Estonian Review 9 - 15 July 2010

FOREIGN NEWS
DOMESTIC NEWS
DEFENCE NEWS
ECONOMIC NEWS
CULTURAL NEWS

FOREIGN NEWS

Transition to Euro Receives Final Confirmation

13 July - At the meeting of European Union economic and finance ministers that took place today, the decision and resolutions of the council were approved, thereby giving the final nod to Estonia’s adoption of the euro as of 1 January 2011 and establishing the conversion rate of Estonian kroons to the euro. During the transition Estonian kroons will be exchanged for euros at a rate of 1 euro = 15.6466 kroons, which means that the current exchange rate remains unchanged.
“Today’s decision is recognition of our joint efforts and fiscal policy. We are stepping into a euro zone whose economic bases are becoming stronger. The euro is very important for our economic recovery and for increasing our well-being. Now six months of hard work stand before the state, local governments and businesses, during which we will make the practical preparations to ensure that the transition to the euro goes as smoothly as possible,” commented Minister of Finance Jürgen Ligi.
In addition to making the euro decision, the ministers got an overview of the priorities of Belgium’s EU presidency—at the forefront are improving the co-ordination of economic policies and the ongoing reform of the financial sector. The European Commission introduced proposals for implementing stricter budget policy monitoring than before. Work on their proposals will continue in the fall.
Estonia will become the 17th member of the single currency area. After 1 January there will be a two-month period of parallel circulation of both the kroon and the euro in Estonia. During the period of parallel circulation the kroon remains legal tender, but change is as a rule given in euros in all stores and service institutions. In the estimate of the Estonian Central Bank, 80% of euro cash should go into circulation via ATMs.
During the period of parallel circulation ATMs will release notes of 10 and 50 euros. After that it will up to each bank to decide what denominations it keeps in its ATMs.
In accounts kroons will be converted into euros at the official rate at the moment of the changeover. Starting in December, private individuals will be able to change kroon cash for euro banknotes without a commission at the official exchange rate of 15.6466 kroons to the euro. The Bank of Estonia will start supplying euro coins to commercial banks in September and will start doing the same with euro banknotes in December.

UN Human Rights Committee Discusses Estonian Fulfilment of International Covenant

13 July - Yesterday and today an Estonian delegation gave a presentation on Estonia’s third review on its fulfilment of the Covenant on Civil and Political Rights to the UN Human Rights Committee in Geneva. The Estonian delegation was led by Foreign Ministry Secretary General Marten Kokk.
Foreign Ministry Secretary General Kokk stated that topics to be addressed during the review presentation are the work of the chancellor of justice and the gender equality commissioner, the length of judicial proceedings, conditions in detention facilities, matters related to human trafficking, and the giving of citizenship to children.
Estonia presented its third review in 2008. In accordance with procedure, yesterday and today Estonia presented on changes and developments that have taken place since that review. Questions from the committee will also be answered. The committee will make conclusions and give Estonia suggestions for further fulfilment of the covenant.
The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights was opened for signing in New York on 19 December 1966. Estonia joined the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights on 26 September 1991. The covenant came into effect for Estonia on 21 January 1992.
All countries that are party to the covenant must present periodical reviews. In its review, the country must show what advice it has implemented to introduce the rights in the pact and the progress that has been made in utilising these rights. Reviews are presented to the Human Right Committee, which is made up of 18 unbiased experts. Estonia presented its first review on the fulfilment of the covenant in September 1994, its second periodical review in May 2002, and its most recent review in December 2008.

