http://www.irl.ee/Erakond Isamaa ja Res Publica Liit,Союз Отечества и ResPublicaethttp://www.irl.ee/en/Media/News/1878/estonian-independence-day-joseph-daul-mep-congratulates-estoniaJoseph Daul MEP, Chairman of the EPP Group, the largest political Group in the European Parliament, has congratulated the people of Estonia on the occasion of the 92nd anniversary of the proclamation of Estonia's independence on 24 February 1918.http://www.irl.ee/en/Media/News/1819/joseph-daul-congratulates-mart-laar-on-his-re-election-as-chairman-of-the-pro-patria-and-res-publica-unionJoseph Daul MEP, Chairman of the EPP Group, the largest political Group in the European Parliament, has congratulated Mart Laar on his re-election as Chairman of the Pro Patria and Res Publica Union in Estonia.http://www.irl.ee/en/Media/News/1816/epp-congratulates-mart-laar-for-his-re-election-as-irl-presidentThe President of the European People's Party (EPP), Wilfried Martens, congratulated today Mart Laar for his re-election as the President of the Estonian EPP member-party Pro Patria and Res Publica Union (IRL). At the successful Congress of more than 2 000 participants held yesterday in Tallinn, Mart Laar received vast support from the IRL delegates (90 per cent).http://www.irl.ee/en/Media/News/1818/mart-laar-re-elected-as-irl-president-parts-ergma-and-lukas-as-vice-presidentsThe members of Estonian Pro Patria and Res Publica Union (IRL) re-elected Mart Laar as party chairman at the congress held in Tallinn on Sunday, 31 January. The speaker of the parliament Ene Ergma, Minister of Economic Affairs and Communication Juhan Parts and Minister of Education and Research Tõnis Lukas were elected vice-chairmen.http://www.irl.ee/en/Media/News/1774/mart-laar-receives-high-georgian-decoration-from-president-mikheil-saakashviliToday the president of Georgia, Mikheil Saakashvili awarded the Chairman of Pro Patria and Res Publica Union Mart Laar the St. George's Victory Order, which is the highest state decoration a foreigner can receive. http://www.irl.ee/en/Media/News/1772/juhan-parts-estonia-must-do-more-to-ensure-euro-zone-entryEstonian economy and communications minister Juhan Parts said that the first fear from the path of joining the euro was taken off the agenda with 2009 but in 2010, Estonia must be ready for new action.http://www.irl.ee/en/Media/News/1771/mart-laar-receives-high-finnish-decorationFinnish President Tarja Halonen has awarded Mart Laar, historian and chairman of the Estonian Pro Patria and Res Publica (IRL) party, the Knight of the Order of the White Rose, first class.http://www.irl.ee/en/Media/News/1698/tunne-kelam-selling-mistral-type-helicopter-carriers-to-russia-equals-rewarding-kremlin-for-its-invasion-of-georgiaThe European Union Monitoring Mission (EUMM) is the only international mission monitoring the implementation of the August 12 and September 8, 2008 agreements between Russia and Georgia. Catherine Ashton should now make it perfectly clear to the Russian side that they must guarantee EUMM access to the separatist occupied Georgian territories without any further delay. http://www.irl.ee/en/Media/News/1670/tunne-kelam-new-member-states-should-have-a-representative-in-the-new-eu-troikaIn the debate on the results of the recent European Council, the EPP representative Tunne Kelam from Estonia made three observations: First, with the Lisbon Treaty finally coming into force, the EU will, more than ever, need an effective common foreign, security and energy policy, based on solidarity. Only such common policies can prevent the concluding of further Schröder - Putin deals. http://www.irl.ee/en/Media/News/1647/minister-nato-defence-plans-are-not-a-mirageEstonian Minister of Defence said that NATO has defence plans in Baltics and they’re being developed in cooperation, ERR News reports.http://www.irl.ee/en/Media/News/1644/new-members-of-tallinn-city-council-approvedTallinn election commission approved new membership of Tallinn city council, which will meet for the first time on November 5.http://www.irl.ee/en/Media/News/1633/tunne-kelam-there-is-a-third-party-in-russian-georgian-conflictSpeaking