Estonian Review

 

EESTI RINGVAADE                                                                    VOLUME 16 NO 47 NOV 29 -DEC 5, 2006

 

 

 

FOREIGN NEWS

Civilian, Military Contributions to Afghanistan Important for Estonia

Nov 29 - Estonian Prime Minister Andrus Ansip, Foreign Minister Urmas Paet and Defence Minister Jürgen Ligi took part in the NATO summit in Riga, where the central issue was strengthening of the Afghanistan mission.

The allies found that the countries contributing to the southern part of Afghanistan would have to be given more support, and both military forces and financial resources would have to be found.

Military and civilian participation in the reconstruction of Afghanistan are priorities for Estonia.

To achieve success, Ansip said, it is important to have close cooperation between NATO and the European Union in the reconstruction of the Afghanistan society.

"Most NATO countries are also members of the European Union and it is self-evident that the two organizations will closely cooperate," Ansip said.

The summit gave a clear message of the continued enlargement of NATO and confirmed its open doors policy.

Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Serbia were invited to join the NATO Partnership for Peace program.

The allies also recognized the efforts of Albania, Croatia and Macedonia on their course to accession with NATO and gave a high assessment of their contribution to peace operations.

"All the new democracies in Eastern and Southern Europe must have the opportunity of freedom and security," Ansip said.

The summit underlined that the ongoing reorganizations of the state defence systems must continue in Ukraine and Georgia and those countries' potential accession depends on their success in meeting the terms required for accession to NATO.

The meeting underlined the need to preserve Georgia's territorial integrity.

Defence and foreign ministers of countries making contributions to South Afghanistan met in the framework of the summit, in order to discuss improvement of cooperation.

The focus in the foreign ministers' meeting was on the Afghanistan and Iraq missions.

"Activation of the NATO training mission is of major importance in the strengthening of Iraqi military forces," Foreign Minister Paet said. "The NATO training mission has to be strengthened both in financial and manpower terms. Activity of the training mission has to be extended also to police forces."

The allies underlined that the tasks can only be carried out if there is sufficient funding and stressed that the state defence budget of countries of the alliance must increase.

A meeting between German Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel and leaders of the Baltic countries also took place in the framework of the summit. It focused on issues that will become of importance during the German presidency of the European Union.

The meeting with Merkel addressed the common European energy policy. It was underlined at the meeting that the EU energy policy must be based on common, not on separate countries' interests.

The gas pipeline to be built from Russia to Germany through the Baltic Sea has been controversial in the Baltic countries.

 

Family portrait with Heads of State and Government

The president added that NATO and the European Union are the main levers for solving the problems of our environment. "For us, these problems are moral, philosophical, political, as well as economic," he added.

Ilves met with Nino Burdjanadze, Speaker of the Georgian Parliament. Burjanadze briefed Ilves on the CIS summit in Minsk and the Estonian president spoke about US President George W. Bush's visit to Tallinn.

 

Estonia in Favour of Continuing Accession Talks with Turkey

Nov 30 - Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Paet said Estonia supports continuation of the accession talks with Turkey and wants slightly more lenient measures taken than those suggested by the European Commission.

The European Commission recommended on Nov 30 that eight chapters of the accession talks between the European Union (EU) and Turkey be closed in connection with Turkey's refusal to open its ports to Cyprus. The chapters to be frozen pertain to the EU internal market, free movement of goods, customs, transport and maritime issues.

Paet said that Estonia supported the freezing of three negotiating chapters, those of free trade, the customs union and transport.

"The Estonian position is that the issue of Cypriot ships' entry into Turkish ports must be solved, but the measures taken with respect to Turkey must not be disproportionate," Paet said.

 

Paet Slams Arrest of Belarus Opposition Leader

Nov 30 - Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Paet has criticized the arrest of the Belarus opposition leader Alexander Milinkevich at Minsk Airport.

Milinkevich was arrested when he returned to Belarus as he had erroneously presented to the border guard his son's passport.

"It is a pity such a slip had to be punished by arrest," Paet said.

Paet said it was a well-known fact that the attitude to opposition leaders is harsh in Belarus.

 

Japanese Emperor to Visit Baltic Countries in May

Nov 30 - The Emperor of Japan Akihito and Empress Michiko are planning to visit the Baltic countries next May.