President Ilves Met With Influential Canadian Government Politician

10 July - At his home in Ärma last night, President Toomas Hendrik Ilves met with Canadian Foreign Trade Minister Peter Van Loan who, as an influential Member of Parliament and government politician, was instrumental in the Canadian government’s decision to grant Estonian citizens visa-free entry to the country. The Estonian head of state and Van Loan discussed transatlantic co-operation. “Like all European Union member states, Estonia wants to see the free trade agreement between the EU and Canada entered into as quickly as possible,” President Ilves said. “I hope the fourth round of negotiations, which is to take place in Brussels this week, will bring us significantly closer to this broad-ranging, ambitious agreement.” Talking about relations between Estonia and Canada, President Ilves said that the two countries are good partners and dependable allies in NATO and in transatlantic co-operation generally. “What’s central here is that we tend to look at the world in the same way, take the same view of problems,” said the Estonian head of state. “Our contribution to ensuring stability in Afghanistan and that region is a sign of that.”
Minister Van Loan, who has Estonian roots, has served in a variety of positions in the Canadian government and parliament for many years. His mother and grandparents, who are originally from Harju County, fled Estonia during World War II. The President of the Republic bestowed the Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana, 2nd class on Van Loan in 2009 for his efforts in developing relations between Estonia and Canada.
Prime Minister Andrus Ansip also had the opportunity to meet with Canadian Foreign Trade Minister Peter Van Loan yesterday. Speaking about the problems related to Estonian Air’s plans to acquire three new planes from Bombardier, both Prime Minister Ansip and Minister van Loan recognised that this transaction is between two companies and the governments of the countries cannot interfere. They expressed hope that a solution can be found to satisfy both parties.

Ansip Recognises Lithuanian Government for Management During Economic Crisis

12 July - Prime Minister Andrus Ansip met today with his Lithuanian colleague Prime Minister Andrius Kubilius, Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaitė, and Speaker of the Seimas Irena Degutienė. In addition to bilateral co-operation, the main topics at the meeting were economic and energy issues. At the meeting, Prime Minister Ansip acknowledged the government led by Andrius Kubilius for their management of Lithuania during the economic crisis.
“The developments in all three Baltic countries have been very similar during the economic crisis, and thanks to rapid responses, we have all been able to decisively cut costs in the government sector,” Prime Minister Ansip said. At the same time, the government leader stressed that Estonia did not simply make national budget cuts and initiate structural reforms in order to adopt the euro, but like Lithuania and Latvia, Estonia’s goal is to guarantee the sustainability of the country.
Co-operation in the field of energy was also discussed at the meeting between the prime ministers. Prime Minister Ansip expressed his hope that Lithuania would become a part of the Nord Pool Spot electricity market as of 1 January 2011. “Estonia is interested in the creation of a functioning electricity market in the Baltic countries, as part of a common Nordic electricity market,” he said.
The prime ministers also discussed the necessity of creating a digital EU domestic market, the lack of which, Ansip believes, prevents the strengthening of the EU’s competitiveness.
The importance of structural reforms was also under discussion at the meetings. The need to increase the retirement age was discussed with Irena Degutienė, the Speaker of the Seimas. “Increasing the retirement age is topical throughout Europe and thanks to public support we were able to carry this out in Estonia,” Ansip said. Degutienė expressed her hope that the draft legislation related to increasing the retirement age in Lithuania will be approved next autumn. “Considering how quickly our average lifespan is increasing, it is fair to let people know as early as possible that they must plan on retiring when they are older than the previous retirement age,” Prime Minister Ansip said.
At his meeting with Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaitė, Prime Minister Ansip wished Grybauskaitė luck following the completion of the first year of her term as President.
In the course of the visit, Prime Minister Ansip placed wreaths on the grave of Algirdas Mykolas Brazauskas and at the foot of the memorial dedicated to those who have died for Lithuanian freedom.

