✔︎ Vene minister lubas teha kõik, et USA rakette Baltimaadesse ei tuleks
- ERR
✔︎ Latvian Prime Minister Krišjānis Kariņš visits Estonia
✔︎ “Lithuanian secret service believes that Russia uses drones for surveillance of Lithuania.”
✔︎ “In his State of the Union address, the U.S. President took a more positive tone, saying the United States has secured over $100 billion in defense spending from allies. Perhaps much to the relief of nervous European allies, his mention of NATO started and ended there.”
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Friday
8. February 2019
How Estonia became one of the world’s most advanced digital societies
(CNBC)
"We have a generation who has grown up knowing that you communicate digitally with your school because we have an e-school system, with your doctor because of e-health," Estonia's president Kersti Kaljulaid told CNBC …”
Kuidas tilluke Venemaa piiri ääres asuv riik sai maailma üheks kõige tehniliselt taiplikumaks riigiks
(Delfi)
Canada: Lessons from Estonia on digital government
(Policy Options)
“What Canada can learn from a tiny country that devised a coordinated, efficient system to serve its citizens using what’s called platform government.”
Estonia tops new innovation ranking
(Emerging Europe)
“Three countries this year outperformed the United States in the Consumer Technology Association’s (CTA) 2019’s International Scorecard, with Estonia one of them (the others were Switzerland and Finland). The Estonians, Swiss, and the Finns enjoy higher air and water quality, blazing fast broadband speeds, and openness to new business models.”
The Baltics in an era of transatlantic turbulence
by Edward Lucas
(Delfi Lithuania)
“Two easy stories—in effect, fairy-tales—commonly define the Baltic states’ position in the Euro-Atlantic security architecture. Both are bewitchingly simple. Both are wrong. They go like this.”
Lithuania’s Intelligence: The 2019 National Threat Assessment report
(BNN)
“Russia is consistently building up its military capabilities in its Baltic Sea exclave of Kaliningrad, but the presence of NATO forces reduces the likelihood of Moscow venturing to attack the Baltic countries.”
—
“Russia’s military strategy regards Belarus as a ‘buffer’ state. Russia attributes Belarus to its zone of influence and uses its territory for military operation planning and demonstration of force …”
—
“Lithuanian secret service believes that Russia uses drones for surveillance of Lithuania. ‘It is Russian intelligence activity carried out during peacetime in a sovereign state, in the territory of a NATO country.’ - Colonel Remigijus Baltrėnas
Press-Freedom Issue In Russia's Probe Of Pskov Journalist Svetlana Prokopyeva
(RFERL | Moscow Times |HRW)
“Russian authorities opened a criminal investigation against a journalist for criticizing the authorities in her comments about a recent suicide bombing. … Pskov journalist Svetlana Prokopyeva says she stands by her original commentary.”
“In her comments about the October 2018 bombing of a security forces building in Arkhangelsk that is believed to have been carried out by a 17-year-old, Prokopyeva alleged that the government had “itself” raised a generation that was ready to fight against it.”
“On February 6, armed, masked police searched Prokopyeva’s home in Pskov for several hours and seized her phone, computer, and many documents. They took her to a police station, where she was interrogated and released. Prokopyeva’s lawyer was present during the search and interrogation. On the same day, local police conducted a “crime scene examination” of Ekho Moskvy.”
Thirteen UH-60 and HH-60 Black Hawk helicopters have arrived in Latvia
(Latvian Broadcasting)
PPA paneb Narva jõele kolm uut kaameraga radaritorni
(ERR)
"Kolm uut radaritorni, radarisüsteemid ja neile lisatud kaamerad võimaldavad Vasknarva ja Permisküla piirkonnas Narva jõel 16 kilomeetri ulatuses saada täpse ülevaate piiriveekogul toimuvast. Ühtlasi aitab kaasaegne vaatlusvõimekus suunata piirivalvurite jõudu kiirelt kohtadesse, kus piiriveekogul aega veetvad kalastajad on hätta sattunud või avastatakse mõni ebaseaduslik tegevus.”
Lithuania sees flood of fintech firms apply for licences ahead of Brexit
(Reuters)
Latvian Prime Minister Krišjānis Kariņš visits Estonia
(Latvian Broadcasting | others)
—
—
EL-i suursaadikud toetasid Saksa-Prantsuse kompromissi Nord Stream 2 asjus
(ERR)
“Otsus muudab projekti teostamise keerukamaks, kuid gaasitoru ehitamist see praeguse seisuga siiski ei peata.”
https://www.err.ee/909003/el-i-suursaadikud-toetasid-saksa-prantsuse-kompromissi-nord-stream-2-asjus
France and Germany Face Off Over Russian Pipeline
(Foreign Policy)
EU adopts French, German compromise Nord Stream 2
(Deutsche Welle)
Theresa May ei muutnud Brüsseli meelt
(Postimees)
“On Brexit, the EU isn't strong enough to be weak right now.”