The Foreign Ministry is in the initial stage of planning the visit.

 

US Ambassador to Estonia Announces Her Departure

Dec 4 - The US ambassador to Estonia, Aldona Wos, announced her departure.

"It is with mixed emotions that I announce the completion of my assignment as the US ambassador to Estonia. I have had a wonderful experience representing the United States here in the beautiful country of Estonia," Wos said in a statement.

"The time has come, however, for me to go home and reunite my family," she said.

"During my tenure as US ambassador, I have accomplished everything that I set out to do. First and foremost, I have worked to improve the outstanding US-Estonian relationship which culminated in President Bush's recent successful visit to Tallinn," she said.

The ambassador pointed out the US embassy's work to promote the issues of integration and tolerance through conferences, seminars, film, and sporting events bringing together Estonian and Russian-Estonian students.

"As a medical doctor, I'm also particularly proud of the work that the US embassy has done to promote HIV/AIDS awareness and fight the spread of this disease in Estonia. I have also worked together with the Estonian government to explain the threat posed by human trafficking," Wos said.

"While in Estonia, I've had the chance to visit all fifteen counties and speak to thousands of different Estonians. I'm particularly proud of the fact that my staff and I have visited over 100 high schools across Estonia. In speaking to these young people who represent Estonia's next generation, I am confident that Estonia is in good hands and will continue to thrive within the European Union, NATO, and the larger world community," the US ambassador said.

Wos started work as ambassador to Estonia on Aug. 13, 2004. Born in Poland, she grew up in Long Island in New York. She is a graduate of the Warsaw Medical Academy and completed her internship and residency in New York, specializing in lung diseases.

 

Stanley Davis Phillips to Become New US Ambassador to Estonia

Dec 5 - President George W. Bush announced his intention to nominate Stanley Davis Phillips, of North Carolina, to be ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Republic of Estonia, the US embassy said.

Phillips currently serves as chairman of Phillips Industries, Inc, an investment holding company with textile and furniture interests. He served as secretary of commerce for the State of North Carolina and most recently he served on the National Board of the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC.

He was a major fundraiser in the Bush campaign in 2004.

The brother of Stanley Davis Phillips, Earl Phillips Jr., has served as the Barbados-based ambassador of the United States to the Eastern Caribbean.

University, founded in 1632, will take place next year. The founder of the university was King Gustavus II Adolphus of Sweden.

Meeting with the Swedish parliament's speaker, the prime minister and the minister for foreign and European affairs Ilves mainly spoke about developments in the European Union and in the vicinity of the community.

"We have the same positions as Sweden regarding almost all questions related to the European Union," the Estonian president said at the press conference held together with Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt after the meeting.

Ilves's meeting with Speaker of the Swedish Parliament Per Westerberg focused on energy security of the region, including the Russian-German gas pipeline to be built through the Baltic Sea, concerning which the foreign affairs committee of the Swedish parliament is planning to have a public hearing.

"We have both security and environmental concerns in connection with that pipeline," the Estonian president said.

Westerberg underlined that it was important to have closer parliamentary cooperation between European countries than at present in order to solve internal issues.

Discussing EU-Russian relations, President Ilves and Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt found that use of energy carriers and the energy price for political pressure was inadmissible, and it was imperative to stick to regulations of trade accords, such as of the World Trade Organization.

The Estonian head of state also visited the Estonian School in Stockholm, and institution established in 1945 that currently has 179 students. Before flying back to Tallinn, President Ilves met with local Estonians at Estonian House in Stockholm, the home of Estonian organizations in Sweden.

 

Parliamentary Panels Concerned about Baltic Sea Energy Security

Dec 1 - A meeting of chairmen of the parliamentary foreign affairs committees of the Baltic and Nordic countries in Vilnius focused on energy security in Europe and the Baltic Sea region.

All participants emphasized the importance of energy security for the region and whole Europe.

Enn Eesmaa, head of the Estonian parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee, said, with reference to a study commissioned by the committee, that it is necessary to examine more thoroughly different possibilities for achieving energy independence.

"We, the countries of the Baltic Sea region, attach great importance to the issue of energy security and a common position on this question is imperative," he said.

