Estonia: President of the Republic of Estonia called European Parliament elections

I hope that our parties understand the responsibility associated with this change; that they only present candidates that will go and work in the European Parliament if elected and thereby justify the trust their voters have placed in them. Those who stand as candidates only to win votes are deceiving the public.

Parties and individual candidates who are applying for the support of people also have to focus on issues of importance during their election campaigns. Dear compatriots, let us be attentive when casting votes. Let us remember that we will elect the European Parliament on 7 June and not the Riigikogu or the local council. We have to stick together and see through the attempts to use the European Parliament elections as a warm-up for the elections in autumn.

This is why we have to remind all those who only talk about Estonian domestic policies during their election campaign what these elections are really about. It is important what the candidates intend to do in European Union politics. We have already gained some valuable experience: We do not need to break through anything in the European Union. We do not have to protect Estonia from the European Union.

We are the European Union. We can prove ourselves in the European Union only if Estonian delegates make themselves heard in the European Parliament; if they find supporters who help them achieve their goals and can support their partners in the achievement of their goals. I assure you on the basis of my experience: it is possible.

The delegates of even the smallest states can have a say in the politics of the European Union. The European Union will focus its activities on the future of the Baltic Sea region in the second half of the year. This initiative, my dear compatriots, started in the European Parliament four years ago. Estonian delegates were also among the initiators.

One thing is clear - the delegates elected from Estonia must become opinion leaders in factions that consist of hundreds of delegates from different countries. In the place where decisions are really born. Knowledge, the will to work and the ability to cooperate - these are the criteria I advise you to consider when giving your vote on 7 June. I hope that our parties and candidates will all come out with good campaigns.

I hope that all citizens of the European Union will give their votes wisely."

Source http://isria.info/en/5_march_2009_48.htm

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In January 2009 the production of industrial enterprises in Estonia decreased by 27%

According to Statistics Estonia, in January 2009 compared to January of the previous year, the production of industrial enterprises decreased by 27%.

The decrease in industrial production, which had begun in March 2008, deepened in January. When from March to October 2008 the decrease in the production was around 5%, in October-November the decrease was about 15% compared to the previous month, then in December the production decreased 22%.

In January, the production in manufacturing fell 29% compared to January of the previous year. The main reason causing the decline in the production was the insufficient market demand both in domestic and external markets. The decrease in the production of manufacturing was mainly influenced by the production of branches holding the largest share, such as food, wood and metal products. The decrease in the production of food, which is an internal market oriented branch, was the smallest – 7%. The decline in the production of food was slightly retarded by the stop of increasing of producer prices. The largest fall – 44% was in the production of building materials, which is directly connected with the decline in the domestic construction market. The production decreased 40% in the manufacture of metal products mainly due to the decrease of export orders. 35% decline occurred in the production of chemical products and wood. At the same time the production of branches holding the smallest share – manufacture of paper and manufacture of motor vehicles decreased even 55–60%.

In January the production increased only in the manufacture of pharmaceutical products (8%).

In January compared to January of the previous year, the production of electricity decreased 10%, the production of heat – 9%.

In January compared to December, the seasonally adjusted industrial production decreased 5%.

Source http://baltic-course.com/eng/analytics/

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Simm gets 12 years for treason

He was sentenced to 12 years and six months in prison. The case was heard at a closed session under a compromise procedure on Feb. 25. Sven Sillar, the defense lawyer of Heete Simm, 54, Herman Simm's wife, a suspected of accomplice of treason, told BNS that the public prosecutor's office had made no proposal to her concerning an agreement or had informed her of her case being closed.

Last September 21, the Harju County Court at an application by the Public Prosecutor's Office issued a warrant for the arrest of Herman Simm, head of the security department at the Defense Ministry on the suspicion of spying for Russia as well as his wife, Heete Simm, lawyer at the Police Board, suspected of being an accomplice to treason.

Until November 2006 Herman Simm worked as head of the security department at the Defense Ministry with access to classified information of the state and it was his duty to sign agreements on the protection of classified information with Estonia's partner countries. After five years of services as head of the security department at the Defense Ministry Simm became and adviser to the ministry and was in that office until last spring.

Herman Simm has been decorated with a Class IV White Star Order and the Class II Service Badge of the Defense Ministry, the Service Badge of the Information Board and the Police memorial medal that he will apparently have to give up after the sentence enters into forces.

Source http://baltictimes.com/news/articles/22430/

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