European Commission Endorses Estlink-2 Investment

12 July (BNS) - The European Commission made an official decision on 8 July to invest 100 million euros in the construction of Estlink 2, the second undersea electricity cable between Estonia and Finland. Estlink 2 will be built by the Estonian transmission network company Elering together with the Finnish electricity system administrator Fingrid, Elering announced on Monday. The cable has a projected capacity of 650 megawatts and the total cost of the project is close to 320 million euros, making it the largest investment made in the Estonian electricity system.
The construction of Estlink 2 will be financed half and half by Elering and Fingrid, with the European Commission contributing up to 100 million euros. The size of the investment by Elering will be approximately 1.7 billion kroons (EUR 109 mln).
The link is planned to be operational at the beginning of 2014. The new cable will boost inter-regional transmission capacity to nearly 1 000 megawatts (MW) and after the completion of Estlink 2 together with the full adoption of Nordic market organisation rules by then it will be possible to speak of a common Nordic-Baltic electricity market starting from 2014.
The CEO of Elering, Taavi Veskimägi, said that the additional link will enable Nordic electricity producers to enter the Baltic electricity market and our producers to sell electricity on a significantly bigger market. "More producers, more connections, an open competitive market - all this means a better price for electricity and thus a more competitive economic environment in Estonia. Stepped-up competition will also make the present providers more efficient and customer-friendly," he added.
Fingrid and Elering have been making preparations for the second direct current link between Estonia and Finland for three years and work is going on as planned. Fingrid made the financing decision regarding Estlink 2 on 20 May this year.
The total capacity of Estlink 2 will be 650 MW. Currently there is a 350 MW submarine cable link between Estonia and Finland. By comparison, Estonian peak consumption is around 1 600 MW and the minimal consumption during the summer period decreases to around 400 MW.

Baltic Rescue Unit Prepared to Help Fight Floods in Moldova

12 July (BNS) - The Baltic countries' joint BaltFloodCombat rescue unit is prepared to go fight floods in Moldova. The River Prut has risen over the banks and the flood has caused human victims and major damages. A spokesman for the rescue board told BNS that the European Union's assessment and co-ordination committee sent three experts to Moldova to get a first-hand overview of the situation and to assess the need for help. One of the experts is from Latvia, another from Germany and the third from Estonia, head of the foreign relations office at the Rescue Board, Jevgeni Jutkevits. The spokesman said that BaltFloodCombat had been activated and was prepared to go to Moldova if a need for that should arise. Thus far Romania and Austria have given material assistance to Moldova.

Estonia One of Four Countries to Deliver on Haiti Aid Pledge

15 July (BNS) - Six months after a devastating earthquake struck Haiti, most governments that promised money to help rebuild the country have not delivered any funds at all, a CNN investigation has found. Only four countries have paid so far: Brazil, Norway, Estonia and Australia.
Donors promised 5.3 billion US dollars at an aid conference in March about two months after the earthquake, but less than 2% of that money has been given to the United Nations-backed body set up to handle it. Former President Bill Clinton, a UN special envoy for Haiti, said he plans to put pressure on governments that have been slow to deliver on their promises. He said the worldwide economic crisis was at least partly to blame.
Altogether, about 506 million dollars has been disbursed to Haiti since the donors' conference in March, said Jehane Sedky of the UN Development Program. That's about 9% of the money that was pledged.
Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Paet said in his comments to BNS on Thursday that countries were only halfway through their fiscal year and procedures were going on. "Hopefully the amount of donor aid will start growing rapidly. We are made more confident about it by the fact that the money that has gone there so far has according to the experts who examined the use of aid in Haiti been used well and for its proper purpose," said the minister.

