- U.S. cancels Finnish investigative journalist Jessikka Aro’s International Women of Courage award over her Twitter criticism of Trump
- Valimiste Suur Lugu | Triumfeeriv Kaja Kallas, Kavaldav Kaotaja Jüri Ratas
- Finland's government resigns
- €15 bn Chinese funding deal for Helsinki-Tallinn tunnel
Friday
8. March
How the U.S.-Russian Relationship Went Bad
by William J. Burns - The Atlantic
“An American diplomat tells the inside story of Yeltsin, Putin, and opportunities lost.”
The Brexit Endgame
(The New Yorker)
“Brexit is scheduled to take place on March 29th—but the United Kingdom isn’t ready.”
U.S. Cancels Finnish Journalist’s Award Over Her Criticism of Trump
(Foreign Policy)
“Jessikka Aro, a Finnish investigative journalist, has faced down death threats and harassment over her work exposing Russia’s propaganda machine long before the 2016 U.S. presidential elections. In January, the U.S. State Department took notice, telling Aro she would be honored with the prestigious International Women of Courage Award, to be presented in Washington by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. … Weeks later, the State Department rescinded the award offer.”
CBC interviewed Jessikka Aro: 25. October 2018
“I find the idea of U.S. government officials stalking my Twitter and politicizing my perfectly normal expressions of opinion deeply disturbing.” - Jessikka Aro
“Trumpi kritiseerinud Yle ajakirjanik jäi USA auhinnata.”
“Aro is an award-winning journalist who has written exposés about Russian troll farms and their attempts to influence online discourse. … Aro, who had also written extensively about MV-lehti, received death threats, offensive messages and threats of sexual violence, prompted by articles posted on Janitskin’s site.”
“An anonymous diplomatic source told Foreign Policy that Aro’s anti-Trump posts, “created a shitstorm of getting her unceremoniously kicked off the list. I think it was absolutely the wrong decision on so many levels.”
Online voting: Now Estonia teaches the world a lesson in electronic elections
by Kalev Aasmae - ZDNet
“This month's Estonian parliamentary elections set a new digital record: almost half the counted votes were cast online — 247,232 out of 561,131.”
Kaja Kallas: Reformierakond teeb ettepaneku sotsidele ja Isamaale
(Postimees | Delfi | ERR)
“See on meie hea tahe, et panna kokku Eestile toimiv valitsus, mis saaks lahendada Eestis seisvaid väljakutseid ja inimestele pakkuda paremat tulevikku,” ütles Kallas.”
https://poliitika.postimees.ee/6540847/kaja-kallas-meie-oleme-valmis-ka-nadalavahetusel-labi-raakima
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“Juhtkiri: Kaja Kallas astus rehale.”
Finland's government resigns
(Deutsche Welle | Politico-Europe)
“Finland's Prime Minister Juha Sipila officially offered his government's resignation to the president on Friday morning and was accepted, the president's office said. President Sauli Niinisto has asked the government to continue as a transition Cabinet until a new administration is appointed. … the prime minister stepped down after a reform of the health care system failed.”
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“Finland reacts to surprise resignation of government.”
“Sipilän hallitus erosi soten kaatumisen takia, pääministeri lähti eduskunnasta vaalikentille – HS seurasi hetki hetkeltä.”
—
Royal Army to start using drones in Estonia by end of 2019
(Estonian World)
NATO Expansion Got Some Big Things Right
by Mike Sweeney - War on the Rocks
“An article recently published in War on the Rocks on NATO expansion suffers from common, but flawed, strategic reasoning regarding what the expansion of the alliance has accomplished and why. It also contains some errors and misleading statements that need to be corrected. …”
€15 bn Chinese funding deal for Helsinki-Tallinn tunnel
(Yle | Postimees)
“A private firm looking to construct a tunnel linking Tallinn and Helsinki is set to receive some 15 billion euros from a firm helping to advance China’s Belt and Road initiative. The money will be provided by Touchstone Capital Partners as and when needed.”