Moscow Admits 14 ‘Rare’ Languages have Disappeared in Russia over Last 150 Years
by Paul Goble
(Window on Eurasia)
“… Igor Barinov, head of the Federal Agency for Nationality Affairs … has given a time frame so long that no one can say who is to blame: the tsars, the commissars, or Russians today.”
Macedonia Joining NATO Is Self-Inflicted Defeat for Russia
(Carnegie Moscow)
“The country will join the alliance far more quickly than people there could ever have dreamt not so long ago, and all of this has turned into yet another source of irritation in the already fraught relations between Russia and the West.”
“NATO says it is now ready for North Macedonia.”
“How a Name Change Opened the Door to NATO for Macedonia”
“With North Macedonia’s Inclusion, NATO Gets a Boost That Sends a Message”
Opinion: Trump Doesn’t Need North Macedonia in NATO
by Leonid Bershidsky
(Bloomberg)
“… the previous waves of NATO expansion in the Baltic states, and then the Balkans, made strategic sense for the U.S. – as long as it viewed Russia as a long-term adversary. The first round of new members dramatically constrained Russia’s ability to threaten Western Europe militarily. Even if Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania can’t defend themselves, they increase the cost of attacking for Russia.”
—
“In the case of North Macedonia, no reasonable degree of Russian alarmism would justify NATO expansion. … Letting a small country with a puny defense budget join the military alliance serves no purpose.”
Uuring: Soome SS-vabatahtlikud osalesid tõenäoliselt juutide, tsiviilisikute ja sõjavangide tapmises
(Postimees)
Thursday
7. February 2019
Vene minister lubas teha kõik, et USA rakette Baltimaadesse ei tuleks
(ERR)
“Vene asevälisminister Sergei Rjabkov lubas teha kõik, et USA keskmaarakette Baltimaadesse ei paigutataks.”
Will Europe Be Victim of Nuclear Power Plays?
(Spiegel)
“NATO is caught in the middle of what's been described in Berlin as the Trump-Putin problem."
Europe and the End of the INF Treaty
(Carnegie Europe)
“Washington’s decision to withdraw from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty represents the end of the post-Cold war era and America’s new strategic priorities.”
All-woman pre-election debate in English
(ERR video)
“ERR hosted a pre-election debate on Thursday featuring panelists Yana Toom (Centre), Riina Sikkut (SDE), Keit Pentus-Rosimannus (Reform), Eva-Liisa Luhamets (Isamaa) and Liina Normet (Estonia 200).”
Estonia is participating in the Baltic Sea pollution study
(Estonian World)
“Estonia together with eleven other European countries are due to study where and how microplastics are getting into the sea, how common it is and in which way it is affecting the marine environment.”
Riigikogu Valimismootor 2019
(Delfi)
“Valimismootor aitab valijatel teha tarka valikut: vasta 20 küsimusele ja saad teada, milliste poliitiliste jõudude seisukohtadega Sinu vaated kõige rohkem kattuvad.”
Moslemist eestlane: moslem ei ole tiksuv pomm nurgas
(ERR)
“Ta tõdes, et väärarusaamad tulevad paljuski just nimelt meediast. "Kui nad kirjutavad, kuidas nad järjest kõik õhku lendavad, siis ongi võib-olla selline anekdootlik lugu, et eks ta on selline tiksuv pomm seal kuskil nurgas. Tegelikult see niimoodi ei ole. Islamis on selline ütlus, et kes tapab ühe inimese, tapab terve inimkonna, ja kes päästab ühe inimese, on justkui päästnud terve inimkonna. Need, kes teevad neid kohutavaid asju, võivad end ise moslemiteks pidada, aga selle islamiõpetuse järgi nad ei ole.”
Rootsi õhuväe ülem Soome meediale: Gripen on mõeldud Suhhoide tapmiseks
(ERR)
“… Saab Gripen E oleks Soome jaoks parim variant, sest see lennuk on spetsiaalselt välja töötatud võitluseks Venemaa Suhhoi sõjalennukitega.”
Where Europe Would Be Hurt Most by a No-Deal Brexit
(New York Times)
Wednesday
6. February 2019
Europe’s new Reformation
(New Statesman)
“Five hundred years ago a political and religious crisis tore Europe apart. Now the continent is entering another age of schism.”
Tuesday
5. February 2019
EL-is on demokraatia suurim allakäik Ungaris, Eesti on vabaduse poolest jätkuvalt üks eeskujulikumaid
(Postimees)
—
Estonia outlines defence development objectives for 2020–2023
(Jane’s 360)
“The 2020–23 plan includes a commitment to funding night-vision equipment, bullet- and splinter-proof vests, replacement of firearms, machine guns, and manportable anti-tank weapons, while investment in ammunition supplies “continues to occupy an important place”, it said. By 2023 all K9 Thunder self-propelled artillery units acquired from Hanwha will have arrived in country, the MoD added, and long-range anti-tank systems will also be acquired.”