on October 22th at the plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg where parliamentarians assessed the international commission´s report on the 2008 Russian-Georgian conflict, the European Peoples Party member Tunne Kelam said that the conflict has a third party, too. This is the international community, including the European Union. http://www.irl.ee/en/Media/News/1643/irl-faction-to-pass-draft-act-for-controlling-monopoliesToday Pro Patria and Res Publica union (IRL) decided to propose Reform Part and Green Party to start a draft that controls monopolies, aripaev.ee writes.http://www.irl.ee/en/Media/News/1600/the-dangerous-logic-of-russian-revanchismThe beginning of autumn brought a number of waiting periods in the field of foreign policy to an end. The positive outcome in the Irish referendum was certainly something we had looked forward to, as failure of Europe's major joint project is something we must certainly prevent. Fragmentation is dangerous and in the worst case scenario could leave us without the united support of Europe.http://www.irl.ee/en/Media/News/1646/minister-parts-wants-to-bring-asias-air-transit-to-tallinn-airportExport and investment plan “Made in Estonia” intends to make Tallinn Airport a hub to Asian aviation companies, Eesti Päevaleht reports.http://www.irl.ee/en/Media/News/1645/parts-likeliness-of-joining-euro-is-70-pctJuhan Parts, the Minister of Economic Affairs and Communications said that Estonia has 70% probability of fulfilling the Maastricht criteria.http://www.irl.ee/en/Media/News/1642/open-letter-europe-must-stand-up-for-georgiaAs Europe remembers the shame of the Ribbentrop-Molotov pact of 1939 and the Munich agreement of 1938, and as it prepares to celebrate the fall of the Berlin wall and the iron curtain in 1989, one question arises in our minds: Have we learned the lessons of history? Put another way, are we able to avoid repeating the mistakes that cast such a dark shadow over the 20th century?http://www.irl.ee/en/Media/News/1559/world-war-ii-70-years-agoSeptember 2009 marks the 70th anniversary of the outbreak of the Second World War. The Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact and its Secret Protocol, signed on 23 August 1939, opened the way for a joint attack on Poland by Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union, launched on 1 September 1939 and 17 September 1939 respectively.http://www.irl.ee/en/Media/News/1555/baltic-sea-strategy-a-success-story-of-the-original-lisbon-strategy-tunne-kelam-mepSpeaking today in plenary on the EU strategy for the Baltic Sea region, the EPP Spokesman on the topic, Tunne Kelam MEP, congratulated the Swedish Presidency on its leadership in starting to implement the Baltic Sea Strategy. "Since 2004, the Baltic Sea has become an internal sea of the EU. The Strategy reflects a fundamental change which took place in this region five years ago and this is the reason the EU needs a comprehensive approach to react in a coordinated way to both the opportunities and challenges this new situation presents", said Tunne Kelam MEP. http://www.irl.ee/en/Media/News/1648/veskimagi-i-cant-see-governments-euro-planTaavi Veskimägi, who’s leaving the Parliament and Pro Patria Union (IRL) said that he doesn’t see the government has a plan how to join euro, ERR News reports.http://www.irl.ee/en/Media/News/1516/taavi-veskimagi-leaves-party-and-politicsTaavi Veskimägi, member of Parliament and Pro Patria and Res Publica Union (IRL) who has decided to leave politics, will become the new CEO of Elering, Eesti Energia’s power-grid operator, ERR News reports.http://www.irl.ee/en/Media/News/1512/irl-doesn%e2%80%99t-endorse-kallas-in-brusselsMart Laar, the chairperson of Pro Patria and Res Publica union (IRL) said yesterday he rather sees an apolitical person or social democrat as a proxy in Brussels, Eesti Päevaleht reports.http://www.irl.ee/en/Media/News/1489/baltic-states-commemorate-the-20th-anniversary-of-the-baltic-wayOn 23 August Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania commemorate the 20th anniversary of The Baltic