Estonian Review

Estonian Review
E E S T I R I N G V A A D E VOLUME 18 NO 42 OCT 29 - NOV 4, 2008
ESTONIA JOINS VISA WAIVER PROGRAMME
President Toomas Hendrik Ilves with United States Secretary
of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff, 29 October
Visa Freedom with USA Demonstrates Mutual Trust
and Desire to Create Safer and More Secure World
29 October - President Toomas Hendrik Ilves gave a formal
dinner for US Secretary for Homeland Security Michael
Chertoff, who arrived in Tallinn in connection with Estonia
joining the United States Visa Waiver Programme as of 17
November.
In addition to Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, the Czech
Republic, Slovakia, and South Korea will also join the US Visa Waiver
Programme, which is intended for tourists and short-term business
trips, on 17 November.
"Estonia joining the Visa Waiver Programme confirms
Estonia’s ability to act, along with the United States and all our
partners, on behalf of increasing the security of international travel
and, of course, this demonstrates our mutual trust," President Ilves
said.
The Estonian head of state recalled the so-called Tallinn
declaration by US President George W. Bush in November 2006 as
strong support for Estonia joining the Visa Waiver Programme. Last
year President Ilves met with President Bush and Speaker of the
House Nancy Pelosi in Washington, and discussions were held on the
opportunity for Estonian citizens to travel to the United States
without visas.
Continued page 2
FOREIGN NEWS
Close Co-operation Between EU and
USA is Cornerstone of European
Security
3 November - Foreign Minister Urmas
Paet participated in the informal
Gymnich meeting of European Union
foreign ministers in Marseille, France.
The foreign policy leaders discussed the
future of relations between the European
Union and the United States of America. The
foreign ministers emphasised the Middle East
peace process, international security,
Afghanistan and Pakistan, and the EU’s
relations with Russia as important areas for
co-operation.
In talking about relations with Russia,
Foreign Minister Paet noted that the EU and
USA together must find an effective way to
develop a unified policy towards Russia.
“During the Georgia conflict we were able to
speak to Russia with one voice, and we
should continue to do so,” said Foreign
Minister Paet. “Continuing close co-operation
between the European Union and the USA
will be important also after the presidential
election in America,” he noted, and added
that the EU, in co-operation with the USA,
must demand that Russia adhere to
international rights principles.
Within the context of transatlantic
relations, the situations in Afghanistan and
Pakistan were also discussed. Foreign
Minister Paet stated that effective EU-USA
co-operation is necessary to control the
security situation in Afghanistan, especially
on its border with Pakistan. “The stability of
Afghanistan’s and Pakistan’s borders and the
security situation there are closely tied.
Because of this, the operations of those
nations as well as the European Union and
United States must be unified,” said Foreign
Minister Paet. “However, the solution to the
Afghanistan issue is not only military. It is
also necessary to continue building up the
nation and battling corruption,” he added.
The EU foreign ministers also discussed
international security. The Estonian foreign
minister asserted that close and effective
partnership between the European Union and
the United States is the cornerstone of global
security. “In the interest of global security,
we also must make multilateral co-operation
more effective, such as in NATO,” said Paet.
The ministers noted that it is necessary to
improve the UN’s conflict regulation and
resolution capabilities for the sake of the
safety of the international community.

US Visa Waiver Programme
(continued from page 1)
"At that time, we spoke about the Visa Waiver
Programme as something in the future, but as
something that was self-evidently necessary
situation between two strong allies," President Ilves
said. "I am glad that now—after mutual thorough
consultations and the resolution of technical issues—
we have arrived this far."
President Ilves acknowledged the effective cooperation
in the fields of the interior and justice of
the two countries as well as between diplomats that
preceded Estonia joining the United States Visa
Waiver Programme.
"The negotiations and the concluded agreements
regarding the exchange of information necessary for
the prevention of serious crime only serve one
objective, which is a safer and more secure world for
our people," the Estonian head of state said.
President Ilves invoked a broader view of safety
and security than usual and focused on the topic of
cyber security. According to President Ilves, the
amendment of international law and domestic
legislation is important for guaranteeing cyber
security, into order to make it possible to pursue
cyber criminals and hold them accountable. In
addition, the owners of information systems must
understand their responsibility for the rational
utilization of these systems, the Estonian Head of
State said. One must also not forget that
international steps to guarantee cyber security must
not hinder the opportunity for the unrestricted use
of information technology.
