Azerbaijan Estonia Discuss Prospects of Economic Cooperation

Azerbaijan, Baku, 2 April The Vice Speaker of the Estonian Parliament Christina Ouland voiced her interest in cooperation with Azerbaijan in the field of economy and culture at the meeting with the Azerbaijani Economic Development Minister Heydar Babayev in Baku on 2 April.

Ouland said Estonia is ready to support expansion of the relationships. Cooperation in the IT field, investing in Azerbaijan’s economy by Estonian entrepreneurs was discussed at the meeting.

Ouland said Azerbaijan’s gas delivery to the region is important for integration to Europe. She noted that removal of double taxation will play an important role in development of the economic and trade relations between the two countries.

Source http://capital.trend.az/print.shtml?newsid=1167649&lang=EN

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Estonia to switch envoy to improve tie

Business daily Kommersant said the Estonian Foreign Ministry is likely to replace Marina Kaljurand with Simmu Tiik, who currently heads the ministry's Eastern Europe Department. The task of the new ambassador is to help reestablish normal relations between Moscow and Tallinn. The preconditions for this are clear. In particular, because Moscow, to all appearances, is also changing its attitude to Baltic countries," the paper said.

Relations between Russia and Estonia, a European Union member since 2004, hit a low-point in April last year after Estonian authorities relocated the Bronze Soldier, a Soviet-era war monument, from central Tallinn and disinterred the remains of soldiers ahead of Victory Day, which is marked on May 9 in Russia. Over 1,000 people were arrested in protests against the move, and one Russian was killed.

During the dispute, the Estonian government accused the Kremlin of orchestrating a series of mass cyber-attacks that disabled the websites of Estonia's parliament, leading banks, ministries, broadcasters and newspapers.

Even radical politicians close to Prime Minister Andrus Ansip have admitted that the conflict following the events of 'bronze night' on April 27, 2007, damaged the country's economy. Going by estimates of the mayor of Tallinn and the leader of the Center Party, Edgar Savisaar, Estonia lost up to 40% of its budget revenue," the paper said. The newspaper said Tiik's appointment will be considered by the government soon.

Source http://en.rian.ru/world/20080402/102815399.html

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Tunnel planned to link Baltic capitals

Mayors seek EU funding for feasibility study for tunnel between Estonia and Finland.

Proposals to link Baltic capitals Helsinki and Tallinn are now under way, following Friday's agreement between the mayors of each city.

Mayors Jussi Pajunen of Helsinki and Edgar Savisaar of Tallinn signed a letter of intent for a rail tunnel beneath the Gulf of Finland to join the capitals - a structure that Mr Pajunen said could become the longest of its kind.

Many Estonians already commute to work in Helskinki due to the close proximity of the capitals, while Finns regularly go shopping in Tallinn.

The mayors agreed to apply for EU funding in May for preliminary feasibility studies. The initial study is estimated to cost between €500,000 (£390,000) and €800,000 (£630,000). Each city will invest €100,000 (£79,000) in the project.

A group of deputy mayors and specialists are scheduled to hold a meeting to discuss the development at the beginning of April.

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