✔︎ EstoNews will be on hiatus for a few weeks. Will be spending time in Eesti. EstoNews will return in July.
✔︎ Sõidan Eestisse järmisel nädalal. Järgmine EstoUudised saadedakse välja juuli kuul.
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Update - Saturday 10. June 2017
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- After sowing doubts, Trump backs NATO mutual defense under charter
"I'm committing the United States to Article 5 and certainly we are there to protect and that's one of the reasons that I want people to make sure we have a very, very strong force by paying the kind of money necessary to have that force," Trump said.
"But yes, absolutely I'd be committed to Article 5."
(Reuters)
"But yes, absolutely I'd be committed to Article 5."
(Reuters)
(Foreign Policy)
"After a public showing on May 25 in which Trump refused to endorse NATO’s collective defense clause and famously shoved the Montenegrin leader out of the way, leaders of the 29-member alliance retired to a closed-door dinner that multiple sources tell Foreign Policy left alliance leaders “appalled.”
--
Trump had two versions of prepared remarks for the dinner, one that took a traditional tack and one prepared by the more NATO-skeptic advisors, Stephen Miller and Steve Bannon. “He dumped both of them and improvised,” one source briefed on the dinner told FP.
--
During the dinner, Trump went off-script to criticize allies again for not spending enough on defense. (The United States is one of only five members that meets NATO members’ pledge to spend 2 percent of GDP on defense.)
--
Several sources briefed extensively on the dinner say he said 2 percent wasn’t enough and allies should spend 3 percent of GDP on defense, and he even threatened to cut back U.S. defense spending and have Europeans dole out “back pay” to make up for their low defense spending if they didn’t pony up quickly enough. Two sources say Trump didn’t mention Russia once during the dinner.
--
“Oh, it was like a total shitshow,” said one source, who spoke on condition of anonymity as they weren’t authorized to discuss the closed-door dinner.
--
“The dinner was far worse than the speech,” said a former senior U.S. government official briefed on dinner. “It was a train wreck. It was awful.”
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Friday 9. June
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- Uuring: eestlased peavad tähtsaks NATO-sse kuulumist
(Delfi)
"Täna toimunud kaitseministeeriumi pressikonverentsil selgus, et üleüldiselt suhtutakse kaitseväkke positiivselt. Siiski on eestlased ja venelased eri arvamustel, mida peaks Eesti tegema, et riigis oleks turvaline elada. 70% Eesti elanikest usub, et sõjaliste konfliktide oht maailmas suureneb. Eesti olukorda nimetab enamus inimesi stabiilseks, arvatakse isegi, et see on liikumas paremuse suunas."
- Hinnang nii Eesti kui maailma turvalisusele on paranenud
(ERR)
- Venemaa piirivalve pidas kinni Saatse saapas peatumiskeeldu eiranud mehed
(LõunaLeht)
"8. juunil kella 13.20 ajal andis Venemaa piirivalve Piusa kordoni piirivalvuritele teada, et pidasid Saatse saapas kinni kaks meest vanuses 22 ja 28 eluaastat, kes eirasid nõuet Saatse saapast peatumata läbi sõita."
- Border workers arrested by Russian border guard, later returned
(ERR)
[I have been driven through the Saatse Boot, and indeed there are multiple signs warning travellers not to stop. We did not see any guards but I'm sure that we were under some sort of observation. So, technically, I’ve ‘been’ to Russia.]
http://news.err.ee/601088/border-maintenance-workers-arrested-by-russian-border-guard-later-returned
- Tallinn airport tram line to enter into service at end of August
(ERR)
"A significant portion of the construction work on the tram line to the airport has been completed by now — we have relocated existing infrastructure on Keevise Street and Suur-Sõjamae Street, completed digging work along the tunnel's route and construction of the tunnel's bearing structures is in its final stages."