Way. On that day in 1989 the people of the three occupied Baltic States joined hands in an unprecedented action - a 600 km-long human chain from Tallinn through Riga to Vilnius - demanding recognition of secret clauses in the Hitler-Stalin pact of 1939 and the re-establishment of the independence of the Baltic States.http://www.irl.ee/en/Media/News/1511/laar-cee-is-thinking-with-its-headMart Laar, chairperson of Pro Patria and Res Publica Union (IRL) wrote in his blog that the open letter leaders of Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) sent to the US President Barack Obama shows that CEE is still able to think with its own head, delfi.ee writes. http://www.irl.ee/en/Media/News/1514/parts-economic-recovery-is-depending-on-three-thingsWho knows if Estonian economy has bottomed since it’s depending on three things and one of them is not depeding on us, Juhan Parts, the Minister of Economic Affairs and Communications told aripaev.ee. http://www.irl.ee/en/Media/News/1477/es-gibt-weniger-freiheit-als-vor-funf-jahrenFall der inhaftierten Jugendaktivisten beweist für den Europarat-Beobachter Andres Herkel, dass das Regime mehr und mehr auf Repression setzt - Interview http://www.irl.ee/en/Media/News/1510/leaders-of-cee-sent-an-open-letter-to-barack-obamaWe have written this letter because, as Central and Eastern European (CEE) intellectuals and former policymakers, we care deeply about the future of the transatlantic relationship as well as the future quality of relations between the United States and the countries of our region.http://www.irl.ee/en/Media/News/1447/minister-to-make-border-queues-for-trucks-pricedLast week Juhan Parts, the Minister of Economic Affairs and Communications introduces an idea at the government, according to which long queues in the border points would be replaced with paid booking, E24.ee reports.http://www.irl.ee/en/Media/News/1515/veskimagi-the-government-is-not-cutting-the-budget-but-thinking-of-new-incomesCurrently the government is not cutting the budget, but is thinking of ways to get new incomes, Taavi Veskimägi, the former Minister of Finance told ERR News. http://www.irl.ee/en/Media/News/1418/mart-laar%e2%80%99s-chances-to-become-the-new-pm-are-improvingIRL chairman Mart Laar who has already been the PM twice could be heading for the job again, writes Äripäev. http://www.irl.ee/en/Media/News/1316/parts-investments-are-necessaryMinister of Economic Affairs and Communications Juhan Parts said that investments into Estonia are necessary at the moment, as a rebuttal the news that the Finnish energy company Vapo might choose Estonia as a location for building a big biodiesel plant, aripaev.ee writes.http://www.irl.ee/en/Media/News/1315/laar-by-supporting-entrepreneurship-we%e2%80%99ll-keep-jobsThe leader of Pro Patria and Res Publica Union Mart Laar said today during a parliament session while the draft bill for changing the law concerning the support for entrepreneurs and the government being the guarantor for loans , that by supporting entrepreneurship and keeping jobs enables us to come out of the crisis and not forcing new payments on entrepreneurs, postimees.ee writes.http://www.irl.ee/en/Media/News/1287/epp-ed-presidency-tallinn-security-and-solidarity-key-messages-for-estonia-and-the-baltic-region"The security of our citizens and solidarity, especially in this time of financial crises, must remain our core objectives", declared Joseph Daul MEP, Chairman of the EPP-ED Group, at the concluding press conference of the EPP-ED Group Presidency and Heads of National Delegations meeting in Tallinn this morning. "Europe showed its practical support during the cyber attacks in April 2007 on Estonia, which was a real attack aimed at damaging Estonia and its economy, and Europe will continue to support its Member States against any such attacks in the future", declared Chairman Daul. http://www.irl.ee/en/Media/News/1285/epp-ed-presidency-tallinn-eu-russia-relations-we-must-be-firm-but-openOpening the session of the EPP-ED Presidency meeting in Tallinn on EU-Russia relations, Gunnar Hökmark MEP, Vice-Chairman of the EPP-ED