Estonian Ambassador to Belgium Presents Credentials

14 July - Ambassador of the Republic of Estonia to the Kingdom of Belgium Mariin Ratnik presented her credentials to King of the Belgians Albert II today, 14 July. In the discussion that followed the presentation of credentials, King Albert II fondly recalled the visit the royal couple made to Estonia in 2008, confirming that he has all the best memories from that trip.
The king expressed great interest in how much the global financial crisis has influenced Estonia and what Estonia’s primary steps have been for restoring the economy. Future plans for enlivening the economy were also discussed. Ambassador Ratnik gave an overview of Estonia’s conservative budgetary policy, emphasising that taking into consideration Estonia’s upcoming accession to the euro zone, the strict budgetary policy has been completely justified.
Other topics discussed at the meeting were Estonia’s energy policy in the context of the European Union as well as in co-operation with its neighbours and the future of nuclear energy. King Albert II and Ambassador Ratnik also talked about the further development of Estonia-Belgium bilateral relations, focusing primarily on opportunities for co-operation in the economic sector.
Ambassador Mariin Ratnik was born in 1976 in Tartu. She graduated from the economics department of Tartu University and has furthered her studies at the Estonian School of Diplomacy and in the international relations department at Humboldt University in Berlin. Ratnik has worked for the Estonian foreign service since 2000. She has been an advisor on relations with the European Parliament at the Estonian representation to the EU, an economic advisor at the Embassy of the Republic of Estonia in Berlin, a division director in the Foreign Ministry’s European Union department, and the director of EU affairs at the State Chancellery.

DOMESTIC NEWS

Temperatures in Estonia to Rise Above 30 Degrees Centigrade

12 July - According to the forecast of the Estonian Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology, the heat wave that arrived in the country last week is not going to show any signs of retreating and the temperature could rise to 33 or more degrees Centigrade.
On Monday as well as on the days to follow the temperature can rise to above 30 degrees C in most parts of Estonia, with the maximum temperatures likely to hit to 33 or even 35 degrees Centigrade. Only on the coasts, which are open to winds from the sea, will the temperature remain below 30 degrees C.
The average temperature over 24 hours is from 22 to 26 degrees, 7 to 8 degrees higher than normal for the period. There is a high risk of fire in Estonian forests that is rapidly growing.

Materials Science at Tartu University Among Most Influential in World

13 July (BNS) - According to the ESI (Essential Science Indicators) database, Estonia's Tartu University is among the top one percent of the world's most influential materials science centres in the world as of 1 July, the daily Eesti Päevaleht reported. As there are nearly 60 000 research centres in the database, this means that the Tartu University materials science department is among the 600 best such centres in the world.
Indrek Ots, head of the Tartu University research and development department, said that the influence of research centres is assessed by the number of articles and references in learned papers. Ots said that the university does not receive monetary gain from the recognition, but it is important in competition situations.
Alvo Aabloo, professor of polymeric materials at the university, said that belonging to the top of the database helps bring scientists to Tartu University and to involve them in international projects. The major projects at Tartu University have been working out artificial muscles and a robot model.

Report Puts Worldwide Population of Estonians at 1.06 Mln

15 July (BNS) - The number of ethnic Estonians living in the world now is 1 060 000, of whom 930 000 live in Estonia and about 130 000, or 12%, in other countries, it appears from a human resource report presented by the Estonian Co-operation Assembly on Thursday.
The eastern diaspora of Estonians is constantly declining. In Russia, where the number of ethnic Estonians is the largest, the decline is happening as a result of a big share of elderly people in the ethnic Estonian population and assimilation of the younger generation.
The number of ethnic Estonians living in countries of the West has been stable for the past six decades due to the wave of new emigration that started in the 1990s. As a result, the number of ethnic Estonians has grown rapidly in the new countries of destination for the emigration of Estonians, particularly Finland.
In new emigration the survey identifies two definite types of emigration, the first being people temporarily studying or working in foreign countries and the second being people who have left their native country for good. The large size of the former group leaves an erroneous impression of the scale on which leaving of Estonia has taken place.

