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Helena-Reet Ennet

Helena-Reet Ennet
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The National Defence Committee supports extending the term of office of Commander of the Defence Forces

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
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NordenBladet —

Today, the National Defence Committee of the Riigikogu (Parliament of Estonia) unanimously decided to support extending the term of office of Commander of the Defence Forces Lieutenant General Martin Herem by two years and to submit a relevant proposal to the Government.

Chairman of the National Defence Committee Raimond Kaljulaid said that the Committee found that in the current complicated security situation, the decisions regarding the defence sector require continuity and stability. “Very substantial investment decisions have been taken to develop the Defence Forces, and they need to be implemented in the coming years, in the same way, work continues to increase the presence of allies. In order to strengthen the security on the whole eastern flank of NATO, it is necessary to implement the decisions of the Madrid Summit as soon as possible. Considering these challenges, we think it necessary that Lieutenant General Herem should continue fulfilling his duties until December 2025, as was the proposal of the Minister of Defence,” he explained.

Deputy Chairman of the National Defence Committee Leo Kunnas added that although he would have wanted to get more detailed assessments from the Minister of Defence and also hear the Commander of the Defence Forces, the decision of the Committee was unanimous. “I and Alar Laneman did not request a vote on the issue, but we still had some critical remarks and questions, which we forwarded to the Minister of Defence,” he said.

Lieutenant General Herem has been Commander of the Defence Forces since 5 December 2018. The term of office of the Commander of the Defence Forces of Estonia is five years, but the Government has the right to extend it by two years on the proposal of the Minister of Defence and taking into account the position of the National Defence Committee of the Riigikogu.

Source: Parliament of Estonia

The Baltic Assembly Prize in Literature was awarded to Kai Aareleid

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
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NordenBladet —

The Baltic Assembly Prize in Literature was awarded to Estonian writer and poet Kai Aareleid for her novel “Pacific Ocean”.

Deputy Head of the Estonian delegation to the Baltic Assembly Sven Sester said that “Pacific Ocean” was a novel of our region in the direct sense of the word, because its activities take place in Tallinn, Riga and St. Petersburg. Those people of the Baltics whose memories reach back to the restoration of the independence of the Baltic States can also find many things they remember in the book. “Besides telling the love stories of three women and the stories of three cities, it is also a story of the secrets of the times and of not daring to speak out, of trying to establish the borders between silence and lies, showing how deep the effects of the lack of freedom of expression and taboos can run. At the same time, the novel is not depressing as Kai Aareleid has brought out the beauty of those grey times,” Sester added, and expressed hope that the book would be translated into Latvian and Lithuanian soon.

The Baltic Assembly prize in the Arts was awarded to Lithuanian painter Šarunas Sauka and the Baltic Assembly Prize in Science to Latvian historians Gustavs Strenga, Andris Levāns, Renāte Berga and Laura Kreigere-Liepiņa for their monograph on the 16th and 17th century manuscripts of the Jesuit College of Riga.

Estonia nominated Peeter Laurits for the Prize in the Arts for his outstanding work as an artist and for the project “Biotopia”, and Hilkka Hiiop and Tiina-Mall Kreem for the Prize in Science for the project “Christian Ackermann – Tallinn’s Phidias, Arrogant and Talented”.

The Baltic Assembly Prize consists of a monetary prize, a certificate and a statuette, which are presented every year at the Baltic Assembly session. This year, the prize ceremony will be held on 28 October in Riga, Latvia.

The members of the Joint Jury of the BA Prizes were artists and experts from Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia: Elīna Līce, Ilze Jansone, Andrejs Krasņikovs, Indrek Mesikepp, Kadi-Ell Tähiste, Linda Lainvoo, Eugenijus Ališanka, Ramutė Rachlevičiūtė and Valdemaras Razumas.

The Baltic Assembly has been awarding the Prizes in literature, the arts and science since 1994. The aim of the prizes is to promote the outstanding achievements of the Baltic States.

Source: Parliament of Estonia

Netflix launches game studio in Helsinki Finland

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
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NordenBladet —The global streaming service Netflix recently announced that it will open a studio in Finland’s capital Helsinki to build and develop video games. According to Netflix, “This is another step in our vision to build a world-class games studio that will bring a variety of delightful and deeply engaging original games — with no ads and no in-app purchases — to our hundreds of millions of members around the world.”

