Estonian President Toomas Hendrik Ilves yesterday congratulated China on the complete success of the Beijing Olympic Games when he met with China's new ambassador to his country.

During his meeting with Chinese Ambassador Huang Zhongpo, Ilves also congratulated China for winning 51 gold medals to top the gold medal tally. The president wished China a success in hosting the Sept. 6-17 Paralympic Games.

Ilves hailed the steady development of ties between Estonia and China in recent years, describing China as Estonia's good friend and good partner.

Estonia attaches great importance to its friendly and cooperative relations with China, hoping to enhance exchanges and bilateral cooperation in all fields, he said.
He reiterated that the Estonian government adheres to one-China policy.

The new Chinese ambassador presented his credentials to President Ilves on the same day.

Xinhua 

Number of high-earners in Estonia grows by half

Toomas Hõbemägi

While a year ago 548 people in Estonia earned more than EEK 100,000 a month in wages, their number has gone up to 764 by now.

Postimees writes that, according to on the data on employers’ labour costs, the number of people who earn more than EEK 20,000 a month is up 40 pct in a year to 96,623 people.

The number of people earning between EEK 10,000 and EEK 20,000 a year increased 12 pct in a year to 207,623 people and the number of Estonians earning between EEK 6,600 and EEK 10,000 a month fell 5 pct.

There was a significant fall also in the number of people who earn up to EEK 6,600 a month.

According to Statistics Estonia, wages increased rapidly in recent years for several reasons including the booming economy and the fact that many Estonians were working abroad as construction workers or medical doctors and pushed up wages also back home.

Statistics Estonia reported yesterday that average wages reached EEK 13,306 in the second quarter. This is 15.2 pct higher than a year earlier. Real growth in gross wages was only 3.4 pct.

Cinamon opens first multiplex cinema in Estonia

Toomas Hõbemägi

Cinema operator Cinamon this week opened its first multiplex cinema in Tartu with five cinema halls.

Postimees writes that the cinema complex located in the new Tasku Shopping and Entertainment Centre is the most modern multiplex cinema in the Baltics.

Its five cinema halls will have a total of 700 seats, with the largest cinema hall accommodating a total of 318 movie fans.

“The concept of Cinamon is to always offer the best which is why our new cinema centre is the most modern in the whole Baltic states,” explained Arpad Abonyi, Chairman of the Management Board of Cinamon Group, adding that the company invested a total of EEK 30 million in the new Cinamon.

Chairman of the Supervisory Board, Peeter Rebane, says that the opening in Tartu marks the beginning of a new era in the Estonian cinema market since there is now a real competitor by quality and prices to the Tallinn multiplex cinema. “We will be opening next year in Tallinn and there will be a real choice after years of monopoly,” said Rebane, promising competition to Coca-Cola Plaza.

In addition to Tartu, Cinamon has two multiplex cinemas in Kaunas and Klaipeda in Lithuania. Within the next year the company will open two more multiplex cinemas in Latvia’s capital Riga and in new culture and entertainment centre Solaris in Tallinn.

Estonia helps to develop e-country in Palestine

Sandra Taimre
sandra.taimre @ aripaev.ee

Palestinian Minister of Interior Abdel Razzak Al-Yahia asked Estonia this spring to help to develop e-country and e-government of the Middle East autonomous area.

Initially, Estonia helps with a five-day training but later the help may include conception and development plan, Eesti Päevaleht writes.

According to Arvo Ott, the executive director of eGovernance Academy, Palestinians aren’t the first ones to ask Estonia’s help. eGovernance Academy has been operating for a longer time already in Serbia, Macedonia, Albania, Kyrgyzstan, Armenia, Georgia and Moldova.

Cutting agricultural subsidies will increase food prices in Estonia

Juhan Tere

The People’s Union party estimates that the idea of the Reform Party to cut back direct subsidies on agriculture will mean a setback on rural life and will also be a direct blow on the consumers’ wallets, writes Äripäev Online/LETA.

The opposition party issued a statement, noting that the Reform Party’s proposal demonstrates their economic ignorance, lack of respect towards agricultural enterprises and their attitude towards development in the rural areas. The Reform Party seems to forget that direct subsidies are mostly consumer subsidies and cutting them would sooner or later mean a significant price growth for consumers, read the statement.