The chairmen adopted a statement on the Russian-German natural gas pipeline underlining the need for continued cooperation on the basis of the Espoo Convention to study the pipeline's impact on the ecosystem of the sea before the start of construction.

Other subjects under discussion were a Baltic Sea strategy in the context of the Northern Dimension and effective securing of stability in neighbouring countries.

Speaking about the European neighbourhood policy, the committee chairmen affirmed continued support for countries that have chosen the path of democracy but noted that all of them are facing different problems which have to be treated individually.

The meeting was attended by heads of the Estonian, Danish, Icelandic, Latvian, Lithuanian, Norwegian, and Swedish parliamentary committees. Poland was invited as a guest.

The next Baltic-Nordic meeting will take place in Norway.

 

Paet: Unilateral Sanctions Not a Modern-Day Measure

Dec 4 - In his remarks at the 14th session of the ministerial council of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Paet said unilateral sanctions were not a contemporary means of politics.

Speaking about Georgia and Moldova, Paet said the need has grown to direct more attention to the regions of frozen conflicts.

"We have seen many positive developments, but worrisome signs of a halt in the process have persisted," Paet said during the meeting in Brussels.

Estonia hails the agreement whereby Russia is giving up its bases in Georgia, the minister said. At the same time, Estonia is pointing out that the OSCE cannot turn a blind eye on Russia's punishing behaviour vis-à-vis its neighbour.

Georgia must be supported in its carrying out of reforms, Paet said.

Speaking about foreign peacekeepers in Moldova, Paet stressed the need for a political agreement that would ensure a lasting and permanent peace and conditions for the political and economic revival of the Moldovan nation.

"We need a firm agreement that would be supported by both the Moldovan people and the international community. Moldova needs the unequivocal support of the OSCE and its involvement in the process of finding a solution," Paet said.

Paet said the OSCE has had a laudable role in promoting tolerance and fighting against discrimination and that multicultural dialogue has helped to ease tensions arising from prejudice.

"In spite of this, the battle continues, since some of the relevant countries are acting in a contrary manner," he said.

 

Paet: Azerbaijan Could Be Alternative Source of Energy for Europe

Dec 5 - Meeting with his Azerbaijani counterpart Elmar Maharram oglu Mammadyarov, Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Paet said Azerbaijan could serve as an alternative source of energy for Europe.

The conversation between the two ministers took place on the sidelines of the OSCE ministers meeting and dealt with ways how to promote bilateral relations, the European Union's neighbourhood policy action plan for Azerbaijan, energy matters and the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh.

The sides found that relations between the two countries are stable and good, but could indeed be closer.

Paet said the set of agreements between the two countries should be expanded, first and foremost in what regards economic agreements.

He said that even though modest at present, economic cooperation between Estonia and Azerbaijan is showing a rising trend.

The sides agreed that in 2007 political consultations would be started between the two foreign ministries.

Another matter spoken about was energy security. The foreign minister of Azerbaijan expressed satisfaction with cooperation with the EU in that field. As Mammadyarov said, the Caspian Sea is the sole new alternative for supplying Europe with energy.

Both in the European Union as well as in NATO a lot is being talked about lately about diversity of sources of energy supply, Paet said.

"In the case of Azerbaijan there is a clear opportunity to make the transition from words to deeds," Paet said.

"The Baku-Ceyhan oil pipeline serves as a very good example," he added.

Speaking about the EU neighbourhood policy action plan, the sides were satisfied that the plan sets out concrete actions to promote the development of Azerbaijan.

Paet handed an invitation to the foreign minister of Azerbaijan to visit Estonia. The Azeri side forwarded to the Estonian side an invitation for the Estonian president to visit Azerbaijan as well as for the Estonian foreign minister to make a visit to that country.

 

Estonia, Kyrgyzstan Mulling Appointment of Ambassadors

Dec 4 - Estonia's Foreign Minister Urmas Paet and his Kyrgyz counterpart Alikbek Jekshenkulov found during their meeting in Brussels that relations between the countries need to be intensified and the appointment of non-resident ambassadors is worth giving consideration to.

Paet and Jekshenkulov also mulled the possibility of appointing honorary consuls.

