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21 September, 2018



✔ Vana Toomas on Raekoja torni tipus olev tuulelipp 
--
- In 1944, Old Thomas (Vana Toomas) was hit during the March bombardment. The burnt spire was reconstructed and a new copy of Old Thomas was erected in 1952. In 1996 the spire was renovated and the third Old Thomas figure was put in place, guarding Tallinn.
--
- Drone photo used by permission:


 âœ” An 87-page Danske Bank report "paints a colorful picture of how the Estonian branch of the Danish bank became a favorite place for money launderers".
- Multiple sources (see Wednesday)


✔ Edward Lucas writes about the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact: "If Russia resents being associated with it 
 stop trying to defend it.”
- CEPA


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- On-line version:


- 2014-2018 Archive:



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Friday 21. 
September 
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- When will the Kremlin come to terms with the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact?
by Edward Lucas
(CEPA)
"If Russia resents being associated with it 
 stop trying to defend it."

- Estonia Is the Best U.S. Ally That Most Americans Have Never Heard Of
by Paul Richard Huard
(ARC)
"The tiny Baltic nation could teach President Trump a thing or two about the value of NATO and what small nations can offer a global superpower."



- Paavsti visiit Tallinna toob liikluspiiranguid ja tihedama piirikontrolli
(ERR)
"JĂ€rgmisel teisipĂ€eval toob paavst Franciscuse visiit kaasa lĂŒhiajalisi liikluspiiranguid Tallinna kesklinnas ja Kadriorus. Inimestel, kes soovivad tulla paavsti autokolonnile tervituseks lehvitama, soovitab politsei seda teha kell 12.45 Tammsaare pargis ja MusumĂ€el."



- Kapo tabas suvel GRU agendi varjunimega Tendrit
(Postimees)
"Ülesandeks oli pildistada vĂ”imaliku NATO lennuvĂ€lja asukohta."

"Man who collected information for GRU caught by KAPO in July."



- Tallinna linnahalli lagunemine on jĂ”udnud fassaadivaringuteni
(ERR)
"Muinsuskaitseameti juhi Siim Raie sÔnul kÀitub Tallinna linn pahatahtlikult, lastes linnahallil laguneda. Abilinnapea Aivar Riisalu ei pea korrastamise alustamist mÔistlikuks enne, kui Euroopa Komisjon pole andnud riigiabiluba, mis vÔimaldaks alustada pÔhjalikku remonti."

Lagunev linnahallihoone (Foto- Priit MĂŒrk/ERR)


- No Brexit deals were to be made in Salzburg
(ERR)
“The EU and the UK were not supposed to achieve an agreement at this week's meeting in Salzburg, ... the hope is to reach an agreement in principle on the UK's withdrawal from the EU within a month's time."

"Poland broke ranks with the rest of the EU27 at a crucial ministers meeting on Brexit strategy this week, suggesting that the bloc’s negotiating guidelines may need to be rewritten in October if a Brexit deal is still out of reach.”

- RĂ€ndekriisis ja Brexitis EL-i riigijuhtide kokkulepet ei sĂŒndinud
(ERR)
"NeljapĂ€ev oli Brexiti pĂ€ralt. Euroopa Liidu riigijuhid ĂŒtlesid, et Suurbritannia peaministri Theresa May vĂ€ljapakutud plaan, mis jĂ€taks Suurbritannia justkui ĂŒhe jalaga ĂŒhisturule ja teisega sealt vĂ€lja, ei ole vĂ”imalik ja et ilma kokkuleppeta Iirimaa piiri kĂŒsimuses lahkumislepet ei sĂŒnni."
—

- Europe’s papers in a froth over Theresa May’s ‘Salzburg disaster’
(Politico-Europe)
"Europe’s newspapers were all about the acrimonious EU summit held in Salzburg, Austria on Wednesday and Thursday, at which U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May warned she is prepared to walk away from negotiations with the bloc after EU leaders rejected her Brexit plan."

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Thursday 20. 
September
_____________


- Statistika: vaid 6 protsenti inimestest kasutab digilahendusi vabal
(Postimees)
"Suurem osa viipemakseid, Smart-IDd, Mobiil-IDd, ID-kaarti, videokÔnesid, mobiilirakendusi ja muid tÀnapÀeva digilahendusi vabalt kasutavad elanikud on vanuses 26 kuni 35 aastat ning nad elavad suuremates linnades."



- Narva to rename 2 streets to drop names of revolutionaries
(Baltic Times)
"Two streets in the Russian-speaking border city Narva named after early 20th century Communist revolutionaries Albert-August Tiimann and Ansis Daumanis (Ants Dauman) are about to get new names â€Š Tiimann Street as Soldina Street and Dauman Street as Koidu Street.”