Netflix chose Helsinki as the city has some of the best gaming talent in the world, with this studio being the first studio that Netflix is building from the ground up. Besides this, Netflix also owns the Helsinki-based studio, Next Games.

“It’s still early days, and we have much more work to do to deliver a great games experience on Netflix,” the company explains. “Creating a game can take years, so I’m proud to see how we’re steadily building the foundation of our games studios in our first year, and look forward to sharing what we produce in the coming years.”

The studio will be led by Marko Lastikka, Zynga’s Vice President.

 

 

The Foreign Affairs Committee is on a working visit to Türkiye

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
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NordenBladet —

The delegation of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Riigikogu (Parliament of Estonia) is on a working visit to Türkiye, where the allied relations between Estonia and Türkiye and further supporting of Ukraine will be discussed. The visit will last until Friday.

Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee Marko Mihkelson said that the meetings held during the visit would focus on Russia’s ongoing war of aggression and the changes it had caused in the security situation, which also include the accession of Finland and Sweden to NATO. “It is our duty to do everything to help Ukraine to victory and to bring Russia’s current regime to a strategic defeat. To achieve that, Ukraine needs more military as well as economic and diplomatic support than before, and at the same time, it is necessary to continue isolating of Russia at the international level,” Mihkelson underlined. “We also consider sanctions against Russia very important and call on all allies to join them so as to weaken Russia’s capability to wage a war.”

During the visit, the delegation of the Foreign Affairs Committee will meet with Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye Akif Çağatay Kiliç, Chairman of the Türkiye-Estonia Parliamentary Friendship Group Yusuf Ziya Yilmaz and Head of the Delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Selami Altinok. The members of the Foreign Affairs Committee will also have meetings with Minister of Foreign Affairs of Türkiye Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Faruk Kaymakci as well as with İbrahim Kalin, foreign policy adviser to the President of Türkiye.

Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee Marko Mihkelson is accompanied on the visit to by members of the Foreign Affairs Committee Ruuben Kaalep, Mailis Reps and Indrek Saar.

In January, 100 years will pass from the establishment of diplomatic relations between Estonia and Türkiye.

Source: Parliament of Estonia

Chairs of Foreign Affairs Committees of 13 countries condemn sham referendums organised by Russia

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
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NordenBladet —

Chairs of Foreign Affairs Committees of 13 European countries issued a joint statement today, strongly condemning the illegal referendums organised by Russia on the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, and any possible fabricated results that Russia might announce, and call on other countries to reject the referendums and not to recognise their results.

“We emphasise that the sham referendums organised and imposed by the Russian occupation regime in four regions of Ukraine are a clear violation of international law, including the UN charter, and can only be considered as a false pretext to attempt to annex parts of Ukraine and justify their illegal war – a process reflecting Russia’s approach in Crimea in 2014, combining military presence, violence, forced deportations, disinformation, intimidation, distribution of Russian passports to Ukrainian citizens and fake and illegitimate results,” reads the statement by Chairs of Foreign Affairs Committees.

They underline that these referendums and whatever fabricated outcomes Russia would announce do not represent the demonstrated will of the Ukrainian people and are a severe violation of Ukraine’s territorial integrity and independence, and the annexation of Ukrainian territory cannot be recognised by any country.

The 13 Chairs also call on other countries to reject and condemn the referendums organised in temporarily occupied regions of Ukraine and not to recognise any results that Russia might announce, as well as the passports of the Russian Federation issued in the occupied regions of Ukraine. “We call on the international community to seek accountability for those who have been actively involved in the organisation and holding of illegal referendums or engaged in other related activities,” reads the joint statement.

The Chairs also make an appeal to urgently strengthen sanctions against Russia, continue to isolate Russia from international and regional organisations, impose equivalent sanctions on Belarus as a supporter of Russian military aggression, and increase military, financial, humanitarian, and diplomatic support to Ukraine.

The statement has been signed by the Chairs of Foreign Affairs Committees of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Czech Republic, Spain, Netherlands, France, Romania, Slovakia, Germany, Finland, and Denmark. Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Riigikogu Marko Mihkelson signed the statement on behalf of Estonia.