The Estonian minister said that first of all the set of agreements existing between the two countries should be expanded and then political ties intensified.

Paet made a proposal to hold political consultations between the two foreign ministries next year.

The foreign minister of Kyrgyzstan said Estonia could share its reform experience and help train Kyrgyz specialists.

Estonia wishes to continue arranging seminars, Paet said.

"“We have shared our experience with Kyrgyzstan in the past, in the framework of development cooperation, and we certainly wish to continue this in the future as well," Paet said.

Another area of cooperation seen by Estonia as having good prospects is tourism, Paet said.

 

Paet Invites His Armenian Colleague To Visit Estonia

Dec 5 - Meeting with his Armenian counterpart Vartan Oskanyan in Brussels, Estonia's Foreign Minister Urmas Paet invited the Armenian minister to come to Estonia on a visit.

During the meeting that took place on the sidelines of the ministers meeting of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), Paet and Oskanyan spoke about relations between the two countries, the EU neighbourhood policy action plan for Armenia and the conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh.

The ministers stated that while relations between the two countries are good, there is a lot of room for development.

They agreed that political consultations between the two ministries will be held next year to evaluate the state of affairs in relations and set out plans for the future.

Paet invited his Armenian colleague to visit Estonia.

The ministers expressed their satisfaction with the EU neighbourhood policy action plan's being very precise with regard to Armenia and focusing on concrete activities.

Paet said implementation of the action plan would have a substantial effect on the development of the countries of the South Caucasus and a positive effect on the entire region.

The Armenian foreign minister described Estonia's reform experience as in every way valuable and welcome for Armenia.

 

PM Thanks Portugal for Good Cooperation

Dec 5 - Estonian Prime Minister Andrus Ansip in Portugal met with Portugal's President Anibal Antonio Cavaco Silva, thanking the head of state for cooperation and Portugal's support for Estonia.

The prime minister thanked Portugal for good cooperation between the countries in international organizations, in which Portugal's contribution to the NATO air policing mission in the Baltics is especially important for Estonia.

As border countries of the European Union, Estonia and Portugal enjoy very good mutual understanding, Ansip said.

Both countries see successful regional policy as well as trans-Atlantic cooperation as important.

Speaking about illegal migration, a major problem for the Mediterranean region, Ansip said Estonia understands and supports Portugal's aspirations to deal not only with the consequences but also with the causes of the problem.

Positive mention was made during the meeting of the fact that Portugal never recognized the Soviet annexation of Estonia. While serving as prime minister of Portugal in 1985-1995, Cavaco Silva refused in his exchanges with the Soviet Union to visit occupied Estonia.

Ansip thanked Portugal for its support to the teaching of the Portuguese language in Estonia. The Camoes Institute signed agreements with the universities of Tallinn and Tartu in September this year whereby the institute promoting the study of Portuguese language and culture covers the expenses related to the teaching of Portuguese.

"I'm sincerely pleased that from now on it is possible also in Estonia to learn the language that is spoken by some 200 million people worldwide," Ansip said.

Portugal opened its embassy in Tallinn in September.

The prime minister also opened an exhibition of Estonian knitted mittens at the National Clothing Museum in Lisbon.

 

PM: Estonia to Help Make Portugal's Presidency a Success

Dec 5 - Meeting with his Portuguese counterpart Jose Socrates, Estonian Prime Minister Andrus Ansip stressed Estonia's readiness to support Portugal during its presidency of the European Union.

The Portuguese prime minister said that not all the priorities for the Portuguese presidency have yet been set out.

"We hope that Estonia will support Portugal during our presidency, because in order for it to succeed a relationship of trust between good partners is of primary importance," Socrates said during the meeting which focused on EU related topics.

The Estonian prime minister underlined that a strong and efficiently working European Union is in the interest of all member states and that there is readiness to extend all-round support to Portugal.

Estonia backs further enlargement of the EU, Ansip said. At the same time, Estonia regards support for democratic development in Georgia, Ukraine and Moldova as important.

Estonia understands the problems related to the Mediterranean region, such as illegal migration, he added.

The Estonian premier thanked Portugal for its active role in making as speedy as possible enlargement of the Schengen area happen.