✔︎ Estonia buoys cyber security with world's first data embassy
(Deutsche Welle)
"Estonia is about to open a 'data embassy' outside its borders. The country's critical infrastructure will be stored in Luxembourg … Under a bilateral agreement between the Estonian and Luxembourg governments expected to be signed within weeks, the Estonian data will receive the type of protection and immunity given "regular" embassies under the Vienna Convention, the 1961 international treaty that defines diplomatic relations between independent countries. That means that officials from the host country, in this case Luxembourg, will be barred from accessing the data."
- Toomas Hendrik Ilves wants the rest of the world to become digital nations too
(The Next Web)
"As a devoted advocate for better digital policies within the EU, Estonia is currently one of the world’s leading countries when it comes to providing government services online.”
- How Estonia's E-Voting System Could Be The Future
(Forbes)
"Modern-day Estonia has become synonymous with the notion of reimagining how citizens interact with their government, making nearly every governmental service available from home or on the go via a mouse click."
- Interview: EU’s Jean-Claude Juncker
(Spiegel)
"European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, 62, discusses the EU's growing self-confidence, its differences with President Trump and Brexit negotiations in the wake of an unclear election outcome in Britain."
- EU needs stronger defence arm
(BBC)
"EU nations must step up their military co-operation as they cannot simply rely on the US to defend them," EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker says. "Our deference to Nato can no longer be used as a convenient alibi to argue against greater European efforts."
- Cajoling Europe Into Cooperating on Defense
(Carnegie Europe)
"On June 7, the European Commission proposed two initiatives to nudge EU member states toward more defense cooperation and thus reduce waste in defense research and procurement in Europe. That is a laudable aim, but for it to be effective, European governments must respond by committing significantly more to defense collaboration.”
—
"European countries, which collectively spend about half of what the United States does on defense, can deploy only about 3 percent of their armed forces in battle at any time."
- Nikita Khrushchev's granddaughter killed in Moscow
(Meduza)
"Yulia Khrushcheva (77), the granddaughter of the late Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev, was reportedly killed outside Moscow on June 8, after falling under a passing train at a railway station."
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Thursday 8. June
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- Eesti, kus vaesed käivad haigena tööl
(Postimees)
"Riigi 2009. aasta otsus lõpetada esimese kolme haiguspäeva hüvitamine lõi kõige valusamalt madalapalgalisi, kes hakkasid ka haigena tööl käima – järsku hakati võtma ligi kaks korda vähem haiguspäevi kui varem."
- Estonia, where the poor go to work sick
(Postimees)
- Arhitektid ja muinsuskaitsjad Viru hotelli ümberehitust ei toeta
(ERR)
"Viru Keskuse sissepääsude ja fassaadide ümberehituse käigus plaanitakse lammutada ja kõrgemaks ehitada ka Viru hotelli madalam osa."
- Vastseliina piiskopilinnuse lugu jutustavad ka surnud
(Maa Leht)
- Eesti riik laseb soomusrongi koopia ehitada
(ERR)
"Eesti 100. aastapäeva tähistamiseks laseb riik ehitada soomusrongi koopia, millel on kandev osa Vabadussõja lavastuslahingutes."
- Ukrainian Parliament Makes NATO Integration A Priority
(RFERL | Kyiv Post)
"The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine has passed a law strengthening cooperation between Ukraine and NATO with the aim of eventually joining the military alliance.”
--
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Wednesday 7. June
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✔︎ Interview: Strobe Talbott
(Global Politico via SoundCloud)
"As Bill Clinton’s deputy secretary of state, Talbott oversaw the successful push to redefine the alliance for the post-Cold War, expanding to the same countries in Eastern Europe and the Baltics now so urgently looking for American reaffirmation of the commitment Clinton and Talbott gave them in the 1990s."
- NATO: The 27 Words Trump Wouldn’t Say
by Susan B. Glasser
(Politico)
“We face many threats, but I stand here before you with a clear message: the U.S. commitment to the NATO alliance and to Article 5 is unwavering.”
--
"This was what President Donald Trump was supposed to say in his May 25 address to NATO leaders in Brussels … How much does it matter? ..."
--
“We’re all seeing the fallout—and all the fallout was anticipated,” a senior White House aide told me.”