- Remembering Estonia’s WWII refugees
(Estonian World)
[Article was originally published on 14 September 2015.]



- Kuidas automobiil Tallinna jÔudis ja mida hobune sellest arvas
(ERR)


- â€žKurrat tullep!“ Kuidas vanal Liivimaal sada aastat tagasi esimest autot vastu vĂ”eti
(LÔuna Leht)


- Government to support job creation in Northeastern, Southeastern Estonia
(ERR)
"Even though there is currently a workforce shortage in Estonia, many people in Southeastern Estonia and Ida-Viru County have no job," Minister of Health and Labour Riina Sikkut said in a press release on Thursday. "The purpose of the assistance is to motivate employers to create jobs specifically in Ida-Viru County and Southeastern Estonia, where there is still workforce not employed â€Š"

- Tööd on, inimesi pole
(LÔuna Leht)
"KĂ”ik, kes vĂ€hegi soovivad tööd teha, on tööl. Kodudest otsitakse ĂŒles isegi noored emmed ja lunitakse neid tööle, pensionĂ€ridel palutakse veel aastake vastu pidada 
"



- Finnish PM Juha SipilĂ€ expressed reservations about Finland's participation in a common European border and coast guard
(Yle)
"Establishing a common European border and coast guard would require Finland to commit a number of guards to the European initiative."



- Opinion: EU Is Looking Like Europe’s Next Failed Empire
(Bloomberg)
“
 there is still a hunger for U.S. engagement and leadership - but without overt preaching or obvious interference. â€Š NATO is at the absolute center of a unified Europe - the overlap between the EU and the security alliance is almost perfect (just a few countries are in one but not the other). Anything the U.S. can do to support NATO ultimately supports the idea of a unified continent. Even in Hungary, where the EU is viewed with increasing skepticism, NATO remains very popular.”
—
"The EU is anything but an empire, and this is hardly the chaotic end of World War I. But the cracks in Europe’s structure are becoming evident just as Russia is looking to regain its former glories. The U.S. can help hold Europe together, and it is strongly in our interest to do so."





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Wednesday 19. 
September
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- Report: Findings of the investigations relating to Danske Bank's branch in Estonia
(Danske Bank press release)
"The Bank has clearly failed to live up to its responsibility in this matter. 
 There is no doubt that the problems related to the Estonian branch were much bigger than anticipated when we initiated the investigations. The findings of the investigations point to some very unacceptable and unpleasant matters at our Estonian branch, and they also point to the fact that a number of controls at the Group level were inadequate in relation to Estonia."

- The summary of the 87-page report paints a colorful picture of how the Estonian branch of the Danish bank became one of the favorite places of money launderers
(Postimees)

- Paljud kĂŒsimused jĂ€id Kopenhaagenis vastuseta
(Postimees)

- Danske raport on vaid osa laiemast uurimisest
(ERR | Delfi)
"Eesti finantsinspektsioon andis hĂ€irekella juba mitu aastat tagasi. Me oleme seda kaasust jĂ€lginud vĂ€ga pikalt. Sobival ajal alustasime uurimisega, tĂ€navu suvel." 
—

"Ratas ei arutanud Taani peaministriga Danske teemat.”

"Otse Kopenhaagenist: "Pangad on nagu maffia”

- Danske juht palus Eestilt andeks
(ERR)
"Danske juht Thomas Borgen kinnitas, et astub tagasi. ...'Kui neid teateid lugeda, siis tuleb tunnistada, et need on ĂŒsna selged ja spetsiifilised ning nende kirjade alusel oleks tulnud astuda samme. Kahjuks seda ei tehtud, kuid Eesti finantsinspektsioonilt laekunud teated olid vĂ€ga selged. Mul on vĂ€ga kahju. Ma vabandan Eesti ĂŒhiskonna, kĂ”igi klientide ja investorite ees. Sellised asjad ei oleks tohtinud juhtuda, kuid kahjuks juhtusid. See on ka pĂ”hjus, miks ma olen otsustanud tĂ€na tagasi astuda' 
"

"Large Part of $234 Billion Is Suspicious."