DEFENCE NEWS

SACEUR Recognises Estonia’s Contribution to International Security

14 July (BNS) - Meeting with Estonian Prime Minister Andrus Ansip on Wednesday, Adm. James Stavridis, Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR), expressed sincere thanks to Estonia for its contribution to international security. “My message is thanks. Estonia stands out among members of the alliance as an active contributor to security," Stavridis said during his visit to Stenbock House.
During the meeting, the security situation in the most important NATO military mission in Afghanistan was discussed. In the admiral's opinion, the Afghanistan mission will be successful as NATO is a strong alliance and there are a total of 47 countries contributing to security there today. The Estonian prime minister confirmed Estonia's continued participation in the international security forces, saying that Estonian soldiers would remain in the area of the mission for as long as necessary and as long as the Afghan government requests it.
Admiral Stavridis said that the courage and bravery of Estonian soldiers was highly appreciated. "The Estonian Defence Forces have sustained serious losses on foreign missions and I express deep condolences to the relatives of all the fallen soldiers.”
The supreme commander of NATO forces in Europe underlined the need to achieve the 2-percent defence spending share of the member countries of the alliance, while recognising Estonia's decision to retain the level of the sum earmarked for national defence in the conditions of the economic crisis. The Estonian prime minister gave to the admiral a promise to raise the level of defence spending to 1.19% of the gross domestic product next year. In addition to meeting with the prime minister, Adm. Stavridis also visited the parliament and met with Defence Ministry officials and officers of the Defence Forces in the framework of his two-day visit to Estonia. On Thursday Adm. James Stavridis will visit the NATO Cyber Defence Centres located on the territory of the Staff and Signals Battalion.

Estonian and Latvian Volunteer Defence Corps Sign Co-operation Accord

9 July (BNS) - The commanders of the volunteer national defence corps Kaitseliit (Defence League) of Estonia and Zemessardze of Latvia signed a co-operation protocol between the two organisations in Aluksne, Latvia on Thursday. As far as is known, this is the first time since the restoration of independence that the volunteer national defence organisations of the two countries are signing such an accord, Kaitseliit spokesman Capt. Tanel Rutman told BNS.
The need for a co-operation agreement arises first and foremost from the increase in the number of joint events in recent years. In 2011 the two organisations are planning to work together in the framework of regional exercises in the 2nd defence district of Latvia and in Estonia's Western defence district as part of the Amber Hope 2011 exercise held in Lithuania. As usual, the two organisations will send their representatives to each other's sports events and national celebrations.
The commander of the Kaitseliit, Lt. Col. Raivo Lumiste, and Zemessardze commander Col. Juris Zeibarts found that co-operation on the level of units, especially of units in the countries' border areas, is very important to ensure mutual support and short response time.

Aaviksoo Meets with Singaporean Colleague

14 July (BNS) - While meeting with his Singaporean colleague Teo Chee Hean, Estonian Defence Minister Jaak Aaviksoo discussed co-operation in the cyber defence sphere. According to the Defense Ministry Singaporean Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Teo Chee Hean was highly interested in the activity of the NATO Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence in Tallinn. "Singapore is certainly in the top ranks in terms of the development level of its e-services and e-governance. The participation of the Singaporean defence forces in the cyber defence conferences we organise would certainly be suitable, and we did not rule out co-operation in the framework of individual cyber defence projects either," Aaviksoo said. Gen. David Koh, director of cyber security of the Singaporean defence forces, also attended the meeting.
Additionally, the ministers discussed the general security situation in Europe and Indo-China and participation in the operation in Afghanistan. The ministers stated that being small countries next to big neighbours, the defence policy views of Estonia and Singapore were largely similar. "I was pleased to hear that Minister Hean regarded compulsory military service as important from the point of view of growing the feeling of one nation, and if its works there in an extremely varied ethnic environment, the more expedient it is in Estonia from the point of view of the civic feeling," Aaviksoo said.

ECONOMIC NEWS

Number of Overnight Tourists Up by 11 Percent in May

9 July (BNS) - The number of overnight tourists at Estonian accommodation establishments was 213 000 in May 2010, 11% more than in the same period last year. In May 152 000 foreign and 62 000 domestic tourists stayed overnight at accommodation establishments, with the number increasing by respectively 13 and 7 percent, Statistics Estonia said.
Of the overnight foreign tourists, 70% came to Estonia on holiday, 20% on business, and the rest had some other reasons to visit Estonia. Nearly 5 000 overnight foreign tourists said that the aim of their stay was to take part in a conference, training course or congress.
The most popular destination for foreign tourists was Tallinn, and the number of overnight tourists from Finland, Russia, Germany and Latvia increased in the hotels of the city, while the number of tourists from Sweden and Norway declined. Most of the conference tourists (72%) also remained in Tallinn.
Contrary to the two previous years, the number of domestic tourists also increased this May. Nearly 4 000 Estonian residents more than last year used the services of accommodation establishments.
The average price of an overnight stay was 28 euros, 10% lower than in May 2009. In Tallinn the cost of an overnight stay was 32 euros, 15% down from last year.