- Trumpi kõne NATOs üllatas tema rahvusliku julgeoleku meeskonda
(ERR)
"Kui USA president Donald Trump veidi üle nädala tagasi oma visiidil NATO liidritele kõnet pidas, ei olnud sellest puuduv kinnitus pühendumisest kollektiivsele kaitsele ootamatu üksnes Euroopa liitlastele, vaid ka presidendi enda rahvusliku julgeoleku meeskonna liikmetele."
- Trump National Security Team Blindsided by NATO Speech
(Politico)
"Trump’s impulsive instincts on foreign policy are not necessarily going to be contained by the team of experienced leaders he’s hired for Defense, the NSC and State."
- Mike Pence insists US is committed to Article 5
(Politico-Europe)
- Pence: USA on pühendunud Põhja-Atlandi lepingu 5. artiklile
(ERR)
- Who Will Lead the West?
(Carnegue Europe)
[Toomas Hendrik Ilves is one of many experts commenting in on this question.]
- Estonia keeping an eye on Russia's Zapad war games with allies
(Baltic Times | EER)
"The armed forces of Russia are about to stage a large-scale military exercise named Zapad in Western Russia and Belarus in September. In previous exercises of the same name in 2013 and 2009, Russia reportedly rehearsed also an attack on neighboring countries."
http://www.baltictimes.com/minister__estonia_keeping_an_eye_on_russia_s_zapad_war_games_with_allies/
—
- The Road to Zapad 2017
(CEPA StratCom)
“… an in-depth resource to track and analyze the lead up to Zapad 2017."
- Hyperloop teatas ametlikult, et asub uurima Eesti-Soome toru rajamist
(ERR)
"Uudset transpordiviisi arendav USA ettevõte Hyperloop One avalikustas üheksa Euroopas asuvat võimalikku marsruuti, mille võimalikkust nüüd uurima hakatakse. Üheks võimalikuks marsruudiks on ka Helsingi-Tallinna liin."
- New Hyperloop plans could include Helsinki-Tallinn connection
(Yle)
"Hyperloop One, the group behind the funding and construction of the world's first commercial reduced-pressure transport system, has announced that it will begin surveying nine new European locations for possible Hyperloop sites. Among the nine routes shortlisted in Amsterdam on Wednesday is a direct 90-kilometre link between Helsinki and the Estonian capital Tallinn."
- Estonian tax threat to Finns' booze cruises
(BBC)
- Halvan oluen aika Virossa on pian ohi
(Helsingin Sanomat)
"Estonian authorities plan to incrementally increase taxes on mild alcoholic drinks so much that by 2020, the cashier price of beer will surge by half. Estonian tax authorities and the Finnish Taxpayers’ Association estimate that the price of a crate of beer will jump from today’s 12 euros to 18 euros – still cheaper than the asking price of 25 euros in Finland."
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Tuesday 6. June
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- Maestro Neeme Järvi tähistab oma 80. juubelisünnipäeva koos ERSOga
(Postimees)
"Maestro Neeme Järvi 80. sünnipäeva tähistatakse kolme piduliku kontserdiga 6. ja 7. juunil Estonia kontserdisaalis ning 9. juunil Peterburi Maria teatris."
- Neeme Järvi and modern orchestral traditions
(Estonian World)
“… Järvi’s artistic temperament is well suited to the often less than ideal circumstances surrounding orchestral performance in the 21st century, thus allowing Järvi’s art to remain uncompromised during a time when many great conductors of the past might be aghast at working conditions of orchestras."
- Eesti asendab Maltat EL Nõukogude juhtimises juba sel nädalal
(ERR)
"Malta kolleegid pöördusid eile pärastlõunal telefoni teel Eesti poole ning uurisid, kas oleksime vajadusel valmis juhatama ministrite nõukogu kohtumisi sellel nädalal, kui see peaks olema vajalik nende riigis toimunud valitsuse vahetuse tõttu," teatas Eesti eesistumismeeskonna pressiesindaja Triin Oppi teisipäeval."