The Portuguese prime minister hailed Estonia's rapid development and economic growth, saying he was pleased that Soviet heritage can today be seen only in antique stores.

Portugal is very much interested in continued cooperation with Estonia both on the level of the EU as well as bilaterally, Socrates said.

During the meeting of prime ministers also trans-Atlantic relations, the recent visit by US President George W. Bush to Tallinn and issues related to the enlargement of the European Union were talked about, including the accession negotiations of Turkey with the EU.

In Ansip's meeting with Portugal's minister for economy and innovation, Manuel Pinho, economic cooperation and innovation were spoken about.

Ansip also met with the vice speaker of the Portuguese parliament, Guilherme Silva, with whom the possibility to create a parliamentary group for ties with Estonia in the Portuguese parliament was discussed, among other things.

 

Moscow Will Hopefully Continue Working with Border Treaties -- Estonian Ambassador

Nov 29 - Estonian Ambassador to Russia Marina Kaljurand expressed the hope that Russia would return to the ratification of the two countries' border treaties.

"We do not and cannot have any territorial claims to Russia," Kaljurand said. "We very much hope that Russia will return to ratification of the treaties." Kaljurand underlined that Estonia had already ratified the treaties.

Estonia and Russia signed the Estonian-Russian treaties on the land and the sea borders on last May 18, the parliament ratified them on June 20 and President Arnold Rüütel promulgated the ratification act on June 22.

But on June 27 Russia declared that it would withdraw its signature from the border treaties.

Kaljurand said that she believed no changes could be expected in the issue of the Estonian-Russian border treaties in the near future.

The ambassador also criticized the permanent long queues at the Narva checkpoint in Estonia, underlining that the problem had not been created by Estonia and that Estonian authorities were prepared to speed up the passage of vehicles.

Speaking about the prohibited structures bill currently being discussed by the Estonian parliament, Kaljurand said that Estonia had no intention of dismantling all the monuments erected to Soviet soldiers. She said handling of the bill was necessary and right, because laws are the expression of the will of the people.

The ambassador said that in the first half of the year representatives of marginal groupings had started to gather at the World War II monument, with some of them supporting the Soviet Union and others expressing ideas of radical nationalism.

She added that the monument had acquired another meaning and no longer depicted just a liberator but also an occupier, specifically as a result of the marginal groups' activity.

Kaljurand also said that if a decision was taken concerning the World War II monument after passage of the act, it would be in line with international law and ethical standards.

 

Ambassador Invites Russian Church Head to Visit Estonia

Dec 4 - The leader of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Alexius II, met with Estonia's Ambassador Marina Kaljurand, who gave the Russian church head an invitation to visit Estonia.

"I handed to His Holiness an invitation to visit Estonia in the near future, along with the president's wish to meet with the church head," Kaljurand said after the conversation that took place at Alexius's residence.

The ambassador expressed hope that the head of the Russian Orthodox Church will find the "time and opportunity" to visit his native country.

Also spoken about during the meeting were matters of economy, demography and handover of church property.

The conversation was held in Estonian and lasted more than an hour.

 

Foreign Ministry Posting Extra Visa Staff to Russia

Dec 4 - Citing an increase in the number of visa applications before the Christmas and New Year holidays, the Estonian Foreign Ministry is sending additional personnel to work as consuls and visa secretaries in Moscow and St. Petersburg.

The first extra staff were dispatched to the Estonian consulate in St. Petersburg at the beginning of November and to the embassy in Moscow at the end of the month.

The extra personnel will work at the consulate in St. Petersburg until Jan. 14 and in Moscow until Dec. 31.

The Foreign Ministry also said that in the first 11 months of this year more visa applications were filed at Estonia's missions abroad than during the whole of 2005.

The total number of applications in the first 11 months of the year was 111,297, compared with 105,595 in the 12 months of 2005.

Noteworthy growth took place in the number of applications filed in Russia, with 35,473 applications accepted in the January-November period in Moscow, 45,926 at the consulate in St. Petersburg and 5,881 at the consular office in Pskov. In the whole of 2005, 35,502 applications were handled in Moscow, 44,711 in St. Petersburg and 5,833 in Pskov.

The number of visa applications has grown at other missions too.

