- Millist Eestit me tahame? - Toomas Hendrik Ilves
- The Welles Declaration protected the Baltics
- “EU to Let Britain Drag Out Its Nervous Breakdown a Bit Longer.”
- Euroopa Liit nõustus Brexiti edasilükkamisega
- Putin visited Crimea to mark the 5th anniversary of it’s annexation. He led thousands to chant “Russia! Russia!”
(Crimea news list at end of newsletter)
Foto:
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- Eesti Poliitika -
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Friday
22. March
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Millist Eestit me tahame?
Toomas Hendrik Ilves
(Postimees)
“Jälgides viimaste kuude arenguid nii meil kui mujal Euroopas, on nii minus kui paljudes teistes süvenenud kartus, et vajume abstraktse võõraviha, hirmu ja üldise sallimatuse sohu …”
The Estonia we want and ask others to defend
by Toomas Hendrik Ilves - ERR | Estonian World
“For a year and half now, a war has been underway in Europe.
Crimea has been annexed; Russian forces are fighting on Ukrainian territory in the Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts. For Estonia, this has brought the realisation that our freedom, our sense of security and safety is not as self-evident, as we are used to believing. But we have also learned something else. We have learned about the solidarity of Estonia's allies. And now, even the doubters know that Estonia has reliable allies.”
and
Eesti Uus Kurss Euroopas
Luukas Ilves - Poliitika Guru
“EKRE valimisprogrammis leidub 10 punkti, mis ei ühildu Euroopa Liidu aluspõhimõtete, Eesti võetud kohustuste ning Eesti viimase 28 aasta läänemeelse suunaga. Kuigi palju tõlgendamisruumi need punktid ei jäta.”
The Strategic Resilience of the European Union
(ZEIT)
“The EU is not about idealism and dreams of peace. It is about Europe's self-preservation and had better realize this.”
Kaliningrad gets Moscow energy boost as Baltic states pull plug
(Deutsche Welle)
“Russia has launched a power plant to make its Kaliningrad exclave self-reliant when its EU neighbors unplug their power grid. Home to Russia's Baltic Fleet, old East Prussia is still a prime piece of real estate.”
The Welles Declaration: Personal tragedy led to 50 years of protecting Baltic statehood
(Latvian Broadcasting)
“The 1940 Welles Declaration started a five-decade non-recognition of the Soviets' Baltic invasion. Unwavering support by the United States did great things to ensure continued support for Baltic statehood, and it is widely held that, if not for the declaration, the Baltics would have had a harder time re-establishing themselves as internationally recognized countries in 1990-1.”
The Welles Declaration document
(Wikimedia Commons)
Finns hit back at health care criticism from Trump’s ex-UN ambassador
(Yle | VOA)
“Finnish Twitter reared its head on Thursday to school former UN ambassador Nikki Haley on the nature of the Finnish health care system and how it compares to its American counterpart.”
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Finnish journalist Anu Partanen: What It’s Like to Live in the Country Where Giving Birth Costs $60
(New York Magazine)
Putin’s Crackdown on Dissent Is Working
by Anna Nemtsova - The Atlantic
“A new law criminalizing “disrespect” for Russian society and institutions might mark the end of the country’s few remaining legal forms of protests.”
Euroopa Liit nõustus Brexiti edasilükkamisega
(ERR)
“Euroopa Liidu liidrid nõustusid neljapäeval andma Ühendkuningriigi peaministrile Theresa Mayle kaks valikut Brexiti edasilükkamiseks, et vältida leppeta riigi lahkumist EL-ist 29. märtsil.”
“EU to Let Britain Drag Out Its Nervous Breakdown a Bit Longer.”
“Brexit: What happens next?”
“Brexit delay gives UK more time to solve crisis.”
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Thursday
21. March
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Luurejuht Mikk Marran: pinge ja rahulolematus meie piiri taga kasvab
(Postimees)
“Uue relvastuse paigutamine läänepiirile peegeldab Kremli paranoilist arusaama, et Venemaa peab valmistuma sõjaks läänega …”
Large numbers of foreign intelligence staff in Finland; Russia and China particularly active
(Yle)
"Diplomatic cover is typical, but not the only method. There are intelligence staff who live in Finland permanently, but also some who just visit," Supo director Antti Pelttari said.”