- Book: Putin tried to reinforce Trump’s belief in a ‘deep state’ undermining him
(The Hill | Washington Post)
"Russian President Vladimir Putin reportedly tried to reinforce President Trump’s perception that a bureaucratic “deep state” was working to undermine him. Putin voiced those sentiments in phone conversations with the president, according to an excerpt of "The Apprentice: Trump, Russia and the Subversion of American Democracy" that was published by The Washington Post on Wednesday." 
--
“
 as a trained intelligence operative, Putin knew how to draw on someone’s insecurities and their ego. In phone conversations, he would conspiratorially whisper to Trump that the reason they could not hold a more cordial relationship was because of a secret cabal inside the U.S. government 
"
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- Macedonia is set to vote on a name change
(The Atlantic)
"The referendum, which is scheduled to take place on September 30, will ask Macedonian voters to answer “yes” or “no” to the following question: “Do you support EU and nato membership by accepting the agreement between Macedonia and Greece?” That the proposed new name doesn’t even feature in the question is telling because, in truth, this referendum isn’t just about a name."




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Tuesday 18. 
September
_____________


- Üle poole sajandi vastu pidanud laulukaar saab uue kuue
(ERR)
"Tallinna lauluvÀljakul algasid ehitustööd, et 2019. aasta juubelilaulupeol saaks lauljad end laulukaare all ohutult tunda."



- President Kaljulaid Hiinas
(Postimees | ERR)
"President Kersti Kaljulaid viibib sel nÀdalal töövisiidil Hiinas, kus ta tÀna kohtus Hiina presidendi Xiga."
—

"Kaljulaid meets with Chinese president in Beijing.”



- Interview: JĂŒri Luik - on Russian threats and defending the Baltics
(Defense News)

- Russia's policies not expected to change anytime soon
(Baltic Times)
“
 Russia's main tactic is to threaten, manipulate with public opinion, as well as deceive."


- Poland’s 'Fort Trump'
(Washington Post | others)
"After months of pushing for a permanent U.S. military presence in Poland as a bulwark against Russia, the Polish president offered President Trump a new incentive tailored to his real estate sensibilities: naming rights."
--
“I would very much like for us to set up a permanent base in Poland, which we would call Fort Trump,” Polish President Andrzej Duda said Tuesday in a joint news conference at the White House. “I firmly believe that this is possible. I am convinced that such a decision lies in the Polish interest and in the interest of the United States.”

“
 this is one issue on which the Polish people are broadly united. Virtually the entire Polish political class - even those who bitterly oppose Donald Trump - support the presence of U.S. troops. And they are apparently willing to pay the price for logistical support. The case for Fort Trump couldn’t be stronger.”

"Fort Trump: Is a new US military base in Poland a realistic option?”

"Fort Trump, Fortress Poland?”
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- USA uurib tÔsiselt alalise sÔjabaasi ehitamist Poola
(ERR)
"USA president Donald Trump teatas teisipĂ€eval, et tema ja ta valitsus tĂ”siselt uurivad alalise USA sĂ”javĂ€ebaasi ehitamist Poola ning Varssavi nĂ”usolekut maksta selle rajamise kuludest rohkem kui kaks miljardit dollarit. 
 Poola president Andrzej Duda ĂŒtles naljatledes, et baasi nimeks vĂ”iks saada "Fort Trump".



- Ukraine’s Incomplete Transformation
(Carnegie Europe)
"The 2019 presidential and parliamentary elections in Ukraine are not about reform and ending corruption but about the influence of the oligarchs."




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Monday 17. 
September
_____________


- Kas ka Eestis saavad valimised mĂ”jutatud?
(Propastop)
"Ühendkuningriik, Prantsusmaa, Saksamaa, Holland, USA, Itaalia – pikk on riikide loetelu, mille valimistesse on Venemaa viimastel aastatel sekkunud. Valimiste mĂ”jutamisi Kremlist on peljanud ka LĂ€ti, Rootsi ja ka Soome, kus enne mulluseid presidendivalimisi avaldati ajakirjanduses ekspertide koostatud nimekiri vĂ”imalikest mĂ”jutamismeetoditest. Eestis valitakse 3. mĂ€rtsil riigikogu ja 26. mail Europarlamendi saadikuid ning on paslik kĂŒsida, kas meie valimistesse jĂ€tab Kreml sekkumata?"

- U.S. Defense Secretary warns of Russian meddling in Macedonia referendum
(Reuters)
“
 on changing the country’s name that would open the way for it to join NATO and the European Union."



- Lithuania recruits guest workers, leaves identity crisis for later
(DW)
"Ukrainian guest workers help plug the gaps left by mass emigration from Lithuania. But Lithuanians don't really want more foreigners settling in their country."