—
‘Estonian World’ presented their list of top 12 most outstanding Estonian women in the world 2019
(Estonian World)
Thursday
7. March
President otsustas: kaitsevägi ei saa suuremaid jälitamisõigusi
(Delfi | Postimees)
“President Kaljulaid otsustas täna jätta välja kuulutamata seaduse, millega oleks suurendatud Kaitseväe õigusi varjatult kontrollida isikuandmeid ning isikut varjatult jälgida, kuna seadus on vastuolus põhiseadusega ning võib oluliselt riivata inimeste põhiõigusi.”
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Russia trying to influence Estonia via Western countries
(ERR)
“According to Estonian Internal Security Service (ISS) Director General Arnold Sinisalu, Russia's direct attempts at influence Estonia have not borne fruit, which is why the country's eastern neighbour has now switched tactics and is trying to influence Estonia by means of influencing the US and Western Europe.”
Finland Elections: Voters drift toward Finns Party, SDP
(Yle)
“The opposition Social Democratic Party (SDP) continues to consolidate support among voters just one month ahead of parliamentary elections [14. April 2019] due in Finland next month, according to a fresh test of voter sentiment.”
Belarus: Russia’s Only Ally
by Edward Lucas - CEPA
“The West Needs to Formulate a Belarus Policy Before It Is Too Late … For Russia, though, Belarus is vitally important. Since it alienated Ukraine, the regime in Minsk – albeit infuriatingly wayward and costly – is Russia’s only real ally. … But Russian-Belarusian ties are creaking. …”
“Belarus Leader Seeks Better Ties With West Despite Russian ‘Hysterics’.”
Ukraine Suffers From a Paul Manafort Hangover
by Anna Nemtsova - Daily Beast
“People are so sick of the kind of politics Manafort played in Ukraine, they've made actor-comedian Volodymyr Zelensky, a fresh face, the leading contender for president.”
Ukraine: What Comes After their Presidential Election?
(Carnegie Europe)
“It is high time for Europe and the United States to pay much closer attention to Ukrainian politics and the whole range of possible outcomes of the elections ahead.”
Ukrainian elections: a country struggling to reform itself
(EU Observer)
“Ukraine's presidential election is on 31. March.”
Wednesday
6. March
Algas taotluste vastuvõtt Venemaa viisade kompensatsiooniks
(Lõuna Leht)
“Pean oluliseks, et inimesed saaksid külastada oma sugulasi ja esivanemate-sugulaste kalme teisel pool piiri,” ütles riigihalduse minister Janek Mäggi. „See aitab hoida üle põlvkondade püsinud sidemeid.“
—
“Piirilähedasteks aladeks loetakse Petseri rajooni Petseri linna ning Krupa, Laura ja Uue-Irboska valda, Kingissepa rajooni Ivangorodi linna ning Bolselutski ja Kuzemkino valda või Slantsõ rajooni Zagrive valda.”
Estonia looks set for first ever female prime minister
(The National - Scotland)
“If Kallas forms the government as expected, she will join Kersti Kaljulaid, Estonia’s first woman president, in office.”
Estonia's new PM? Interview with Kaja Kallas
(Euronews)
Centre wary due to being left out by Reform in the past
(ERR | Reuters)
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Release of KGB Files in Latvia Helping Russians to Calculate KGB Presence in Their Regions
(Window on Eurasia)
“In a 2500-word article entitled “How Many Agents of the KGB were in Riga and Leningrad,” Russian journalist Mikhail Zolotonosov shows how the Latvian holdings can be used to draw conclusions about KGB personnel and operations in his native city in the Russian Federation.”