Group, said that relations with Russia need to be both firm and open. He said that Russia had changed much since the days of the Soviet Union preferring soft power to hard power. However, Russia was still prepared to use hard power as demonstrated in Georgia last August.http://www.irl.ee/en/Media/News/1284/epp-ed-presidency-tallinn-security-eu-russia-baltic-sea-strategy-cyber-defence-on-the-agendaThe meeting of the EPP-ED Presidency and Heads of National Delegations opened this morning in Tallinn with welcome messages from Joseph Daul MEP, Chairman of the EPP-ED Group, Tunne Kelam MEP, Head of the Estonian Delegation, and Mart Laar, Chairman of the Isamaa ja Res Publica Liit (IRL) Party and former Prime Minister of Estonia.http://www.irl.ee/en/Media/News/1288/epp-ed-presidency-meets-in-tallinnThe EPP-ED Group Presidency and Heads of National Delegations will meet in Tallinn, Estonia, from 16-17 April 2009 on the invitation of Tunne Kelam MEP, Head of the Estonian Delegation of the EPP-ED Group. The main debates will focus on the security of citizens; the EU's external borders, EU-Russia relations, the Baltic Sea Strategy and cyber defence.http://www.irl.ee/en/Media/News/1199/the-street-is-no-place-for-constitutional-democracyThe week-long protests in Moldova and Georgia - the latter in particular - should compel us to ask hard questions about the substance and aims of street politics. Even a cursory glance tells us that there is a world of difference between these protests and Estonia's Singing Revolution and their multihued brethren.http://www.irl.ee/en/Media/News/1205/juhan-parts-single-stock-exchange-for-baltic-statesDuring the Estonian-Latvian enterprise forum held by the Estonian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Minister of Economics Juhan Parts suggested that the Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian stock markets could join in order to generate liquidity, postimees.ee writes.http://www.irl.ee/en/Media/News/1203/laar-we%e2%80%99re-unable-to-fulfill-the-duties-we-took-on-when-times-were-betterThe leader of Pro Patria and Res Publica Union Mart Laar said that at the moment we need to make the right and necessary decisions before it's too late. It's taking quick actions in a crisis that gets you out of it.http://www.irl.ee/en/Media/News/1170/open-market-is-the-answerThe annual Lennart Meri conference organized by the International Centre for Defense Studies gathered in Tallinn last week, bringing together a large amount of foreign political experts and thinkers, journalists, ministers and politicians from around the globe. Over the years, the Lennart Meri conference has become a major event not only in the Baltics but in European politics as a whole, where the people from whom foreign political decisions depend can discuss the most intriguing questions in a free atmosphere.http://www.irl.ee/en/Media/News/1167/crimes-of-communism-and-totalitarianism-condemned-victims-to-be-rememberedThe European Parliament has proposed August 23 as a common remembrance day of the victims of totalitarian regimes in a Resolution on European conscience and totalitarianism which was adopted today by a very large majority. http://www.irl.ee/en/Media/News/1342/irl-made-a-plan-to-create-20000-new-jobsPro Patria and Res Publica Union's new work plan sees establishing 20,000 new investments by bringing foreign investments to Estonia, Postimees reporthttp://www.irl.ee/en/Media/News/1144/europe-needs-an-integrated-perception-of-its-common-history-tunne-kelam-mepThe first debate on the topic 'European conscience and totalitarianism' took place during the plenary session of the European Parliament this week. The debate, as well as a Draft Resolution, was initiated by Members of the EPP-ED Group Jana Hybáškova, Tunne Kelam and József Szájer. http://www.irl.ee/en/Media/News/1206/estonia-still-interested-in-participating-in-ignalina-nuclear-plant-projectEstonia is still interested in participating Lithuanian Ignalina nuclear plant project, Juhan Parts, the Minister of Economic Affairs and Communicatiohttp://www.irl.ee/en/Media/News/1200/the-council-of-europe-a-sleeping-beautySometimes