The number of applications accepted in Ankara grew to 1,588, in Kiev the number grew from to 7,955, and in Minsk to 4,085.

The respective figures were for Riga 850, for London 821, for Stockholm 667, for Beijing 566, for New York 385, for New Delhi 344, and for Tokyo 168.

 

MEP: EU Must Make Clear to Russia the Importance of Human Rights

Nov 30 - Tunne Kelam, representative of the European People's Party-European Democrats faction in the European Parliament, said the European Union (EU) must make clear to Russia that it does not see human rights as a second-rate value.

Speaking at a plenary session, Kelam drew attention to the fact that Russia had not reacted to the European Parliament's recent resolutions pertaining to Russia.

"Raising of issues sensitive for Russia is no longer enough in the present situation -- we need answers concerning substance and real changes," Kelam said.

"Only changes in the form of positive reforms can become a new source of trust in continuing our strategic partnership with Russia," Kelam said.

Kelam called on the MEPs to more actively stand for the European Union's basic principle, that of solidarity.

"The European Union much too often regards Russia's relations with the member countries as being bilateral. Our message to Moscow must be clear and unambiguous -- if it puts pressure on one member country Russia will have to bear in mind that it will immediately become a problem for the whole of Europe," Kelam said.

"Russia cares for its relations with the European Union and its image as a global partner not less than the European Union. As a result the European Union must make President Putin work in order to prove by means of concrete acts that Russia can be a normal, sensible and trustworthy partner," Kelam said.

A resolution pertaining to relations between Russia and the EU will be put to vote at this year's last full assembly of the European Parliament in December.

 

European Customs Leaders Trying to Solve Border-Crossing Problem

Nov 30 - European customs leaders meeting in Brussels recommended that common border checkpoints be created in order to shorten the lines of vehicles waiting to cross the eastern border.

Enriko Aav, Director General of the Tax and Customs Board, said Estonia expressed support to the European Commission's action plan as well as to the creation of common checkpoints, the Tax and Customs Board said.

"But we have to bear in mind that the problem can be solved only if also Russia supports the proposals," Aav said.

The problem of lines to cross the border is serious in Finland, Estonia and Latvia. The lines grew at the end of summer, extending to 40 kilometres in Finland, 20 in Latvia and 10 kilometres in Estonia.

The Tax and Customs Board informed the European Commission in September of the need to solve the problem.

 

Lines of Trucks at Estonia's Eastern Border Much Shorter Than Before

Dec 4 - The lines of vehicles at Estonia's eastern border, which have repeatedly grown and shrunk since this summer, have now become significantly shorter than usual.

Delays in crossing of the Estonian-Russian border arose after Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed dissatisfaction with corruption in his country's customs service and weakness of the customs in its struggle with contraband. Putin’s announcement prompted more thorough Russian customs checks on vehicles in the second half of July.

Considering seriousness of the problem, Estonia sent a note to Russia, drawing Russia’s attention to the critical situation on the Estonian-Russian border and expressing the hope the neighbouring country's authorities would take steps to improve the situation.

In September, Russian Transport Minister Igor Levitin said that the Russian customs service was responsible for the lines at the border. Attending a EU-Russian transport discussion in Lappeenranta in Finland, he admitted that the activity of the Russian customs did not always meet transport leaders' wishes and information about changes introduce in the customs service moved slowly.

 

Estonia to Chair Organized Crime Task Force

Nov 30 - Estonia will take over chairmanship of the Baltic Sea countries' organized crime task force for the next two years.

Interior Ministry Secretary General Märt Kraft and Estonian experts of the task force took part in the task force meeting where the new presidency was decided.

The chairman of the task force is Interior Ministry Secretary General Mart Kraft who will introduce the action plan of the Estonian presidency of the task force together with Lenno Reimand from the Central Criminal Police.

"The main aim of the Estonian presidency will be even bigger orientation to results," Kraft said.

He said the most important line for the task force would certainly be cooperation with Europol in fighting organized crime, as well as supporting practical anti-crime cooperation with EU and Russian law enforcement authorities.

During the meeting the present Finnish presidency will give an overview of the work of the task force in the two preceding years.

