Postimees Digest, Tuesday, February 26
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Postimees
Legal affairs committee excludes chief of police discussion from agenda.
The Riigikogu Legal Affairs Committee has rejected changes to the agenda proposed by chairman Marko Pomerants (Pro Patria Res Publica Union) to introduce the Police and Border Guard Board (PPA) inspection board's nominee for the position of the agency's head Priit Kama (Pro Patria Res Publica Union) at the committee's sitting on Thursday.
The proposal was rejected by both the opposition parties and Pro Patria Res Publica Union's (IRL) coalition partner the Reform Party. Former internal ministers Ain Seppik, Toomas Varek and Kalle Laanet and former chief of police Andres Anvelt write in today's Postimees that security cannot be a test polygon for certain politicians and that choosing a new head for the PPA must not be made into a circus. The experts go on to say that disrespectful treatment of meritorious internal security officials by turning the competition to find a new head for the agency into a farce does nothing to motivate members of the PPA to offer better security.
Passociation of judges protests against shorter leave.
The Estonian Association of Judges has filed a complaint with the justice chancellor to check the constitutionality of a recent amendment to the Courts Act that cuts the annual leave of judges by 28.6 percent and Supreme Court justices by 37.5 percent.
Judges write that such abrupt changes that have furthermore not been coordinated with judges could endanger sustainable operation of the entire courts system as judges are not paid for overtime and are appointed for life and therefore need to have the chance to properly recuperate in order to maintain high levels of motivation. The association concludes that judges are entitled to legitimate expectation that guarantees of independence laid down by the law are not unexpectedly changed to their disadvantage.
Gas company executive believes gas terminal to be too costly.
Head of gas transmission operator EG Võrguteenus Sergei Jefimov said that maintaining an LNG terminal in Estonia would prove too costly and that it would be more sensible to construct the terminal in Finland.
"The government is thinking along political lines as an LNG terminal would be an investment and create jobs, however, the terminal would need to be maintained for 30-40 years," Jefimov said. He added that the terminal would not be cost-effective without the Finns and that Estonia must reach an agreement with its neighbor here. The two countries are currently holding talks to determine the best location for the terminal.
Minister of Economic Affairs and Communications Juhan Parts has voiced his displeasure concerning the position of Eesti Gaas and Gasum, according to which the terminal should be built in Inkoo, Finland.
Baltic-Russian Relations Are Driven By History And Energy
Among the Baltic states, Estonian government is the least conciliatory towards Moscow, says Lithuanian political scientist Agnia Grigas.
"Judging by the ideologies of the political parties in power and the policies they have pursued, today the Estonian government is the least conciliatory towards Moscow. However I would not go as far as to call Tallinn's policies adversarial. The government led by the Reform Party is increasingly committed to EC's 'unbundling policies' and to pursuing energy diversification projects even if not necessarily seeking to be in the drivers seat."
Editorial: Baltic States’ shared Eastern policy dilemma
Reading Lithuanian political observer Agnia Grigas’ new book on Baltic-Russian relationships, lack of Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian cooperation on important historical issues strikes the eye. Evidently, the last serious joint effort was around Baltic Chain times. Later, the Russian poet Ivan Krylov’s swan, pike and crab come to mind – busily pulling the load, as the reader remembers, in their differing directions.
The Baltic cooperation inability is the more comical, that in difficult situations we’ll be forced into it anyhow. However, out of strain or due to lack of experience, it comes down to «we meant to do better, but it came out as always», quoting Russia’s one-time prime minister Viktor Chernomyrdin. For instance, looking back to Moscow victory celebrations in 2005, where Latvian President Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga just happened to be the spokesperson for entire Baltic trio. Which wasn’t a bad choice, but the prior bizarre political confusion could have been avoided.
People's Assembly plagued by technical difficulties.
Publication of mid-term reviews of proposals and comments made in the People's Assembly online environment that was scheduled for this week will be postponed as organizers have run into technical difficulties. Coordinator of the People's Assembly initiative committee Olari Koppel said that it is impossible to take the next step before fixing these unexpected problems.
Margus Hunt proves powerful at NFL tests
Margus Hunt, pushing into professional American football, showed excellent physical results at NFL tests for second day running.
At the NFL website, Mr Hunt is currently graded at 82.4 points, signifying a place among third-ranking players. According to experts, as Mr Hunt is at third group (70 to 84 points) top levels, he is counted among players probably picked for draft at the end of 1st round, or beginning of 2nd round.