Putin: Vene vastuluure paljastas aastaga ligi 600 spiooni
(Delfi)
“Vastuluureorganid töötasid eelmisel aastal tulemuslikult ja ründavalt. Tänu edukatele erioperatsioonidele tõkestati välismaa luureteenistuste 129 kaadritöötaja ja 465 agendi tegevus. Me näeme, et välismaa luureteenistused püüavad suurendada oma aktiivsust Venemaa suunal, otsivad igal viisil ligipääsu poliitilise, majandusliku, teadusliku ja tehnoloogilise iseloomuga andmetele.”
“Putin claims Russia stopped nearly 600 spies last year.”
Steve Bannon’s stuttering European adventure
(Politico-Europe)
“The American has collided with the mille-feuille that is Europe.”
—
“… many Euroskeptics said their enthusiasm for Bannon has waned and they are not interested in working with him.”
Crimea: Google Puts Profit before Principle
(Window on Eurasia)
“I do not know whether I’m revealing a state secret or not,” Vitaly Portnikov says, “but Crimea remains Ukrainian territory even on the maps of Yandex,” the Russian media firm. It “understands very well the difference between the territory of Russia and the occupied territory of Ukraine.”
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Apparently unwittingly, he suggests, Google by its action has highlighted just how isolated Russia is in believing that Crimea is legitimately part of Russia. The company won’t have to change its maps very much because there are “practically no” other countries who agree with Moscow.”
Sweden Confronts a Changing Climate
(The New Yorker)
Latvia should look to Estonian model for education reform
(Latvian Broadcasting)
Russia passes law to jail people for 15 days for 'disrespecting' government
(The Guardian)
“The law, which critics say is reminiscent of Soviet-era legislation used to target political dissidents, stipulates fines of up to 100,000 roubles (£1,155) for “indecent” online posts that demonstrate a “blatant disrespect for society, the country, Russia’s official state symbols, the constitution, or the authorities”.”
Tuesday
5. March
Valimiste Suur Lugu:
Triumfeeriv Kaja Kallas, Kavaldav Kaotaja Jüri Ratas
(Delfi)
“Kas Kaja Kallasest saabki Eesti ajaloo esimene naispeaminister? Või on Jüri Ratasel üks käik ikkagi varuks?”
Riigikogu Valimised Otseblog
(Delfi)
“Estonia’s election winner to start coalition talks with PM Ratas’ party. Kaja Kallas says she believes parties can ‘reach an agreement to reflect both supporters’ views.’”
Estonian Parliamentary Election 2019: Open and Progressive Estonia Marches on
(ICDS)
“The steady rise in the polls of EKRE (Conservative People’s Party of Estonia) evoked strong emotions, leaving almost no one indifferent. Like many recent political occurrences such as the election of Trump or Brexit, one was either for or against EKRE and thus in favour of either an open and progressive or a closed and nationalistic Estonia.”
Marko Mihkelson: USA suunal on vaja diplomaatiat kasvatada
(ERR)
"Ma näen vajadust kasvatada diplomaatilist aktiivsust Ameerika Ãœhendriikide suunal. Minu jaoks natukene häiriv see, et esimest korda pärast 2014. aastat me ei näe Ameerika Ãœhendriikide püsivamat roteeruvat kohalolekut Balti riikides. Nad on peaasjalikult keskendunud Poola. Meid seob Ameerika Ãœhendriikidega strateegiliselt võib-olla täna vähem kui me tahaks. Arvan, et siin on diplomaatial päris oluline töö teha, kaasa arvatud meie kaitsevõime tugevdamisel seoses Ãœhendriikide kohalolekuga regioonis.”
Trump administration restores EU delegation's diplomatic status
(The Hill)
“The U.S. late last year downgraded the EU ambassador’s diplomatic status from a member state, which it had been recognized as for years, to an international organization, which the U.S. ranks lower than it does countries.”
Macron’s Bid to Wake Up Europe
(Carnegie Europe)
“The outcome of the European Parliament elections will be decisive for the EU’s future.”