it is said, that the Council of Europe is Europe’s only value-based organisation. The assertion is based on the fact that the Council of Europe’s competence is restricted to the most traditional value spheres: human rights, democracy, free elections, gender equality, rule of law and due process. http://www.irl.ee/en/Media/News/1317/estonian-minister-there-is-no-need-for-my-postThe law of administrative reform sees that county governors will be abolished from next year and the post of the Regional Minister from 2011, Eesti Päevaleht writes.http://www.irl.ee/en/Media/News/1204/mps-from-irl-to-pay-their-wage-growth-back-to-the-state-budgetMart Laar, the chairperson of Pro Patria and Res Publica Union said they'll pay the salary growth back to the state budget, ERR News writes. “Thttp://www.irl.ee/en/Media/News/1043/mps-from-irl-to-pay-their-wage-growth-back-to-the-state-budgetMart Laar, the chairman of Pro Patria and Res Publica Union said they'll pay the salary growth back to the state budget, ERR News writes. "The memhttp://www.irl.ee/en/Media/News/1202/future-and-disharmonyAt the Munich security conference, US Vice-President Joe Biden signalled that the new administration wants a fresh start to Russia relations. While important as a message, giving substance to this desire will be a complicated task. http://www.irl.ee/en/Media/News/950/freedom-is-still-the-best-policyEastern Europe won't be looking for government-led recovery.http://www.irl.ee/en/Media/News/942/estonian-mission-ends-in-iraqBY SPC ERIC J. GLASSEY13TH PUBLIC AFFAIRSDETACHMENT After almost six years of successful combat operations in Iraq, Estonia's troops concluded thehttp://www.irl.ee/en/Media/News/1005/laar-we%e2%80%99ve-survived-crises-beforeChariman of Pro Patri and Res Publica Union Mart Laar reminded that there have been at least two crises as tough as the current one and Estonia overcahttp://www.irl.ee/en/Media/News/914/minister-europe-has-not-yet-done-enough-on-cyber-defenceBrussels (dpa) - Europe has not yet done enough to protect its internet and communications systems from web-based attacks, the politician whose country fought the world's first-ever cyber war told Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa on Wednesday.http://www.irl.ee/en/Media/News/907/time-to-take-the-riddle-out-of-russiaEurope's view of Russia frequently reflects misconceptions. Some Europeans hide behind Winston Churchill's famous -- but often misrepresented -- comment that Russia is a mystery, riddle and an enigma. Others adhere to a naive, visionary optimism about Moscow's understanding of democracy and the rule of law.http://www.irl.ee/en/Media/News/915/minister-goes-to-london-to-promote-estonian-companiesJuhan Parts, the Minister of Economic Affairs and Communications goes to London to meet representatives of financial institutions to discuss Estonia's immediate future on European money markets, aripaev.ee reports.http://www.irl.ee/en/Media/News/867/estonian-exporters%e2%80%99-aid-package-got-green-light-from-entrepreneursThe aid package worth EEK 4 bln got approved yesterday and Juhan Parts, the Minister of Economic Affairs and Communications will take it to the governhttp://www.irl.ee/en/Media/News/817/minister-of-economic-affairs-to-consider-giving-state-aid-to-ailing-exportersEstonian exporters that are experiencing financing problems could soon receive state aid, according to the Minister of Economic Affairs Juhan Parts.http://www.irl.ee/en/Media/News/816/laar-make-2009-the-year-of-the-visible-handEx-PM and chairman of IRL Mart Laar says that Estonia needs a strong, decisive and resolute government to overcome the crisis. Eesti Päevaleht qhttp://www.irl.ee/en/Media/News/769/laar-estonia-wouldn%e2%80%99t-get-into-nato-todayMart Laar, chairperson of Pro Patria and Res Publica Union told ERR News that if Estonia didn’t have the chance to join NATO in 2004, we wouldn’t be able to join today.http://www.irl.ee/en/Media/News/729/the-dangers-of-business-as-usual-with-russiaWith EU-Russia talks now resuming, it appears that the European Union's Council and