“Just as elsewhere in Europe, 90 per cent of farmers in Estonia will also not be able to make ends meet without direct subsidies paid in the framework of the European Common Agricultural Policy,” said the chairman of the party Jaanus Marrandi.

He noted that the area subsidies paid in Estonia per hectare are already 2-3 times smaller than those paid in the old European Union Member States and paying approximately a total of 750 million kroons of promised additional direct subsidies is crucial for rural entrepreneurs to remain competitive.

Sports clubs springing up in Tallinn like mushrooms after rain

Sandra Taimre
sandra.taimre @ aripaev.ee

The nature doesn’t tolerate an empty spot : the same applies to the sports clubs sector where one closes its doors and another opens up. Two sports clubs will open their doors in Tallinn in October.

Olympic bronze Indrek Pertelson's lifestyle club Arigato was forced to end business due difficulties in tax payments. But now the serious sports fans have reason to be happy : two sports clubs, Sparta and Ritual, will open their doors in October.

Sports club owner Lynn Grupp chairman of the supervisory board, Urmas Somler, said that since Estonians are tree times less active than the Scandinavians, they don’t worry about the competition on the market.

Together with Sparta, Ritual will begin operating in Tondi district. However, while Sparta charges EEK 690 a month for using the club, then in Ritual the monthly ticket costs EEK 1,200.

Security Police arrested Narva City Council member

On Thursday the Security Police detained Aleksandr Moissejev, a member of the Narva City Council, who is suspected of giving a bribe, writes EPL Online/LETA.

According to prosecutor Antti Aitsen who is in charge of special cases, the man who was born in 1968 is suspected of giving a bribe. The prosecutor will decide by Friday at the latest whether to request for a permission from the court to detain Moissejev for the duration of pre-trial investigation.

“On the basis of the materials of the criminal case collected thus far, the objective of the bribe was to affect the division of financial crimes of the Eastern Circuit Police Prefecture to make a positive decision towards the person giving a bribe in a criminal case that is being processed by them,” stated the press release by the prosecutor’s office.

Aleksandr Moissejev is a member of the Narva City Council and of the Reform Party. Earlier a number of media outlets have stated that Moissejev is the so-called grey cardinal in the Narva City Government. He is a member of the supervisory board of the Narva waste management enterprise AS Heakorrastus and in the municipal enterprise AS Narva Vesi.

An unknown country

The southern regions of Estonia, home to the Setu, are often neglected but nevertheless worth visiting.

By Sergey Chernov

Estonia is a popular tourist destination, but its southern area has only recently opened up for tourism and still remains an unknown territory for many.

The southern regions, with Tartu as the main city, are mostly rural, noted for their rich and largely untouched nature, with lakes small and large, hills, meadows and woods.

One of the most intriguing attractions is Setumaa, Estonia’s unique historical and ethnic region, located in the Baltic country’s far southeastern corner, where a people named the Setu live.

Bordering with Russia, Setumaa is a mix of traditional Estonian and Russian cultures.

It is populated by native Setus, who speak their own dialect. Some claim, that it is a fully-fledged language in its own right, though it does borrow heavily from Russian. Setumaa is a divided territory, with a large part of it, including the largest town of Petseri (Pechory in Russian), remaining in Russia when Estonia gained its independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. This is in spite of the fact that during Estonia’s first period of independence in 1918-1940, the whole of Setumaa belonged to Estonia.

The Estonian National Opera starts its 103rd season

The new season of the Estonian National Opera is definitely going to delight and rejoice the visitors with its diverse repertoire and new productions. The 103rd season will get under way on Friday, August 29, with the multiple award winning opera "Wallenberg" by Erkki-Sven Tüür.

On Sunday, September 7, at 12.00-15.00, we are glad to invite everybody to the traditional Market Day where, in addition to favourable prices, one can enjoy the performances of the singers, dancers, chorus and orchestra of the Estonian National Opera. The lively event is conducted by Arvo Volmer, Eri Klas, Jüri Alperten, Mihhail Gerts and Erki Pehk.

The Winter Garden of the Estonian National Opera will embark on the new season with "Tango Ballet" by D.Hartchenko, set to the music of A. Piazzolla and featuring the dancers Helen Org-Veidebaum and Dmitri Hartchenko, and musicians Tiit Peterson on the guitar and Allan Jakobi on the accordion.