The Baltic Sea countries' organized crime task force was set up in 1993 with the aim of common activity in fighting organized drug and human trafficking, money laundering, smuggling and environmental crime.

The task force includes representatives from the Danish, Icelandic, Norwegian, Swedish, Finnish, German, Polish, Russian, Latvian, Lithuanian and Estonian governments as well as a representative of the European Commission.

Estonia is represented in the task force by the Interior Ministry secretary general.

 

Estonia Not to Allow Use of Schengen Visas for Transit

Dec 4 - Estonia will not immediately apply an EU decision concerning the use of Schengen visas and residence permits as national transit visas.

Upon entry into the EU, Estonia took on an obligation to apply Schengen regulations in two stages. Until the Council makes a decision allowing Estonia to fully accede to the Schengen area, Estonia will continue to issue domestic visas to citizens of third countries.

Among the reasons behind the Estonian decision is the fact that Estonia lacks access to the relevant EU databases and thus cannot directly access records on residents of third countries arriving on a Schengen visa. Thus, agreeing to the EU decision would mean a security and immigration risk for Estonia.

Recognizing Schengen visas and residence permits would make it difficult to verify the actual purpose of a person's arrival in Estonia, and the opportunity to enter the country on such a visa could be used for ordinary entry rather than entry for transit.

 

DEFENCE NEWS

Riigikogu Appoints Laaneots as Army Chief

Dec 5 - The Estonian parliament appointed Maj. Gen Ants Laaneots, chief of the Estonian National Defence College, as commander of the Estonian defence forces.

The respective bill was backed by 77 deputies in the 101-seat chamber in the secret ballot, with two MPs voting against and three abstaining.

In the memorandum to the draft, the president said Laaneots has proven himself as a strong leader in various positions and is besides solid military experience characterized by cooperativeness.

The president decided to nominate Laaneots for army chief after his proposal had won the backing of the National Defence Council. Laaneots was also the first preference of all parliamentary groups with whose representatives the president met.

Laaneots graduated from the Soviet tank forces school in Kharkiv, Ukraine, and the Malinovsky academy of tank forces in Moscow. He has also studied at the NATO Defence College in Rome and passed a senior command course in Finland.

As a member of the Soviet military, Laaneots served for some time as adviser to the commander of an infantry division and army corps in Ethiopia.

After returning to Estonia, he served as head of the office in charge of military recruitment and reserve in Tartu from 1989-1991, retiring from the Soviet military holding the rank of colonel.

After Estonia had regained its independence, the government in the autumn of 1991 tasked Laaneots with re-establishing the General Staff, which Laaneots headed in 1991-1994.

During the next two years Laaneots worked as regional director for the private security firm ESS.

He was appointed defence forces' chief inspector in 1997 and again headed the General Staff from 1997-1999.

Before his appointment as chief of the defence college in 2001, Laaneots headed the Baltic Centre for Defence Studies. In 2002 he was appointed Estonia's military attaché to Russia and Ukraine.

Laaneots was promoted to major general in 1998.

 

Defence Minister, New Army Commander Pledge Cooperation

Dec 5 - The newly appointed commander of the Estonian defence forces, Maj. Gen. Ants Laaneots, and Defence Minister Jürgen Ligi are confident that there will be good cooperation between the civilian control and military aspects of the defence.

Speaking at a press conference, Ligi said that with the appointment of Laaneots the basis was created for a substantial improvement in the relationship between the Defence Ministry and the General Staff.

Laaneots said that from the point of view of national defence, a standoff between the Defence Ministry and the General Staff is not permissible.

An in-depth discussion is needed as regards the functions of the two institutions, as now many of the functions overlap, he said.

Laaneots said he agrees with the opinion that military competence is definitely needed in the Defence Ministry and people with political competence are needed in the General Staff.

Ligi said Laaneots did not oppose the idea that the General Staff and the Defence Ministry could be merged some time in the future.

Speaking about possible changes in the General Staff, Laaneots said he had no plans to "purge" anyone. Officers are in short supply and every officer has the weight of gold, he said.

"We have to check out who is suited for what job. Whom we're going to shift and where is a technical matter," Laaneots said.

Laaneots said the Estonian defence forces have three major tasks: contributing forces to NATO military forces, ensuring primary defence, and ensuring host nation support.