In Estonia, the Visa Waiver Programme will apply
to Estonian citizens who must have a biometric
passport for travel to the United States; an
electronic application must also be filled out at least
48 hours before the trip, which will ascertain within
a few minutes whether the person is welcome in the
USA or not.
Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff
also met with Foreign Minister Urmas Paet, who
stated that the USA is demonstrating great trust in
the Estonian nation and its citizens with its decision.
However, Foreign Minister Paet also made it clear at
the meeting that Estonia thinks it is important that
the USA Visa Waiver Programme be expanded to
include all European Union nations.
Georgia Must Focus on the Future
3 November - President Toomas Hendrik Ilves
met with Georgian Head of State Mikheil
Saakashvili in Riga. Both heads of state were
participating in the third Riga Conference on foreign
and security policy.
“Georgia and its friends must focus most
emphatically on the future, and only on the future—
this implies self-confidence, democracy and the
intensification of democracy, a market economy,
and the consolidation of society,” President Ilves
said.
The Estonian head of state affirmed support for
the continuation of Georgia’s NATO-directed
reforms.
“The consistency and decisiveness of the efforts
made in this regard has been a powerful engine for
the reform policies of all the countries that have
aspired to accession to NATO, which does not let
governments deviate from the course of democratic
reforms and prevents them from running aground,”
President Ilves said.
Speaking about the situation in Abkhazia and
South Ossetia, the Estonian head of state considered
it important that all the points of the 12 August and
8 September peace plans of French President
Sarkozy be fulfilled.
“I hope that the European Union observers, who
are doing a very good job in the region, will soon
also get access to South Ossetia and Abkhazia,”
President Ilves said.
President Ilves Congratulates Barack
Obama
5 November - President Toomas Hendrik Ilves
sent congratulations on behalf of himself and
the people of Estonia to Barack Obama on
being elected as the new president of the
United States of America.
"I look forward to further strengthening our two
countries' already strong bilateral relations in the
challenging years ahead of us and greatly
appreciate, along with all Estonians, the support you
offered us during the presidential debates,"
President Ilves wrote.
"You can count on me and the government of
Estonia to be a trustworthy partner in reinforcing
relations between the European Union and the
United States," he added. "As NATO allies, we look
forward to your Presidency to work together to
make the trans-atlantic bond even stronger."
According to President Ilves, Estonia is deeply
grateful to the United States for its role in defending
and furthering the cause of freedom and democracy
in the world.
"I am convinced that under your leadership as
president, we, Europe and the United States, can
tackle and resolve the economic and security
challenges of our time."
Estonian and Latvian Presidents Met in
Riga
3 November - President Toomas Hendrik Ilves,
who was attending the third Riga Conference
on foreign and security policy, met with
Latvian Head of State Valdis Zatlers.
Presidents Ilves and Zatlers focused on the global
financial crisis and its possible impact on the
economy of Europe and, more specifically, the Baltic
countries. “In order to cope in the current
complicated situation, countries must definitely have
financial reserves and a realistic budgetary policy,”
President Ilves stressed.
Heads of State Ilves and Zatlers considered cooperation
and the exchange of information between
countries to be important, and this especially
between neighbours, which are inevitably affected
by each other’s developments.
“Regardless of the challenges in the near future,
we must have the wisdom to direct our gaze beyond
today and see the greater goal and challenge of
joining the euro zone,” President Ilves said. “If we
accept this challenge, all subsequent decisions must
be seen through this prism.”
Adopting the euro has been the third important
factor in defining the security of the Baltic countries

after accession to NATO and the European Union,
President Ilves affirmed.
Presidents Ilves and Zatlers also discussed the
Russian policy of the European Union after the
Russian-Georgian war.
Mediterranean Union Sets Example for
European Union Co-operation with
Eastern Neighbours
4 November - Foreign Minister Urmas Paet
participated in the meeting of the
Mediterranean Union foreign ministers that
took place in Marseille, France. The foreign policy
leaders talked about the future of Mediterranean
Union co-operation.