“Macron calls for big EU changes in ‘European Renaissance’”
“What Emmanuel Macron’s open letter says about the future of European politics.”
Monday
4. March
Riigikogu valimisralli võitsid kindlalt ja ülekaalukalt Kaja Kallas ja Reformierakond
(Postimees)
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“Digital Savvy Estonia Is Set to Get Its First Female Prime Minister.”
“Kallas: juba tehtud otsuseid me ümber ei tee.”
“Reformierakonna juhatus otsustas ettearvatult kohtuda lähipäevil Isamaa ja Sotsiaaldemokraatliku erakonna ning Keskerakonnaga, et selgitada välja võimalikku ühisosa.”
https://www.err.ee/916473/reformierakond-alustas-oodatult-voimukonelusi-sde-isamaa-ja-keskerakonnaga
Estonia’s political landscape reshaped by far-right party
(Washington Post)
“Political observers watched a parliamentary election held Sunday in the Baltic nation, an EU and NATO member that borders Russia, as a continental barometer for whether far-right nationalists would continue making gains. And in Estonia, they did.”
Center-Right Reform Party Wins Estonian Election
(VOA)
“Reform, led by former lawmaker Kaja Kallas, won 28.8 percent of the vote, followed by Prime Minister Juri Ratas' Center Party with 23.1 percent. Reform, which held the prime minister's chair from 2005 until 2016 – sometimes by itself and sometimes in a coalition with the Center Party – will have to team up with another party to form the government since it does not have a parliamentary majority on its own.”
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“Kaja Kallas is now on track to become Estonia's first female prime minister.”
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“Kallas: our first choice is a government with Isamaa and SDE.”
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“Estonia Says Election-Data Delay Was a Mistake, Not Foul Play”
“Far-right 'stoking fears' in Estonia's parliamentary election.”
Kaja Kallas: I was told to act more masculine
Russia
“Trust No One”
Big Brother Really has Returned to Russia
by Paul Goble
“The Moscow city government has been investing massively in the exploitation of data from the cellphones almost all Muscovites carry to track where they are at all times with incredible precision … In addition to using IT data to locate people, Russian officials, including police and security agencies, are using facial recognition technology to track visitors to shopping centers, those who have not paid their bills, and others taking part in protests of one kind or another …”
“Russia Passes Legislation Banning 'Disrespect' of Authorities and 'Fake News’”
“The law, which critics say is reminiscent of Soviet-era legislation used to target political dissidents, stipulates fines of up to 100,000 roubles (£1,155) for “indecent” online posts that demonstrate a “blatant disrespect for society, the country, Russia’s state symbols, the constitution, or authorities”.”
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Russian activists detained over Stalin protest
(The Guardian)
“Activists speaking out against the Soviet ‘executioner’ arrested, while 25% of Russians believe his reign of terror was justified.”
Putin officially suspends Russia's compliance with arms treaty after US withdrawal
(The Hill | Moscow Times)
“The Trump administration has accused Russia of violating the treaty, which bans the creation and maintenance of nuclear and conventional ground-launch ballistic and cruise missiles with ranges between 300 and 3,400 miles, since 2014. The European Union has also accused Russia of violating the treaty. Russia has repeatedly denied the allegations.”
—
A Farewell to Arms Control
(Riddle)
“The Kremlin should be satisfied: the Americans are burying a treaty whose expediency has been questioned by high-ranking Russian officials since 2007. …”
Rethinking the Bomb: Nuclear Weapons and American Grand Strategy
(Texas National Security Review)
“Both our leading theories and histories have failed to fully explain important choices American leaders have made about the bomb over the past eight decades. This is less a failing of scholarship and more a reflection of the steep methodological, linguistic, and normative barriers to understanding nuclear strategy and statecraft.”
Podcast: Missile Mania
(CEPA)
“So, in case anybody was wondering, yeah, Russia has nukes—and they want to make sure nobody forgets. But what is really driving the bellicose posturing?”
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