- Estonia temporarily standing in for Malta this week
(ERR)
- Ratas visiting Spain, Portugal ahead of Estonia's EU presidency
(ERR)
- Tallinna lauluväljakul avati kapitaalselt renoveeritud raadiotorn
(Delfi)
"Tallinna lauluväljakul lõppesid raadiotorni kapitaalsed renoveerimistööd. Tegemist on ajaloolise ja esindusliku hoonega, millest on kommenteeritud kõiki laulupidusid ja mis asub Lauluväljaku arhitektuurses ansamblis olulisel kohal. Raadiotorn valmis arhitekt Alar Kotli projekti järgi 1960 a."
- Võrus lõppes juhtimisõppus Saber Knight
(LõunaLeht)
"Võrus peetud õppusest võtsid lisaks Taani diviisi ja Taani brigaadide staapidele osa ka Läti, Leedu ja Slovakkia brigaadide staabid."
- NATO sai uue liikme
(Äripäev)
"Brüsselis heisatakse Montenegro lipp 29. alliansi liikmena 7. juunil."
- Saber Strike 17 Opens in Latvia
(DVIDS)
- Russia Intercepts U.S. Bomber Flying Over Baltic Sea
(Newsweek)
- Saber Strike õppusel osalevad pommitajad B-1 ja B-52
(ERR)
- Russian Activity In The Baltic Region Leads To Spike In Alert Scrambles By NATO Interceptors
(The Aviationist)
"According to the Ministry of National Defence Republic of Lithuania ... in the week between May 22 and 28, allied aircraft were called to perform six alert scrambles to identify and escort Russian combat planes flying in international airspace over the Baltic Sea."
—
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Monday 5. June
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- Kaljulaid: töö julgeoleku kindlustamisel ei lõpe iial
(ERR)
"Kaljulaid ütles Kõltsu mõisas Leedu presidendi Dalia Grybauskaitė auks korraldatud riigiõhtusöögil, et Eesti ja Leedu näevad ümbritsevat maailma üsna ühtemoodi - nii ohtusid kui ka seda, mida tuleks nende vähendamiseks ja kontrollimiseks ette võtta."
- Temporary border checks on Estonian-Latvian border
(ERR)
- Lithuania: Mummies’ Medical Secrets
(New York Times)
"Hundreds of skeletons have lain scattered around a crypt beneath a church in Vilnius, Lithuania, for centuries. But 23 of these remains are unlike the rest: Flesh wraps their bones, clothes cover their skin, and organs still fill their insides."
--
"They are mummies, and since they were recovered about five years ago, scientists have investigated their secrets, seeking insights into the lives of people in the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries and the diseases they suffered."
--
"Cases of atherosclerosis and tuberculosis were found among mummies in the church crypt, offering insights into the health problems of the upper class in 18th- and 19th-century Vilnius.”
- Relics in Riga: the 2017 Baltic Classic Rally rumbles into Latvia
(The Telegraph-Uk)
"The Baltic Classic Rally is an international road event that starts in the Danish city of Copenhagen, before trundling through Sweden, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Germany. All the cars are classics of some description, divided into various categories. The event concludes in Berlin on June 10."
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- Off Topic -
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- Oliver Stone’s ‘Putin Interviews’ Will Teach You Little About Putin, and Even Less About Russia
(Foreign Policy | WSJ)
"There is a documentary to be made about Russia under President Vladimir Putin that shares the Russian perspective, dispels American myths about the historic U.S. foe, and offers Putin’s perspective on some of the thorniest questions on Russia today."
--
"Oliver Stone’s The Putin Interviews is not that documentary.”
—
"The Putin Interviews, a four-part series created from two years of conversations between Oliver Stone and Putin, somehow manages to both spout the Kremlin line and fall back on the laziest American clichés about Russia.”
—
"But Stone is not content to hear Putin’s side. He wants to encourage Putin’s side. He says he fears American neo-conservatives and their hunger for war (Putin fears them, too)."