Desynchronisation of Baltic power grids from Russia postponed
(ERR)
EU anti-fraud group heads for Estonia, Denmark to learn Danske Bank lessons
(Reuters)
“Jeppe Kofod, a spokesman for the committee, said what was needed was a European platform where the countries’ financial intelligence units could exchange information swiftly to tip off each other and help solve crimes.
“I would like a financial “FBI” where national police authorities can cooperate and move in, in case of money laundering or other serious fraud,” Kofod said.”
2018. aasta enimmüüdud raamat oli Epp Petrone "Meie Eesti”
(ERR)
“2018. aastal oli Eesti Kirjastuste Liidu liikmete välja antud raamatute seas populaarseim lastele mõeldud ja Epp Petrone koostatud "Meie Eesti", mille väljaandja on kirjastus Petrone Print ja mida müüdi 24,541 eksemplari.”
Venemaa internetikasutajaid ootab ees uus reeglite karmistumine
(ERR)
“Saadikud pakkusid välja idee luua suveräänne Vene internet. See ei tähenda Vene ametnike sõnul aga, et Venemaa tahab end maailmast isoleerida. …”
Language learning app founded in Estonia named Google Play's best application of 2018
(Postimees | Baltic Times)
—
From Brexit with love: Lithuania sees its chance
(BBC)
“Financial technology companies are making last-minute plans in case of a no-deal Brexit on 29 March. Many are looking to secure financial licences in other EU states to protect their operations, and this Baltic nation has an eye on helping to fill the gap.”
“Baltic states skeptical about new Brexit talks.”
The British Europhiles racing for EU passports
(The Guardian)
“Britain no longer feels like home, as it has rejected Europe and I have not.”
Russian Navy Procures New Electronic Warfare Capabilities
(Jamestown Org.)
“The political-military leadership and defense industry value EW as a tool primarily fashioned for use against a near-peer adversary. As these advances proceed, with special emphasis placed upon the development of EW systems to target C4ISR assets of the United States and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), all Russian service arms and branches are benefiting from the constant drive to boost this vital area of the country’s warfighting capability. In recent months, new systems have been moved into Kaliningrad … any future conflict with NATO, however limited in scope, will be marked by a heavily contested electromagnetic spectrum operational environment.”
Monday
4. February 2019
Estonia to receive two C-145As tactical transport aircraft to replace its two Soviet-era platforms
(Jane’s 360)
What Is Nato Really Doing In Cyberspace?
(War on the Rocks)
“Though elements of cyber security have existed throughout the alliance for years, execution of cyberspace operations in NATO is unprecedented. NATO has clearly stated it will not execute offensive cyberspace operations by NATO personnel under the NATO flag. There’s a caveat however — it will, when deemed necessary, integrate sovereign cyberspace effects from allies who are capable and willing to provide them. Several nations have publicly declared their willingness and capability to do so, including the United Kingdom, the United States, the Netherlands, Estonia, and Denmark.”
Opinion: The Putin I Knew; the Putin I Know
by Franz J. Sedelmayer
(New York Times)
“I’ve known him since the early 1990s. As a businessman in St. Petersburg, I spent scores of hours with Volodya, as he was known in those days, while he was the city’s deputy mayor. He sat in my headquarters on Stone Island as we conversed, in the almost-perfect German he likes to speak, over beer and Bavarian food. My trust in those early days was based on the fact that he acted rationally and appeared to be sincere in his interest in St. Petersburg. He didn’t take bribes, but he did cover for those who did, including his bosses — Mayor Anatoly Sobchak and later President Boris Yeltsin.”
Interview: Opposition leader Mikhail Khodorkovksy
(Meduza)
“I want to feel like I’m in Russia, and that’s how I feel.”
Sunday
3. February 2019
Interview: Mailis Reps
(Ars Technica)
“In Estonia, students’ transit, school meals, and textbooks are all free.”
Reportedly, researchers warn of collapse of Estonia's scientific system
(ERR | Baltic Times)
"The financing of Estonian research in the state budget has decreased to approximately 0.5% of the GDP, which will soon make it impossible to keep the research system going … The Estonian research system is effectively on the brink of collapse and the situation requires immediate interference.”
—
Finland decides officially to join Rail Baltic joint venture
(Baltic Times)
“According to the Finnish government, after its completion Rail Baltic will become a new channel for Finnish transit to key markets. Participation in the establishment of Rail Baltic will also help develop the main railway network to the north of Helsinki. The transport ministers of the three Baltic countries made a formal invitation to Finland to join the Rail Baltic joint venture at the end of last year.”
—
“Alongside other activities, when it comes to Rail Baltic, Estonia is planning to move forward this year with developing the Ulemiste passenger terminal in Tallinn and a multimodal freight terminal at Muuga just outside Tallinn. Both facilities will be important hubs also in the connection with Finland, which has now made a formal decision to join the project.”
“Next European Parliament could change Rail Baltica project’s financing aspects.”
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