H1 Rail Freight Volumes Up 17 Percent

12 July (BNS) - Rail cargoes transported using the infrastructure of the state-owned Estonian company Eesti Raudtee (Estonian Railway) during the first half of this year amounted to 14.25 million tons, which is 16.7% more than in the same six months a year ago. In June rail freight totalled 2.16 million tons, which marks a year-on-year increase of more than 12%, Eesti Raudtee said. During the six months, rail shipments of oil and oil products totalled 9.88 million tons, 10.7% more than a year earlier.
Transit totalled 11.66 million tons, compared with 10.19 million tons in the first six months of 2009.
Local shipments amounted to 1.86 million tons, up by 43% year on year.
Import shipments decreased 11% to 0.44 million tons while export shipments increased 30% to 0.28 million tons.

Finland’s Itella to Buy Estonia’s Smartpost Network

9 July (BNS) - Smartpost, which has created a high-tech parcel delivery system in Estonia during the past two years, has signed a contract for the sale of its network to the Finnish logistics company Itella Corporation in order to fully dedicate to expansion to foreign markets. By a mutual agreement, the parties will not disclose the price of the transaction, the companies said on Friday.
In the future, Smartpost will focus on its main activity – the development of parcel delivery software and hardware and its sale to foreign countries. Use of the Smartpost trademark in Estonia will pass to Itella. The employees connected with the provision of parcel delivery services will also continue in Itella. Itella will set up a new company, OU Itella Smartpost, to continue providing the parcel delivery services in Estonia.
Peep Kuld, member of the supervisory board of Smartpost, said that the management of the company had achieved its first aim and had proved the success of its business idea in Estonian conditions. "The main aim of the creation of a parcel delivery system in Estonia was supporting our export plans and the aim has been achieved by today. The system has been very successfully geared and it is the main argument in the sale of our technology on foreign markets,” Kuld said.
The technology and logistics company Smartpost, which is based on domestic capital, has a total of 38 parcel delivery systems throughout the country. By means of Smartpost it is also possible to send parcels all over Europe, although the parcels will be delivered by the traditional postal service. In the company's own assessment more than 90 000 people have used the services of the company.

Experts Forecast Good Summer Crop Yields

13 July (BNS) - Experts are forecasting a good summer crop harvest in Estonia this year. "If we get a reasonable amount of rain during the coming week we can expect a very good summer crop harvest," Ando Adamson, researcher at the Estonian Research Institute of Agriculture, told BNS. "Summer crops look very fine this year. Dry weather or rain may have caused damage in individual places across Estonia, but that is not remarkable," he said.
Adamson said the cool and wet spring gave summer crops a start that was even too good and made plants come up densely. Another researcher talking to BNS, department head of the Jõgeva Plant Breeding Institute Ilmar Tamm, said forecasting of crop yields was difficult as it depends greatly on the weather in July and in August.
He, too, said that the situation of summer crops was predominantly good at the moment. "The yield now depends on whether there'll be drought and what the weather will be like during the harvesting time," he said. "For summer crops we can forecast a yield at least from average to good," said Tamm.