the European Commission are not willing or prepared to draw long term conclusions from Russia's large-scale use of military force against a sovereign neighboring state.http://www.irl.ee/en/Media/News/770/mart-laar-delay-with-eurozone-entry-cost-estonia-dearlyFormer Prime Minister Mart Laar believes that the government’s decision not to enter the eurozone in 2007 had a high price for Estonia.http://www.irl.ee/en/Media/News/690/mart-laar-has-taken-georgia-ahead-of-estoniaAdvisor Mart Laar has taken Georgia 97 places higher in the World Bank's business climate index - when Gerogia placed 112th in 2005, then three yearshttp://www.irl.ee/en/Media/News/916/mp-nochnoi-dozor-may-turn-estonia-into-new-south-ossetiaEstonian MP Marko Mihkelson says that the poll made by pro-Kremlin movement Nochnoi Dozor in Estonia is very worrying.http://www.irl.ee/en/Media/News/768/agra-focus-interview-with-helir-valdor-seederThis month-s Interview on the future of EU farm policy is with the Estonian Farm Minister Helir-Valdor Seeder. As probably the most liberal of all of the New Member States in its attitude to public agriculture policy, Estonia is not representative of the countries that joined the EU in 2004 (or 2007) – other than in its call for uniform aid across the EU based on area, rather than on historic receipts – but Seeder’s contribution to last month’s Informal Council debate in Annecy on the future of the CAP underlined that the government in Tallinn is about the only NMS government with a clear and concrete for how policy should evolve. http://www.irl.ee/en/Media/News/671/business-as-usualEurope really has a very short memory. After the Russian aggression against Georgia on Aug. 8, 2008, European leaders stood up and promised to make it absolutely clear to Russia that such behavior could not be tolerated in Europe. To demonstrate that they were serious with this message, Europe decided to cancel - or postpone as it was officially said - the negotiations with Moscow on a new "Partnership and Cooperation Agreement." Europe insisted that Russia must obey a six-point ceasefire deal, which ended the Georgia war on Aug 12, before any talks on the partnership agreement can start again.http://www.irl.ee/en/Media/News/625/tunne-kelam-mep-eu-russia-relations-preceding-the-november-14-summit-in-niceAfter hearing the presentations by Mr. Javier Solana and Mrs. Ferrero-Waldner before the AFET Committee November 5, 2008, my concern that on the ehttp://www.irl.ee/en/Media/News/616/mart-laar-ousting-of-andrus-ansip-will-not-helpFormer Prime Minister and leader of IRL Mart Laar believes that resignation of PM Andrus Ansip is not a solution. Laar writes in his blog that recenhttp://www.irl.ee/en/Media/News/617/mart-laar-where-are-the-reformsEx-PM Mart Laar writes in Eesti Päevaleht that one of Estonia's biggest problems right now is that after years of rapid growth it has practicallyhttp://www.irl.ee/en/Media/News/618/estonian-minister-invites-foreign-investors-to-second-roundSince transitional period to next growth cycle is the best time for investing, Juhan Parts, Estonian Minister of Economic Affairs invites foreign invehttp://www.irl.ee/en/Media/News/731/mp-power-of-politicians-will-growCountries don't dare to let competition be free in financial system and they reply to downturn with restrictions and control, which will bring largerhttp://www.irl.ee/en/Media/News/561/economy-minister-estonian-energy-sector-needs-100-billionEstonian energy sector is facing a life an death battle and needs to invest around 100 billion kroons in the next 10 to 15 years. Speaking at thehttp://www.irl.ee/en/Media/News/565/estonias-investment-frontierLike many other countries, Estonia boasts itself as an oasis for foreign investment. Unlike many other countries, Estonia is more walk than talk and able to demonstrate many necessary qualities for this claim. Recently ranked by Forbes as the number 10 country to do business, Estonia is clearly a focal point in the Baltic Sea Region.http://www.irl.ee/en/Media/News/532/coalition-waters-down-idea-merging-local-governments-by-forceSocial Democrats and Reform Party do not support the idea of IRL to start merging local governments by force.   