Finns becoming less interested in jumping on a cruise ship to Tallinn
(Helsinki Times)
“The Finnish tourist has changed considerably. They buy a lot less in Tallinn, because the average age of tourists is dropping and young people don’t really care for shopping. New things to see and experience are what’s important for Finns in Tallinn.”
Whither Europe?
(Real Clear World)
“The current state of flux in transatlantic relations undermines Europe’s ability to think and act cohesively.”
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Wednesday
20. March
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Estonia’s Jews slam moves to include far-right in government
(Times of Israel | Arutz Sheva)
“Leaders of tiny Baltic community criticize PM Juri Ratas for move to bring EKRE party, which has Nazi sympathizers among its members, into coalition.”
—
“The move by Ratas, which has been roundly criticized even from within his own party, is aimed at preventing the winning liberal Reform from forming a government.”
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“… concern followed Saturday’s incident in which Estonia’s chief rabbi and two of his children were accosted on the street on their way to synagogue by a man who shouted anti-Semitic insults at them.”
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“Man shouts ‘Heil Hitler’ at Estonian chief rabbi and children.”
Baltic states no longer a bridge between east and west, says Latvia
(The Guardian)
“When we gained our independence, we had a very tempting concept of Latvia and the Baltic states more broadly being a bridge between the west and east. We speak English and Russian, and we had knowledge of the former Soviet Union space and we had a developed banking system. …”
NATO Is Thriving in Spite of Trump
(Foreign Affairs)
“NATO at 70 is actually in remarkably good shape. Yes, European allies have been laggards on defense spending, and some members—Hungary, Poland, and Turkey in particular—have tarnished democratic credentials. But NATO has demonstrated an impressive ability to adapt to the changing geopolitical environment since the Cold War’s end …”
Transatlantic Tussle - A Historical Case Study On How To Handle NATO
(War on the Rocks)
“In a meeting at his Florida retreat, the president was clearly annoyed at what he saw as the U.S. allies’ failure to pay their fair share of the defense burden. He told his senior military and defense advisors that it almost seemed that Europe was getting a “free-ride,” and that on both the political and defense side this situation with the NATO allies had to be changed this year. … the frustrated chief executive was not President Donald Trump, and the location was not Mar-a-Lago. Instead, the date was Dec. 27, 1962, the cross commander-in-chief was President John F. Kennedy, and the location was his family estate in Palm Beach, Florida, the “Winter White House.” But the story still has a lot to tell us about today’s struggle within the transatlantic alliance.”
Stoltenberg: ebakindluse ajastul on NATO roll veelgi suurem
(ERR)
“Bolstering Congressional Support for NATO.”
“German government plans to spend less than promised on the military … Defense spending is projected to fall well short of NATO's 2 percent target.”
“The Credibility of German Multilateralism.”
“Trump Wants NATO’s Eyes on China.”
B-52s conduct missions across Europe, including Estonia
(Multiple sources)
“B-52s have been quite active this week too: the heavy bombers have already conducted other “theater familiarization flights” on Monday, when four B-52s were launched over the Norwegian Sea, the Baltic Sea, Estonia, the Mediterranean Sea and Greece. Some of them could be tracked online during their tour of Europe.”
—
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“Kremlin criticizes US B-52 flights near Russian borders.”
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Tuesday
19. March
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Individuals own over 600 land plots on Rail Baltic route in Estonia
(Baltic Times)
“For the construction of the Rail Baltic railway, the Estonian government needs to acquire 862 land plots in the Harju, Rapla and Parnu counties … The Land Board has asked owners for an initial opinion on whether they would like to get money or another piece of land in return for the land currently owned by them. Responses of the owners indicate that almost half of them would like to get land …”
“Rail Baltica expecting fewer than 100 passengers per train.”
US rapid-deployment troops arrive in Berlin for maneuvers
(AP)
“U.S. Army Europe says 350 soldiers from the 1st Armored Division arrived in Berlin Tuesday as part of a group of 1,500 arriving this week. They’re heading to Poland, where they will link up with tanks and other heavy equipment being brought in from a pre-positioned site in the Netherlands. They will then conduct maneuvers with Polish forces.”