To advance the Middle East peace process and
accelerate co-operation in the region, the ministers
approved the greater involvement of the League of
Arab States in Mediterranean Union co-operation.
“The Arab League plays a vital role in advancing the
Middle East peace process, and including the League
in Mediterranean Union co-operation will strengthen
partnership and help with ensuring stability,” said
Foreign Minister Urmas Paet. According to the
Estonian foreign minister, co-operation with states
on the southern and eastern banks of the
Mediterranean sets a good example for European
Union co-operation with its neighbours to the east.
“Positive developments in the co-operation
between the European Union and its Mediterranean
partners creates a good situation for implementing a
similar model with the European Union’s eastern
partners, especially Ukraine and Georgia, for their
more rapid integration into European Union cooperation
structures,” said Foreign Minister Paet.
The foreign ministers agreed to establish the
Mediterranean Union Secretariat in Barcelona. The
European Union’s partnership with the countries on
the southern bank of the Mediterranean, which was
established in Barcelona in 1995, was the foundation
for the creation of the Mediterranean Union in the
summer of this year.
The ministers also discussed the implementation
of Mediterranean Union projects. At the Paris
summit on 13 June 2008, it was agreed to initiate
co-operation projects for reducing pollution in the
Mediterranean Sea, developing sea traffic and land
transport, using solar energy, protecting citizens in
the case of a natural disaster, promoting higher
education, and supporting small businesses.
The Mediterranean Union includes all European
Union member states and countries along the shores
of the Mediterranean Sea.
FMs of Estonia, Palestinian Authority
Hope for Successful End to Peace Process
4 November - Foreign Minister Urmas Paet met
with Foreign Minister of the Palestinian
Authority Riyad al-Maliki in Marseille. Topics
discussed at the meeting were the situation in
Palestine and the peace process. The ministers also
discussed co-operation with the European Union for
advancing the peace process and bilateral relations.
According to Foreign Minister of the Palestinian
Authority Riyad al-Maliki, the European Union plays
a very important role in backing the Middle East
peace process. Estonian Foreign Minister Paet stated
that the peace process that began in Annapolis must
continue regardless of the extraordinary election
taking place in Israel in February of next year. “The
peace process must progress and it must end with
the creation of the Palestinian state,” said Paet. “The
promises made at the Annapolis meeting must be
adhered to, and moves that would jeopardise the
negotiations process should be avoided,” said Paet.
In addition, Foreign Minister Paet stated that the
European Union Police Mission in the Palestinian
Territories (EUPOL COPPS), to which Estonia also
contributes, must continue. “It is surely necessary to
also extend the EU Border Assistance Mission at the
Rafah Crossing Point,” he added.
Paet said that Estonia will help to increase the
capabilities of the Palestinian security and public
sectors. “We consider achieving peace in the Middle
East to be essential from a regional and global
security standpoint,” said Paet. At the end of last
year, Estonia decided to support the Palestine-Israel
peace process that was re-initiated at the Annapolis
meeting with 12 million kroons (1 million USD)
during the years 2008-2010. According to the
foreign minister, this is the largest contribution
Estonia has ever made for the resolution of a global
conflict. “We hope that this sum will help with the
creation of a Palestinian state, including the creation
of effective security forces, and help to hold off
future armed attacks against residents,” said Paet.
Paet and al-Maliki also talked about bilateral
relations. Foreign Minister Paet stated that Palestine
asked Estonia to share its experiences with
constructing an e-state. “Currently we are making
preparations to help Palestine develop an e-state
and e-government,” Paet said.
EC Launches Public Consultation of Baltic
Sea Region Strategy
3 November - The European Commission
launched an online public consultation of the
EU's future Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region.
Member states, regional and local authorities,
NGOs, inter-governmental bodies, and the general
public are invited to put forward their views on the
strategy between now and 31 December 2008.
"To make this strategy a success, we need to
work together with member states, with regions and
cities, the private sector, interest groups and the
public. We want as many people as possible onboard
and that is why we are launching this online
consultation," said Danuta Hubner, EU regional
policy commissioner.
"We need your ideas, your energy, your
knowledge and your expertise to help us deliver the
best results, for the benefit of all," Hubner added.