—
- Opinion: Incompetence Won’t Save Our Democracy
by Masha Gessen
(New York Times - 4. June)
"We recognize the desperate desire of President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia to be admired or at least feared - usually literally at his country’s expense. Still, physical distance makes villains seem bigger than they are in real life. Many Americans imagine that Mr. Putin is a brilliant strategist, a skilled secret agent turned popular leader."
--
"As someone who has spent years studying Mr. Putin - and as one of a handful of journalists who have had an unscripted conversation with him - I can vouch for the fact that he is a poorly educated, under-informed, incurious man whose ambition is vastly out of proportion to his understanding of the world. To the extent that he has any interest in the business of governing, it is his role — on the world stage or on Russian television — that concerns him. Whether he is attending a summit, piloting a plane or hang-gliding with Siberian cranes, it is the spectacle of power that interests him.”
- How Trump and His Allies Have Run With Russian Propaganda
(Mother Jones)
"Key to this equation have been RT and Sputnik international, two Russian state-sponsored news outlets. Both reach only relatively small audiences in the US (RT is estimated to reachabout 8 million people via cable television), but their impact has been magnified greatly online, with their stories reposted on what Watts calls “gray” conspiracy sites like Breitbart News and InfoWars. Twitter bots and other social media accounts further amplify the stories. And in several cases, Trump or his associates have directly cited phony Russian propaganda in a speech or interview."
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- Russia -
"Trust No One"
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✔︎ Putin’s Russian Guard is True ‘Heir to the NKVD’
(Paul Goble)
"In explaining why the new Russian Guard plans to restore the red banner and the name Feliks Dzerzhinsky in its operations, Col. General Sergey Melikov told Izvestiya that such moves were entirely appropriate because veterans have asked for this and because his organization is “the heir of the NKVD.”
--
"Those words were included in the original article but then taken down when someone recognized the dangers of drawing a direct link between an organization that repressed millions of Russians and Putin’s new Guard. However, those who took them down from the webpage forgot that in the age of Screenshot, nothing is really ever lost forever. …"
✔︎ Podcast: Zolotov's Army
(Brian Whitmore | Mark Galeotti | Aleksandr Golts)
"As rumblings of protest gather steam and as the elite gets increasingly restless, what role will the National Guard play as Russia enters what appears to be a tumultuous political season?"
✔︎ Is the Russian National Guard suddenly acquiring sweeping new powers? No, not so much
(Mark Galeotti)
✔︎ Russian Army to Be Subordinated to the National Guard in a Crisis
(Jamestown Foundation)
✔︎ The New NKVD
(RFERL)
"Putin's National Guard is the heir to the organization that implemented Josef Stalin's Great Terror. It's the heir to the organization that carried out mass extrajudicial executions. It's the heir to the organization that created and administered the Soviet gulag."
--
"And it's the heir to the organization responsible for the mass deportations of Estonians, Latvians, Lithuanians, Poles, Crimean Tatars, and other ethnic groups. And General Melikov is proud of this fact."
--
- The Road to Zapad 2017
(CEPA StratCom)
“… an in-depth resource to track and analyze the lead up to Zapad 2017."
- Interview: Garry Kasparov
(RFERL)
"Putin Waging 'War Against The Free World,' But Is Tasting Failure For First Time."
- Putin’s Children: The Generation Born Under Russia’s President
(Time)
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- Russian Defense Ministry's New Modernization Plan
(Moscow Times)
- Report: Russia may seize U.S. property if its own compounds not returned
(Reuters)
"Russia may seize U.S. diplomatic property in Moscow and complicate life for an Anglo-American school unless Washington hands back two diplomatic compounds in the United States before July …"
- Russian Nationalist Lawmakers Call For Return To Tsarist Calendar, Anthem
(RFERL)
“… used before the 1917 communist revolution."
- 'God, save the Tsar' sung by the Kuban Cossack Choir
(Youtube)
- Putin pleads ignorance on Trump campaign meetings
(The Hill)
- Putin on US Paris Withdrawal: "Don't worry, be happy."
(BBC)
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