The new commander of the defence forces said that Estonia has had as much as 10 percent of its officer corps on missions abroad at one time, compared with the NATO recommendation that eight percent of the armed forces be contributed to foreign missions in time of peace.

Speaking about primary defence, Laaneots said the term does not only encompass military defence but also action in the case of a natural disaster or a threat to constitutional order. The Kaitseliit (Defence League) volunteer corps has a big role in primary defence, Laaneots said.

Also important is host nation support capability, as it has to be taken into consideration that Estonia is a border state of NATO and has an unfriendly neighbour, to put it mildly, Laaneots said. Estonia will need the help of allies in case something happens, and for that host nation support capability is important, he added.

 

Estonia to Buy Air Defence System from MBDA Concern

Dec 1 - Estonia will to buy a short-range air defence missile system from the MBDA Missile Systems group, whose products include the Mistral missiles.

The government has authorized the Defence Ministry to start negotiations over the air defence contract with the MBDA France company jointly with SAAB Microwave Systems, whose tender emerged as the winner according to the report of the tender commission.

"We are for the first time going to procure a modern air defence capacity – a mobile radar, communications and missile system. This is in our situation an effective deterrent to attackers and defence for the future infantry brigade," Defence Minister Jürgen Ligi said.

The defence forces development plan up to 2010 calls for spending 700 million kroons (€44.73m) on the air defence procurement but added that the exact cost of the system will be established at talks.

The aim of the procurement tender is to provide Estonia with a modern and mobile air defence system which can be integrated into the allied forces' united air defence system if necessary.

The system, consisting of missile, communications, and command and control systems and radars, will provide air defence capability to an infantry brigade and is meant primarily for fending off an enemy's combat helicopters and attack aircraft.

The system must also allow strategic assets such as airports, ports and government buildings to be protected, and must also provide security during important events.

The air defence system is to be delivered in 2007-08 and be fully operational by 2009. The procurement involves primary training.

The Mistral systems manufactured by MBDA Missile Systems are used also by Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Finland, France, Hungary and Spain.

The government announced the tender in August 2005. The Defence Ministry invited tenders from two companies: the US Raytheon Company which manufactures the Stinger missiles, and MBDA Missile Systems.

The air defence system tender is one of the two largest defence procurements of the last 10 years. The other is the replacement of the Navy's mine hunting vessels which will cost 800 million kroons.

 

Govt Proposes to Extend Iraq Mission by Up to One Year

Dec 4 - The Estonian government submitted to the parliament a bill that would extend the mission of Estonian military personnel in Iraq by up to one year.

Under the bill, the period for using Estonian units in the fulfilment of international commitments in a post-conflict mission in Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and Iraq would be extended by one year starting from Jan. 1, 2007, when the current parliamentary mandate expires.

According to the cover letter to the bill, participation in the mission is directly linked to Estonia's security interests.

The parliament previously at the end of December 2005 extended the mandate of Estonian military to be part of the Iraq force until the end of this year. The Estonian contingent there can comprise up to 40 personnel.

Estonia has taken part in the mission in Iraq since June 2003. Two Estonian soldiers have been killed during the operation and 19 have sustained injuries, two of them serious ones.

 

Estonia Rotating Unit in Iraq

Dec 4 - The ESTPLA-14 light infantry platoon of the Estonian defence forces departed for Iraq to replace ESTPLA-13, which has served there for the last six months.

The chief of staff of the Estonian defence forces, Brig. Gen. Alar Laneman, stressed in his remarks at the departure ceremony at Tallinn Airport that the mission is a very big responsibility to the Estonian people, the defence forces and the unit itself.

"Our goal is that the Iraqis could go to school, to the market and the mosque in peace. Bringing peace and stability to these people is in your hands," Laneman said.

Speeches were made at the ceremony also by US Ambassador Aldona Wos and chief of the ground forces staff Lt. Col. Indrek Sirel.

The 34-strong light infantry unit led by 2nd Lt. Ranno Raudsik has been trained to man foot and motorized patrols, conduct searches, escort convoys and guard sites.

The Estonian military will carry out operations in Iraq jointly with US and other coalition troops as well as the Iraqi security forces.

 

 

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