The consultation seeks feedback on the four main
proposed objectives of the strategy: to make the
region more environmentally sustainable, to make
the region more prosperous, to make the region
more accessible and attractive, and to make it safe
and secure.
Since the 2004 enlargement of the European
Union, when Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland
became members of the European Union, the Baltic
has practically become an internal EU sea. The Baltic
Sea Strategy is also seen as a practical channel of
co-operation with Russia, the only non-EU country
on the Baltic Sea.
The initiative for the Baltic Sea strategy came
from the European Parliament, and one of its
initiators was then member of the European
Parliament, now President of Estonia Toomas
Hendrik Ilves. The European Council has asked the
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European Commission to draw up the preliminary
outline of the strategy by next June.
Conference debates on the future strategy have
already begun: the first of them took place at the
end of September in Stockholm, and further debates
will take place in Gdansk in November, in
Copenhagen and in Helsinki in December, and in
Rostock in February.
When the European Commission publishes the
preliminary outline of the strategy, it will also
include an action plan identifying the key actors,
financial instruments for implementation and a
timeframe for completion.
Adoption of the strategy will be one of the
priorities of the Swedish Presidency in the second
half of 2009. The consultation will be open until the
end of this year.
Estonia Has New Ambassador to Morocco
30 October - Ambassador of the Republic of
Estonia to the Kingdom of Morocco Mart
Tarmak presented a copy of his credentials to
Foreign Minister of Morocco Taïb Fassi Fihri. In
accordance with Moroccan protocol norms, the king
only receives ambassadors that reside in Rabat.
Since Ambassador Mart Tarmak resides in Lisbon,
such was his accreditation procedure for becoming
the Estonian ambassador extraordinary and
plenipotentiary to Morocco.
At their meeting, Estonian Ambassador Mart
Tarmak and Moroccan Foreign Minister Taïb Fassi
Fihri discussed relations between the two nations.
Mart Tarmak stated that Estonia considers Morocco
to be an essential communications partner in the
Mediterranean region and is certainly interested in
developing many facets of relations. “We are
interested in the swift progress of agreements for
the protection of investments between the two
nations and for the avoidance of double taxation,”
said Ambassador Tarmak. It is also important to
develop cultural relations between Estonia and
Morocco, since Estonians’ interest in Arabic language
and culture is growing. The Moroccan foreign
minister confirmed to the Estonian ambassador that
he plans to come to Estonia for a visit next year.
Ambassador Mart Tarmak has been the Estonian
ambassador to Portugal since 2006. He speaks
English, Lithuanian, Russian, Finnish, Spanish,
Portuguese, and Latvian.
DOMESTIC NEWS
Labour Market Board and Unemployment
Insurance Fund to Merge
30 October - Estonia's Social Affairs Ministry is
implementing a plan for uniting the Labour
Market Board and the Unemployment
Insurance Fund.
According to the plan, a new agency -- labour
exchange -- will emerge in spring from combining
the functions of the two institutions.
The merger of the Labour Market Board and the
Unemployment Insurance Fund will create a body
that offers a better service to job-seekers and
employers and thereby raise the effectiveness of the
labour market policy, the cover letter to the bill of
amendments says.
The plan is to unite the labour market institutions
on 1 May 2009.
The Social Affairs Ministry voiced in the covering
letter the hope that the actual cost of the move will
be smaller as a part of Labour Market Board
personnel will get jobs on the labour exchange.
DEFENCE NEWS
Minister of Defence Met with Afghan
Colleague in Kabul
4 November - Minister of Defence Jaak Aaviksoo
met with his Afghan colleague Abdul Rahim
Wardak and the US Ambassador to Afghanistan
William B. Wood in Kabul.
At the meeting with Minister Wardak, the current
situation in Afghanistan and possible further
developments in relation to the presidential elections
to take place in Afghanistan in 2009 were discussed.
Minister of Defence Aaviksoo also notified Minister
Wardak of the Afghan mandate of the Estonian
Defence Forces being extended until the end of 2009
by the Riigikogu, and that the number of the
Estonian contingent was being increased to 170
members of the Defence Forces.