On Sunday, September 14 at 16.00, the White Hall of the Estonian National Opera will start a series of afternoon concerts with the first concert "Gems of Opera" where the tenor Juhan Tralla and the Russian soprano Irina Dubrovskaya will perform beloved opera arias and duets. Tarmo Eespere will accompany them on the piano.

On October 1, the Estonian National Opera will celebrate International Music Day with a spectacular opera gala where, along with the soloists of the Estonian National Opera, Annely Peebo, Aile Asszonyi, Juhan Tralla and Kristjan Mõisnik, the chorus and symphony orchestra of the Estonian National Opera will perform the best fragments of beloved operas.

A. Le Coq Premium is the best-selling beer in Estonia

Juhan Tere

According to survey company AC Nielsen, A.Le Coq’s Premium became the best-selling beer brand in retail trade in Estonia, writes EPL Online.

By the end of July 2008, Premium exceeded market share of Saku Originaal, the beer brand that had the leading position in retail trade last year, by 28%.

Director of A. Le Coq Tarmo Noop stated that the results were very pleasing as making Premium the best-selling beer brand was one of the principal objectives for the enterprise. “I remember well the words said three years ago where we promised to make Premium into the best-selling beer brand in Estonia. By today we have achieved this objective,” said Noop.

According to the results from the end of July, Premium’s market share has grown by 17% in a year, thus achieving a certain leading position and getting a market share of 14.8% on the retail beer market.

In the year 2007 18.3 million litres of A. Le Coq Premium were sold.

Bird tourism could be developed in Estonia

Sandra Taimre
sandra.taimre @ aripaev.ee

Marika Mann, CEO of the travel agency Estonian Nature Tours specialized on bird watch and -study travels, said that bird tourism could be developed in Estonia more.

Estonian tourism developers are still too pessimistic about the opportunities and conservationists are too worried about the negative affect to the nature, Mann told Lääne Elu.

“Estonia has a lot to offer. There are many bird species in Estonia that don’t exist in Europe anymore or never have,” Mann said.

Soon the other countries will discover Estonia’s opportunities and the locals are just being ran over, she added.

City of Tallinn refuses to pay Ühisteenused EEK 10 mln in damages

Toomas Hõbemägi

Tallinn City Government has decided not to pay private company Ühisteenused EEK 10 mln in damages.

Postimees writes that Ühisteenused submitted its claim to the City after the latter decided to terminate the contract under which Ühisteenused checked tickets in public transport.

The City’s lawyers found that the termination of contract was force majeure and that the city government was not responsible.

The City terminated the contract after the Supreme Court ruled that the state or municipal authorities cannot delegate to private persons their right to issue fines.

Ühisteenused claims that it has suffered about EEK 15 mln in damages because of the termination, but agreed to lower its claim to EEK 10.5 mln.

Q Vara blames nosy investors

Sandra Taimre
sandra.taimre @ aripaev.ee

Estonian real estate and contruction group Q Vara, which loss totalled over EEK 20 mln in the first half-year, blames nosy investors in payment diffculties.

As a result of the delayed capital raising transaction for the development of Terminal No. 11 project, a subsidiary of Q Vara, OÜ Q Ehitus experienced some payment delays to the Tax Board and suppliers in the second quarter of 2008, the company announced on Tallinn Stock Exchange.

Namely, the management of Q Vara estimated that the negotiations would be finished in spring, and proceeding from this prognosis, the development activities of Terminal No. 11 were continued. Due to a very thorough analysis by the investors, the final investment was not made by the time several payments were due that caused payment delays, which could not have been eliminated immediately from other cash flows.

For Q Vara disappointment the potential investors began searching through the details of Teminal No. 11. The tranascation announced in spring with HIH Global Invest GmbH isn't carried out until today. Q Vara hopes the transaction will be finished in August-September. Q Vara Group's consolidated net loss of the first half of 2008 was EEK 20.278 mln. A year ago the profit totalled EEK 36.961 mln. Q Vara turnover fell from EEK 133.7 mln to EEK 42.4 mln.

What can be bought on Tallinn real estate market after boom for EEK 1 mln ?

Sandra Taimre
sandra.taimre @ aripaev.ee

One and a half years ago it was difficult to find a suitable housing for a family for up to EEK 1 mln. Only 1-2 room apartments in good condition in suburbs were available, postimees.ee writes.

City24 offers over 100 2-bedroom apartments that cost up to EEK 1 mln and the prices begin from EEK 650,000. A 1-bedroom apartment for EEK 1 mln can be found even in the city centre.