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Sunday 16. 
September
_____________


- SĂ”javĂ€eluure uus juht: Venemaa tahab Vostok Ă”ppusega maailmale musklit nĂ€idata
(ERR)
"Sel nĂ€dalal Ida-Siberis toimuval 300 000 osalejaga Ă”ppusel Vostok on tugev poliitiline mÔÔde, sest Venemaa tahab sellega maailmale nĂ€idata kui suurt massi vĂ€gesid ta suudab liigutada, rÀÀkis ERR-ile kaitsevĂ€e luurekeskuse ĂŒlem kolonelleitnant Margo Grosberg."
--



- Opinion: America shouldn’t need a reminder of the value of NATO
(Washington Examiner)

- The effort to counter Russian aggression in Europe is growing daily
(Air Force Times)



- Estonia procures AeroVironment small unmanned aircraft system
(Defense Post)
"U.S. Department of Defense said that AeroVironment was awarded an $8,868,341 firm-fixed-price contract to provide RQ-20B Puma AE II systems and support to Estonia, with an estimated completion date of March 24, 2019. The Puma AE (All Environment) is a small unmanned aircraft system designed for land and maritime operations. Its primary mission is surveillance and intelligence gathering. It is equipped with both electro-optical and infrared cameras and an IR illuminator on a 360 degree gimbal mount, while an under-wing transit bay allows for additional payloads including communications relay, and laser marker systems."



- President Niinistö: Russia "would see enemies" if Finland joins Nato
(Yle)
“We cannot change geography. We are neighbours and we have a shared 1,300-kilometre border. This is about as long a border as the other EU and Nato countries put together [have with Russia]. 
 The Russians have made it quite clear that when they look across the border, they see Finns. If we were in Nato, they would see enemies. That is their position.”



- EU to stop changing the clocks in 2019
(DW)
"The EU is doing away with the twice-yearly clock changes and has given member states until April to decide if they will remain on summer or winter time. But there are fears Europe is heading for time-zone chaos."




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Russia
“Trust No One"
_____________


- Opinion: Cracks are Beginning to Form in Russia's Veneer of Invincibility
by Janusz Bugajski
(CEPA)
"The Kremlin welcomes accusations of successful interference but hides failures that expose its incompetence. Hence, an important weapon in the Western arsenal is to loudly trumpet Moscow’s defeats. The most notable Kremlin failures have included the coup fiasco plotted by Russian intelligence officers in Montenegro and inability to keep Montenegro out of NATO; ineffectual intimidation of the Baltic states and Poland from reinforcing NATO’s military capabilities; impotence in preventing Ukraine from petitioning for NATO membership; and botched efforts to cower Tbilisi from seeking NATO accession despite Russia’s occupation of Georgian territory."
--
"However, the most monumental Putin debacle has been the impending loss of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC). ..."

- A New Schism: The Kremlin’s assertive foreign policy has pushed the Russian Orthodox Church into international isolation.
(Riddle)



- United Russia is punishing Natalia Poklonskaya
(Meduza)
"For more than two months, Poklonskaya (who served as Crimea’s first post-annexation attorney general before joining the parliament) has been feuding with her own political party. In July, she was the only United Russia deputy to break ranks and vote against unpopular legislation that will raise the country’s retirement age."



- Russian ‘Bomb’ Ticks in the Geographic Center of Georgia
(Jamestown Org.)
"Russia does not hide its displeasure at Georgia’s continued efforts to move closer toward the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) 
”



- Podcast: Power Politics
by Brian Whitmore
(CEPA)
“As energy markets change, the geopolitics of energy won't be far behind. This has deep and profound implications for energy exporters like Russia, which has long relied on hydrocarbons to fuel its hegemonic ambitions."



- Russians keep visiting Mariia Butina in prison
by Alex Finley 
(pen name of a former CIA officer)
(Politico-Europe)
"According to the prosecution’s filing, the Russian government has conducted six consular visits to Butina and passed four diplomatic notes to the U.S. Department of State about her case. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has spoken twice to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to complain about Butina’s incarceration and prosecution. As prosecutors noted, in the days following Butina’s arrest, the official Kremlin Twitter account changed its avatar to a picture of her and launched #FreeMariaButina. RT — a Russian news outlet funded by the Russian government — has written a number of articles about her, decrying her prosecution and detention. According to prosecutors, Russia has issued more diplomatic notes on the defendant’s behalf in the past month than for any other Russian citizen imprisoned in the United States in the past year. Put simply, the Russian government has given this case much more attention than other cases.
 They are looking to protect their ongoing intelligence operations.”
—
"Russian officials also likely want to reassure Butina in order to keep her quiet."



- Russians Don’t Like the Kremlin’s Election Interference Either
(Foreign Policy)

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