ESTONIA

National parliaments focus on gender equality

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
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NordenBladet —

Members of the Estonian delegation to the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) are attending the 145th IPU Assembly, with focus on gender equality and gender-sensitive parliaments as drivers of change for a more resilient and peaceful world.

The Head of the Riigikogu delegation Toomas Kivimägi says in his speech that a broader inclusion of women in national parliaments is indeed a topic that should be discussed and that this is a perfect time for it. Yet, Kivimägi does not see setting up gender quotas as the solution, advocating instead for the elimination of administrative and material favouritism or obstacles that create the premise for unequal treatment in politics, employment, and social life on the basis of gender. “In our zeal for equality, we must not forget that there are fields where a higher percentage of men serves the society and the state better, and other fields where we should make more room for women. However, everyone must have an equal opportunity to compete,” he emphasises.

Members of national parliaments are briefed on the mission of the IPU working group to Kyiv and Moscow. With a view of resolving the war by peaceful means, the working group is seeking ways to help bring about the end of the war in Ukraine. In addition, the Assembly is considering the options for parliaments to deal with international migration and ways to stop human trafficking and violation of human rights. Issues of climate change are also on the agenda.

The Assembly brings together all the statutory bodies of the IPU, including the Governing Council, Standing Committees, Committee on the Human Rights of Parliamentarians, and Committee on Middle East Questions, as well as the Forum of Women Parliamentarians, and the Forum of Young Parliamentarians. The Standing Committees report to the Assembly on their work, and the Plenary Assembly adopts the resolutions of the Standing Committees, as well as the General Debate Outcome Document on the response to equality.

Estonia is represented at the Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union in Kigali, Rwanda, on 11–15 October by the President of the Estonian IPU Group Toomas Kivimägi, and Vice-Presidents Helle-Moonika Helme, Helmen Kütt, and Marika Tuus-Laul. More than 1,000 members from around 120 parliaments are meeting at the Assembly.

The Inter-Parliamentary Union is the oldest and largest organisation of parliaments in the world. It was established in 1889 and has 178 member states from the entire world. Estonia was a member of the Union between 1921–1940 and restored its membership after regaining independence in 1991.

Source: Parliament of Estonia

Members of the Riigikogu aim to declare Russia a terrorist regime

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
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NordenBladet —

Today, 85 Members of the Riigikogu submitted a draft statement for legislative proceeding, condemning the annexation of the territory of Ukraine and declaring Russia a terrorist regime.

In the draft statement, the Riigikogu strongly condemns the military actions of the Russian Federation against Ukraine and the illegal annexation of the territories conquered during the aggression and avows that Estonia will never recognise the violation of the territorial integrity of Ukraine through aggressions or sham referendums. “Violation of law can never create law. Putin’s regime with its threats of nuclear attack has turned Russia into the biggest danger to peace both in Europe and in the whole world Statement points,” the draft reads.

The draft declares that the Riigikogu supports the investigations initiated by the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court to identify the crimes committed on the territory of Ukraine, and considers it necessary to prosecute those guilty of crimes of aggression in an international special tribunal.

“Supporting the call of the Parliament of Ukraine to countries and international organisations, the Riigikogu declares Russia a terrorist regime and the Russian Federation a country that supports terrorism, whose actions we must confront together. The Riigikogu calls on the international community to adopt similar declarations,” reads the draft.

In the draft statement, the Riigikogu also condemns using in the aggression any armed groups established with the support of the authorities of the Russian Federation, such as the Wagner Group, and considers it necessary to define the armed forces of the so-called Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics established by the Russian Federation as well as the Wagner private military company as terrorist organisations.

The draft statement also condemns the declaration and implementation of mobilisation by the Russian regime as breaches of international law, stating that the mobilisation which is being carried out for the purpose of continuing the crime of aggression constitutes a crime against peace.

The Riigikogu supports the request to strip the Russian Federation of its status of a permanent member of the UN Security Council, and calls on the European Union Member States to stand united in implementing the additional economic sanctions and sanctions against private individuals with regard to the Russian Federation and its ally Belarus, and to monitor the strict adherence to the sanctions put in place so far.

In the draft statement, the Riigikogu calls on the European Union and NATO Member States to decisively increase military aid to Ukraine, which is needed to stand against the aggression of the Russian Federation and to restore the sovereignty of Ukraine on its territory within its internationally recognised borders. The draft also refers to the need to increase humanitarian aid to Ukraine and to support the country during the post-war reconstruction. “Estonia supports the people, the state, and the army of Ukraine with all the means available and believes in the victory of Ukraine as this is the only way to restore peace in Europe,” reads the text of the draft statement submitted today.

This year, the Riigikogu has already issued three statements to condemn the activities of Russia and express support to Ukraine: on 18 January, the Riigikogu 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

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

The Foreign Affairs Committee is on a working visit to Türkiye

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
-

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
-

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
-

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
-

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
-

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

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