Container Terminal Infrastructure Completed at Muuga Harbour

15 July (BNS) - Thanks to an EU subsidy, the infrastructure for an additional container terminal of a yearly capacity of 350 000 TEU that cost nearly one million kroons (EUR 64 mln) to build has been completed in the eastern part of Estonia's Muuga Harbour, controlled by the Port of Tallinn.
"Containers are the business of the future and it was high time for the Port of Tallinn to increase its competitiveness and create conditions for the expansion of container transport," the press service of the port reported Erik Ringmaa, commercial director of AS Tallinna Sadam, as saying. Ringmaa said that also the timing supported the project and compared with the initial plans the price was nearly one sixth lower due to the fall in building prices.
At the moment talks are underway with several possible operators, including AS Muuga CT, which already operates a containers terminal at Muuga Port.
The development project was of 71 hectares, of which 27 hectares was prepared for the container terminal and 44 hectares for its reserve area. A wharf of 378 meters was built and an existing wharf was extended by one hundred meters.
At the end of 2006 the European Commission allocated 361 million kroons (EUR 23 mln) from the European Union's Cohesion Fund, most of which was used for financing the container terminal extension and the reserve area. Work for the building of roads and technical networks for the new part of the port is continuing.

Revenues, Profit of Playtech Estonia Up Last Year

15 July (BNS) - The revenues and profit of the Estonian unit of the online games software developer Playtech grew last year. It appears from the Playtech Estonia report that the sales proceeds of the company totaled 219.7 million kroons (EUR 14 mln) last year compared with 191.6 million kroons in 2008. The net profit of the company stood at 8.8 million kroons last year. The year before the same figure was 6.7 million kroons. Playtech's expenses on labour, including taxes, totalled 167 million kroons.

CULTURAL NEWS

Pärt’s Music Performed in Istanbul Again

12 July - On Friday, 16 July, the girls’ choir Ellerhein, conducted by Tiia-Ester Loitme, will give a performance in Istanbul featuring the best of Estonian choir music. Ellerhein, which is participating in the international youth festival in Turkey, will be performing in the Hagia Irene Church Museum, the same place where the world premier of Arvo Pärt’s work “Adam’s Lament” took place on 7 June.
The concert, which was made possible by co-operation between the Estonian Embassy and Istanbul 2010, will include the works of Arvo Pärt, Veljo Tormis, and Cyrillus Kreek, as well as traditional Turkish music. The concert begins at 20.00 and admission is free.
The Ellerhein girls’ choir was established in 1951 by Heino Kaljuste. Tiia-Ester Loitme has been the conductor of the choir since 1989. Ellerhein has won many awards in Estonia as well as abroad—the choir is recognised for its unique, pure sound. Ellerhein’s choir master is Ülle Sander, its concert masters are Katrin Kuldjärv and Piret Habak, and the vocal teacher is Mare Jõgeva. Ellerhein has visited Turkey before in 2005, when it participated in the international choir competition in Ankara and won first place in the women’s and men’s choir category and second place in the folk songs category.

The Times Compares Sofi Oksanen to Sweden’s Stig Larsson

12 July (BNS) - According to Monday's issue of the Times, Sofi Oksanen, a Finnish writer of Estonian roots, is becoming as popular a writer as the Swede Stig Larsson. The Times wrote that although Oksanen has sold only a few hundred thousand copies of her books compared with Larsson's millions, her popularity is increasing. The paper mentioned her last book, “Purge”, which has been published in 29 countries, adding that in Finland the writer's status was similar to that of a rock star.
The Times said that despite her age (33), Oksanen has achieved a lot and, among other things, has won the coveted Nordic countries' literature prize of about EUR 47 000 that would be handed over to her in November in Iceland.
“Purge”, Oksanen's third novel, which speaks about Estonian history from the 1940s until today, tells the story of one family's women through their tragic experiences. “Purge” was first born as a play whose first performance in Finland's National Theatre was a great success. In 2008 the novel won Finland’s highest-rated Finlandia literature prize, and in 2010 the Runeberg prize. Last year “Purge” was also published in Estonian. This year Estonian President Toomas Hendrik Ilves decorated Sofi Oksanen with the Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana IV Class.
Oksanen was born in 1977 in Jyväskylä; her mother is Estonian and her father Finnish.