However, a house cannot be bought for EEK 1 mln in Tallinn but about 50 km from the city, such transaction is possible.

Rautakesko opens the eighth K-rauta in Estonia in Kuressaare

AS Rautakesko, the largest building and home improvement supplies retailer in Estonia, opened the country's eighth K-rauta in Kuressaare today. The Kuressaare store provided 35 new jobs to the town which were filled with inhabitants of the region. The store received over 300 job applications.

RAUTAKESKO LTD PRESS RELEASE 28.08.2008 AT 10.00 1(1)

AS Rautakesko, the largest building and home improvement supplies retailer in Estonia, opened the country's eighth K-rauta in Kuressaare today. The Kuressaare store provided 35 new jobs to the town which were filled with inhabitants of the region. The store received over 300 job applications.

The total area of the store, located in the Auriga centre, is 4,875 m², of which 3,050 m² are indoors while the rest 1,825 m² form a covered outdoor sales area for building materials. The selection consists of nearly 22,000 different building, interior decoration and gardening products.

According to Alo Ivask, Managing Director of Rautakesko AS, the new store will further strengthen the position of K-rauta as the leading retailer of building and home improvement supplies in Estonia.

"We want to be the number one alternative for Saaremaa people, for consumers and business customers alike," says Ivask.

The Prime Minister met with the European Union Commissioner for Consumer Protection

Tallinn – Today, Prime Minister Andrus Ansip met with the EU Commissioner for Consumer Protection, Meglena Kuneva, at Stenbock House.

Commissioner Kuneva is on a study visit to Estonia, to provide an overview of the consumer protection policy of the European Union and get acquainted with the local situation.

Kuneva acknowledged the economic course of Estonia, at the same time stressing the constant need to explain consumers their rights.

“We have a lot of common work to do in this area,” said Kuneva. She added that she is certain of the Estonian Prime Minister’s support.

Andrus Ansip agreed that more attention should be paid to increasing the awareness of consumers so that they would know their rights and be better informed of potential dangers.

“A high level of consumer protection is an important means in the successful operation of the domestic market,” Ansip stressed.

In March 2007, the EU Consumer Policy Strategy 2007-2013 was approved. The main objectives of this are the increase of the influence and wellbeing of consumers and the improvement of the protection of consumers against risks and dangers. The European Commission has launched a new consumer markets surveillance process. The results of this will be a basis for better legal regulation and policy shaping.

“Estonia is interested in simplifying the existing European consumer rights and a greater harmonisation to make the current judicial area clearer and more efficient, which will increase the assurance of both consumers and entrepreneurs,” said the Prime Minister.

In addition to consumer protection issues, Commissioner Meglena Kuneva and Prime Minister Andrus Ansip also discussed the developments related to Georgia and the relations of the European Union and Russia.

The photos of the meeting held today by the Commissioner for Consumer Protection Meglena Kuneva and Prime Minister Andrus Ansip are available at http://www.valitsus.ee/?id=8443

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Valitsuse kommunikatsioonibüroo briifinguruum
http://www.valitsus.ee/brf/
[email protected]

Emil Lenz - One science is not enough

Kizilova Anna

Emil Chistoforovich Lenz, whose fundamental contribution to electrodynamics and Russian geography, was born on February 24, 1804 in the town of Dorpat (which is now Estonian Tartu, and long ago the town belonged to ancient Rus’ and was called Yuriev).

In 1820 Emil Lenz graduated from the gymnasium and entered the University of Dorpat. Lenz’s independent scientific activity started in 1823, when he joined a round-the-world expedition on the “Predpriyatie” sloop as a physicist, recommended by university professors. Fast thought of young scientists resulted in development of unique equipment for deep oceanographic observations – a depth indicator hoist and water sampler. During the trip Lenz performed oceanographic, meteorological and geophysical observations in Atlantic, Indian and Pacific oceans. In 1827 the scientist summarized his data and reported them to the Academy of Sciences in 1828. This enormous work brought him a title of associate professor of Academy of Sciences. In 1829 and 1830 Emil Lenz perform geophysical research in Russian south – the scientists took part in the first ever climb of Mount Elbrus and measured its height by means of barometric method. Later Lenz used the same technique for discovering that Caspian sea level was lower than Black sea level. Same year the researcher performed gravitational and magnetic measurements and, after returning to Saint Petersburg, reported the results in 1832 and 1836.