According to Aaviksoo, the meeting with Afghan
Minister of Defence Wardak proved that the Afghan
National Security Forces have grown considerably
stronger over the last year and have become
capable of taking responsibility for the security
situation in several regions of Afghanistan. “This
fully matches our expectations, regarding the bigger
role of the Afghan government in ensuring the
security of their people,” Aaviksoo said.
Minister Wardak acknowledged Estonia for its
current contribution to Afghanistan. Minister of
Defence Aaviksoo also visited the Kabul Military
Training Centre of the Afghan National Army.
The purpose of Minister Aaviksoo’s four-day visit
is to obtain an overview of the general situation in
Afghanistan, the development of the Afghan
National Security Forces, and the future activities of
the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) as
well as the activities of the Estonian contingent in
South-Afghanistan.
Among others, Aaviksoo will also meet the
Commander of the ISAF General David D.
McKiernan; the head of the United Nations
Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) Kai Eide;
the US and UK ambassadors in Afghanistan; and
several officers from the ISAF Regional Command
South.
ECONOMIC NEWS
Estonia Has One of Lowest
Unemployment Rates in EU
31 October - In an overview of unemployment
rates in European Union countries published by
Eurostat, Estonia had the sixth lowest
unemployment rate, ahead of Latvia and
Lithuania.
The unemployment rate was the lowest in the
Netherlands (2.5%), followed by Denmark (2.9%),
Austria (3.2%), Cyprus (3.8%), Slovenia (4.1%),
and Estonia and Luxembourg (both 4.2%). In
Lithuania the unemployment figure was 4.6% and in
Latvia 7.1% of the gainfully employed population.
The unemployment rate was the highest in Spain,
where it is 11.9%, and in Slovakia with 10%.
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Japanese High-Tech Delegation Visits
Estonia
30 October - A delegation from Japanese hightech
manufacturers Fujitsu, Mitsubishi,
Panasonic and Hitachi paid a four-day visit to
Estonia to strengthen IT co-operation with
local companies.
The Japanese visited the IT company Microlink
and studied a number of e-governance projects.
"The rapid development and implementation of e-
health projects in particular aroused great interest
among them," Microlink board member Andres Parts
said.
The Japanese manufacturers' trip to Estonia was
part of a tour of several countries within the
framework of the JEITA Mission Programme. The
delegation also met with Minister of Economy and
Communications Juhan Parts and MP Hannes Astok
and visited the Parliament.
The visit was arranged by the Japan Electronics
and Information Technology Industries Association
(JEITA) and Enterprise Estonia.
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Pärnu Maintains Number of Summer
Visitors
29 October - According to a survey carried out
by the Pärnu city government, the southwestern
seaside resort received up to 271,000
visitors during the summer, which corresponds
to last year's visitor numbers.
The share of foreign tourists stayed at 75% of
the total like a year ago, the study showed. All told,
the city was visited by around 203,000 foreign
tourists during the three summer months.
Finns made up 53.7%, Swedes 3.8% and
Germans 3.2%of foreign visitors. The number of
Finnish and Swedish tourists has been declining
from year to year, whereas the share of Latvian and
German visitors has slightly grown. The majority of
tourists were on holiday.
The expenditure on accommodation, food and
shopping averaged 1,150 kroons (EUR 73.5) per day
in the case of Estonian tourists and 1,970 kroons per
day among foreign visitors.
Foreign tourists spent an average of 5.8 days and
Estonians 3.9 days in Pärnu. In the summer of
2007, the corresponding figures were 5.6 and 4.3
days, respectively.
Number of Tallink Passengers Up 23
Percent in October
4 November - The Estonian AS Tallink shipping
group served 648,814 passengers on all its
routes, 23.2% more than in the same period
last year.
In October, the biggest rise in the number of
passengers was on the Estonian-Finnish route,
where contraction of competition led to growth by
34.7 percent.
On the Estonian-Finnish route, Tallink served a
total of 285,965 passengers, and 54,448 passengers
on the Estonian-Swedish route. In Finnish-Swedish
and Latvian-Swedish traffic the number of
passengers was respectively 268,327 and 34,081.
In October, freight traffic between Estonia and
Sweden fell by nearly 21 percent and between
Estonia and Finland by 3.3 percent.
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