Postimees writes that thehttp://www.irl.ee/en/Media/News/531/mart-laar-estonia-wouldn%e2%80%99t-survive-the-same-budget-twiceMart Laar, chairman of IRL, writes in Delfi that Estonia wouldn't survive the same state budget process twice. Laar writes that it is deeply abnormalhttp://www.irl.ee/en/Media/News/673/otto-tiefs-government-independence-47-years-in-the-makingOn Sept. 18, 1944, the last legal prime minister of the Republic of Estonia, Juri Uluots, acting president, summoned Otto Tief and said, "It is time! The Germans are withdrawing from Estonia. Summon the members of the government and get to work." It was time, indeed. The German forces were leaving Estonia, the front at Emajogi River had been broken, and the Red Army could have reached Tallinn at any moment.http://www.irl.ee/en/Media/News/563/from-russia-with-love-beware-of-accepting-strange-giftsGerman Trojan horses are dangerously increasing the EU's dependence on Russian energy. According to the myth, the Trojans "joyfully dragged" the wooden horse left by Odysseus into Troy, believing the ten-year siege was finally over. Some warned them not to. In vain. In its 2007 report on EU-Russia relations, the European Council on Foreign Relations refers to this episode, flatly stating that Greece and Cyprus represent Russian interests in Europe. http://www.irl.ee/en/Media/News/619/estonian-minister-of-education-promises-wage-growth-for-teachersAfter a tense state budget discussion it seems unbelievable at first glance that somebody dares to talk about wage increase, but Estonian Minister ofhttp://www.irl.ee/en/Media/News/533/irl-budget-deficit-would-have-endangered-estonian-currencyIt is important that the state budget wasn't let into deficit, otherwise it would have endangered Estonian currency kroon and also joining the eurozonhttp://www.irl.ee/en/Media/News/620/politicos-call-for-russia-out-of-coeTALLINN - Prominent Estonian politicians Mart Laar and Andres Herkel have called for Russia to be kicked out of the Council of Europe. The two polhttp://www.irl.ee/en/Media/News/474/irl-state-budget-has-to-support-estonian-economy%e2%80%99s-competitivenessIRL's Parliament faction decided today that when drawing the state budget for 2009, Estonian economy's competitiveness has to be preserved and no decihttp://www.irl.ee/en/Media/News/473/the-balance-of-powerJuhan Parts, Estonian Minister of Economic Affairs and Communication, calls for greater regulation on imported electricity supplies to allow fairer competition in EU markets...http://www.irl.ee/en/Media/News/472/russland-ausschliesen-the-council-of-europe-must-actOf the many ways in which Russia is exceptional, its membership of Europe's premier human rights body, the Council of Europe, is perhaps the most embarrassing. Countries are usually admitted into the club only once they fulfill numerous pledges, including a commitment to an open democracy, the protection of human and minority rights, guarantee of free speech, and so on. It is on this basis that Belarus and Kazakhstan, for example, have not yet been accepted.http://www.irl.ee/en/Media/News/471/le-neo-imperialisme-russe-plane-sur-l%e2%80%99europe-the-russian-neo-imperialism-glides-on-europeIn October 1939, following the Nazi-Soviet invasion of Poland, Winston Churchill offered his famous description of Russia as "a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma". What may have been true at the outbreak of the Second World War ceased to be so following the defeat of Nazism as Stalin's design for Europe became painfully clear and the independence and democracy of one Eastern European country after another succumbed to Soviet tyranny. http://www.irl.ee/en/Media/News/674/back-to-leninThere is a small village in Georgia, not far away from the city of Gori, that for centuries was called Akhalgori. After Georgia was occupied by Soviet Russia in 1921, some local activist decided to rename it Leningori. After the restoration of Georgian independence, the local people gave the village back its original