Text of the Joint Statement in English

Source: Parliament of Estonia

Sven Sester observes elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
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NordenBladet —

Member of the Estonian Delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Sven Sester will observe the general elections held in Bosnia and Herzegovina on Sunday in the capital of the country Sarajevo.

“For Bosnia and Herzegovina, the elections are a possibility to show the commitment of the country to democratic processes,” Sester said. He added that there was a strong international interest in the country’s democratic development and reforms. “Hopefully, on Sunday we will be able to see highly competitive elections that meet international standards.”

Nearly a hundred members of national parliaments will observe the parliamentary elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina within the framework of the mission organised by the OSCE PA. In total, over 400 observers will participate in the mission. The purpose of the mission is to make sure that the elections conform to the democratic principles set out in the OSCE Copenhagen Document from 1990.

Election observation missions have been an important part of OSCE’s activities since 1993. The missions monitor whether the elections are conducted legitimately and respect the democratic standards.

For more information, please contact: Sven Sester +372 504 9222

Source: Parliament of Estonia

Members of the Foreign Affairs Committee want to declare Russia a terrorist regime

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
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NordenBladet —

Members of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Riigikogu (Parliament of Estonia) consider it necessary to declare Russia a terrorist regime and the Russian Federation a state supporting terrorism, and want the members of the Riigikogu to initiate a relevant draft statement.

Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee Marko Mihkelson said that the Parliament of Ukraine had called on other countries and international organisations to declare Russia a country supporting terrorism, and in the opinion of the members of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Estonia should respond to this proposal. “In our Committee, we have unanimously agreed that it is necessary to prepare a draft statement to declare Russia a terrorist regime and the Russian Federation a state supporting terrorism. We must also strongly condemn its activities, including organising of sham referendums in Ukraine,” he explained.

Mihkelson added that the political groups of the Riigikogu would continue working with the text of the draft statement this week, with the aim of having the draft ready for proceedings in the Riigikogu in the week after the next. A draft statement of the Riigikogu can be initiated by not less than one-fifth of the members of the Riigikogu or at least 21 members of the Riigikogu.

This year, the members of the Riigikogu have already issued three Statements to condemn the activities of Russia and express support to Ukraine: on 18 January, the Estonian Parliament adopted the Statement in Support of the Territorial Integrity of Ukraine, initiated by 28 members of the Riigikogu; on 23 February, the Statement on the Aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine, initiated by 86 members of the Riigikogu, and on 21 April, the Statement on the War Crimes and Genocide Committed by the Russian Federation in Ukraine, initiated by 84 members of the Riigikogu.

Source: Parliament of Estonia

Prime Minister and Minister of Defence replied to interpellations

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
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NordenBladet —

The Riigikogu heard replies to six interpellations.

Members of the Riigikogu had submitted interpellations to Prime Minister Kaja Kallas concerning the preparations for and the cost of the transition to Estonian-language education, the cost of the coalition agreement between the Reform Party, Isamaa and Social Democrats, and the next year’s state budget, and the supporting of businesses.

Members of the Riigikogu Jaak Aab, Mihhail Stalnuhhin, Natalia Malleus, Enn Eesmaa, Marek Jürgenson, Taavi Aas, Tõnis Mölder, Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart, Anneli Ott, Kersti Sarapuu, Jaanus Karilaid, Siret Kotka and Dmitri Dmitrijev had submitted an interpellation concerning the supporting of businesses in managing the high electricity prices.

The interpellators wished to know what measures and in what volume the Government was planning to implement to mitigate the rise in the prices for energy carriers for businesses.

Kallas explained that the Government had decided to implement various measures in order to reduce the effects that the rise in energy and fuel prices was causing for the performance of businesses.

“First, we have invested in the establishment of an LNG mooring quay. We have made an agreement for a ship with regasification capacity to arrive at the quay. We have allocated 170 million to acquire a gas reserve already under the previous Government with the aim of increasing gas supply. We have decided that micro and small enterprises, sole proprietors, non-profit organisations and foundations with a consumption volume of up to 1 GW per year will be able to join the universal service,” Kallas said.

