Postimees Digest, Saturday, August 31

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Photo: Toomas Huik

Presidents: Estonia and USA remain staunch allies.

President Toomas Hendrik Ilves and his Latvian and Lithuanian counterparts Andris Bērziņš and Dalia Grybauskaitė met with US President Barack Odama on Friday evening (Estonian time). President Obama commended the achievements of all three Baltic countries, highlighting Estonia's successful allied relations and President Ilves' efforts in protecting internet freedoms. Obama also mentioned Latvia's success in exiting the recession and Lithuania's contribution to Eastern Partnership. President Ilves condemned the use of chemical weapons in Syria and said the the culprits need to be held accountable. The President thanked USA for its dedication to the Baltic region and said he hopes the country will continue to participate in ensuring Europe's security. The presidents also passed a US-Baltic joint declaration that among other things states: "US and European security is indivisible. As stated in the Baltic Charter, the United States of America, as a NATO ally, has a deep and lasting interest in the independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and security of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania".

Estonia boosts participation in Mali mission.

The Defense Forces is set to boost Estonia's presents in Mali by dispatching a six-member team of instructors and a single Defense Forces member to participate in UN peacekeeping mission MINUSMA. Estonian Defense Forces' experienced and professional officers are held in high regard among the blue helmets, Minister of Defense Urmas Reinsalu writes in the explanatory memo of the resolution. Defense Forces instructors will work as a team with Finnish and Swedish colleagues.

State raises creative person grants.

The culture ministry's bill to amend the Creative Persons and Artistic Associations Act frees artists and writers from the obligation to register as self-employed persons to be eligible for support and hikes the support amount, bringing it in line with rising average salary. Support remains at one fifth of national average salary. The support measure was made available to 36 persons in 2011.

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