Interview: Kersti Kaljulaid
(Fox News)
Full show:
 |
| Video Screenshot |
Interview Clips:
Alates tänasest on jääleminek keelatud
(Lõuna Leht)
“Kevadised sulailmad on muutnud jää väga hapraks ja sellel liikumise eluohtlikuks,“ ütles päästeameti ennetustöö osakonna ekspert Mikko Virkala.”
Riigikogu election results to be declared 28 March at earliest
(ERR)
“According to the Constitution of Estonia, the first meeting of the new makeup of the Riigikogu is to take place within ten days of the declaration of the Riigikogu election results, as convened by the President of the Republic.
When the new Riigikogu is convened, the current government is to resign, and the president will nominate a candidate for prime minister within 14 days, whom they will ask with forming a new government.”
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Crimea
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Putin visited Crimea to mark the 5th anniversary of annexation. He led thousands to chant “Russia! Russia!”
(AP)
“Speaking at an outdoor concert in Crimea’s regional capital of Simferopol, the Russian leader hailed Crimea’s residents, likening them to the Red Army soldiers of World War II. “Russia has taken you into its fold with delight and joy,” he told the crowd. “We will fulfill all of our goals ... because we are together now.”
Russia and Ukraine: A Lethal Codependency
by Gleb Pavlovsky - Carnegie Moscow
“In the 1990s, Russia and Ukraine went down a different route, one of codependence, focused less on the West than on each other. The Russian side could not articulate properly its desire to swallow up Ukraine, as it could not fully explain that desire to itself. Ukraine enjoyed what looked like a safe game in which it could count on gas contracts worth billions with Russia. At the turn of the millennium, the relationship took a dangerous turn.”
Russia's Crimea invasion was good for Putin. Five years later, the nationalist glow is gone
by Nina Khrushcheva - NBC News
“Though the annexation originally gave Putin a large jolt of popularity — the continual “Russia is great” rhetoric is now mostly exhausted. Serious political and economic crises are fast approaching. The nation’s resources have been depleted, and Putin’s “us against the world” version of the Russian future is proving unpopular. Five years after Crimea, people aspire to a normal, not “heroic,” life.”
Five years after Anschluss, US moves toward a formal non-recognition policy on Crimea
by Paul Goble - Euromaidan Press
“Rep. Gerry Connolly, a senior Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, has introduced legislation … on the model of US non-recognition policy regarding the Soviet occupation of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.”
“Putin’s Crimean Actions All about Being Able to Violate Commitments with Impunity.”
Annexation of Crimea: A masterclass in political manipulation
by Leonid Ragozin - Al Jazeera
“Old-school geopolitics alone cannot explain what really happened between Russia and Ukraine in March 2014.”
Five years after Crimea’s illegal annexation, the issue is no closer to resolution
by Steven Pifer - Brookings
“While the simmering conflict in Donbas now dominates the headlines, it is possible to see a path to resolution there. It is much more difficult with Crimea, which will remain a problem between Kyiv and Moscow, and between the West and Russia, for years—if not decades—to come.”
NATO, EU condemn Crimea seizure
(AP)
“NATO and the EU also called for the release of Ukrainian sailors detained by the Russian navy and coast guard in waters off Ukraine in November.”
“Estonia says Crimea is and will remain part of Ukraine.”
“Crimea: Unwanted topic in Ukraine’s political campaign.”
“Putin, rap and Night Wolves: Russia marks 5 years in Crimea.”
“Moscow is making a show of its efforts to improve infrastructure on the Black Sea peninsula.”
“Fifth Anniversary of the Land Grab That Cost Russia Its Future.”
“National pride and rising incomes fuel locals' support for the annexation.”
“Russia marks Crimea annexation with concerts, flash mobs.”
“In Russia, March 18 has been officially proclaimed the "Day of Crimea's Reunification with Russia.”
“The EU, Canada and the US have announced new sanctions targeting individuals and companies. They come in response to Russia's actions in the Kerch Strait, the detention of Ukrainian sailors and the annexation of Crimea.”
“Putin Paying Steep Political Price for Crimea”
“No conceivable Russian government will ever give Crimea back to Ukraine, and no Ukrainian government will ever drop its insistence that Crimea belongs to Kyiv. Because that is so … it is time to think outside the box and consider the possibility of a joint Ukrainian-Russian administration of Crimea …”
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