She added that, in order to help large businesses to make it through the energy war, the Government was offering liquidity measures that could be used to mitigate the effects of the energy crisis. There is also a possibility to replace natural gas with other fuels and a possibility to apply for investment support to ensure energy supply security. “In addition, we have extended the lower tax rate established for liquefied gas, diesel fuel, diesel fuel for specific purposes, light heating oil, heavy fuel oil, shale-derived fuel oil, natural gas, motor natural gas, motor natural gas in liquefied form, and electrical energy,” Kallas noted.

The Prime Minister explained in what financial volume the Government was planning to support businesses in managing the high energy prices, and gave an overview: 40 million for a mooring quay, 170 million for the acquisition of a gas reserve, an estimated 210 million for the effect on Eesti Energia’s profit as a universal service will be provided to micro and small businesses, an estimated 100 million for liquidity assistance to large businesses through the Estonian Business and Innovation Agency, 43 million for the resource efficiency measure provided by the Environmental Investment Centre, and 10 million for agricultural and food industry businesses with separate ensurance of energy supply security.

Minister of Defence Hanno Pevkur replied to interpellations concerning the giving of 155-mm howitzers to Ukraine for military aid, and the further development of Estonian artillery within the context of the Russian-Ukrainian war, the redundancy of generals in the Defence Forces, and homosexual propaganda in the Estonian Defence Forces.

During the open microphone, Peeter Ernits and Tarmo Kruusimäe took the floor.

The sitting ended at 7.21 p.m.

Source: Parliament of Estonia

Ratas thanked Japan for its strong support to Ukraine

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
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NordenBladet —

President of the Riigikogu Jüri Ratas met the Prime Minister of Japan Fumio Kishida in Tokyo today and thanked him for Japan’s strong support for Ukraine.

Ratas qualified Japan as one of Estonia’s key partners in the Asian and Pacific region, and one with whom we share the same values of respecting human rights and the principles of the rule of law. “In the current geopolitical situation, it is important for like-minded countries to band together. I thanked Japan for condemning Russia’s aggression, for imposing sanctions on Russia, and for strongly supporting Ukraine,” he said.

Ratas and Kishida also discussed the excellent relations between Estonia and Japan, and emphasised the need to develop these even further. “In bilateral relations, we are the most keen to enhance cooperation in digital and cyber solutions, which is an integral part of the image we have of Japan in Estonia. We are seeing opportunities for strengthening the cooperation between the Estonian and Japanese companies as well as governments. It is also vital to boost the cooperation between Japan and the European Union,” Ratas said.

The President of the Riigikogu also expressed his condolences to the Prime Minister of Japan for the loss of the former head of government Shinzo Abe. Abe became Japan’s first head of government to visit Estonia in 2018.

On Tuesday, Ratas will attend the state funeral ceremony for former Prime Minister Abe at the Nippon Budokan Arena. During the course of the visit, Ratas will meet the Speaker of the House of Representatives Hiroyuki Hosoda, as well as his colleagues from Romania, Czechia, and Slovenia. On Monday evening, Ratas will meet with members of the Estonian community at the Estonian Embassy.

Source: Parliament of Estonia

Ratas will attend the state funeral of former Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
-

NordenBladet —

President of the Riigikogu (Parliament of Estonia) Jüri Ratas is travelling to Japan today to attend the state funeral ceremony for former Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe.

According to Ratas, former Prime Minister Abe made a strong contribution to the development of relations between Estonia and Japan. In 2018, he became the first Japanese head of government to visit Estonia. “Japan is one of Estonia’s most important partners in the Asia-Pacific region, with whom we share the same values. It is important for us to strengthen our good relations with Japan and to deepen our cooperation, especially in the digital and cyber sectors,” Ratas said.

During the visit, Ratas will meet with Prime Minister of Japan Fumio Kishida and Speaker of the House of Representatives of Japan Hiroyuki Hosoda. He will also have meetings with his Romanian, Czech and Slovenian counterparts. On Monday evening, Ratas will meet with the members of the Estonian community at the Embassy of Estonia.

On Tuesday, the President of the Riigikogu will attend the state funeral ceremony for former Prime Minister Abe at the Nippon Budokan Arena. Ratas will return to Estonia on Wednesday.

Source: Parliament of Estonia

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