name.http://www.irl.ee/en/Media/News/427/juhan-parts-estonias-economy-is-souped-up-to-rebound-from-recessionBusiness New Europe writes that Estonia has just become the first country in the Central and Eastern Europe to fall into recession. Could the countryhttp://www.irl.ee/en/Media/News/428/marko-mihkelson-moscow-wants-baltic-countries-under-its-influenceMP Marko Mihkelson writes in his blog that the Russian President Dmitri Medvedev five foreign policy objects, which he presented to the journalists yehttp://www.irl.ee/en/Media/News/407/estonian-state-invests-in-tourismEstonian Minister of Economic Affairs and Communication Juhan Parts has signed two regulations intended to support development of tourism services and objects until 2013, worth up to 400 million kroon, the Baltic Business Channel informs via Ariapaev.ee.http://www.irl.ee/en/Media/News/387/stop-that-bearThough Russia has not yet achieved the main goal of its attack against Georgia - the removal of the democratically elected president and his replacement with somebody who would bring Georgia back under Russian influence - it appears that the fighting is slowly coming to an end. A cease-fire has been signed, though Russia and its allies are ignoring it. http://www.irl.ee/en/Media/News/377/laar-estonia-has-to-be-ready-for-cyber-warMart Laar, the chairman of IRL, said Estonia has to create national structures for holding a cyber war since Russia also used cyber and info war against Georgia.http://www.irl.ee/en/Media/News/376/security-of-northern-european-sea-bordersGlobalisation makes it impossible to distinguish between internal and external security, as many states depend on the same or similar security factors. The processes inside the European Union bring the economic, political and security-related interests of the Member States into an ever increasing correlation, since the security risks are widely overlapping.http://www.irl.ee/en/Media/News/364/statement-of-the-riigikogu-on-military-aggression-of-the-russian-federation-against-georgiaOn 12 August the President of the parliament of Estonia Ene Ergma convened, on the motion of 37 members of the parliament, an extraordinary session ofhttp://www.irl.ee/en/Media/News/340/laar-cutting-defence-expenses-would-be-insanity-in-the-light-of-georgiaMember of Pro Patria and Res Publica Faction, Mart Laar, thinks that when looking at what's going on in Georgia, it would be insanity to cut down on defence expenses.http://www.irl.ee/en/Media/News/345/declaration-of-presidents-of-parliaments-of-the-baltic-statesWith deep concern and anxiety, we are observing the events in Georgia which at this moment is under intensive attacks by the army of the Russian Federhttp://www.irl.ee/en/Media/News/343/stalinism-was-just-as-bad-as-nazismLast week Russia furiously attacked President Bush for his proclamation on Captive Nations Week (July 20-July 26), which was established to raise awareness of countries living under communist and other oppressive regimes. Mr. Bush said that, "In the 20th century, the evils of Soviet communism and Nazi fascism were defeated and freedom spread around the world as new democracies emerged."http://www.irl.ee/en/Media/News/341/mart-laar-to-advise-davos-economic-forumEstonian politician Mart Laar was invited to the Global Agenda Council that was put together to advise and prepare Davos economic forum.http://www.irl.ee/en/Media/News/262/lessons-for-europe-from-the-first-massive-cyber-attack-against-a-countryBy and large, a year has passed since Estonia suffered under an orchestrated and organized barrage of cyber attacks. The acts themselves lasted for weeks and targeted key governmental and private web sites, and selected critical information infrastructure while using a wide array of offensive techniques.http://www.irl.ee/en/Media/News/344/parts-wants-waste-quotas-on-russias-electricity-as-wellIn the meeting of European Unions transport, communication and energy ministers in Paris, Estonia’s Minister of Economic Affairs and Communication, Juhan Parts, pointed out that waste quotas should also be established on the electricity imported to the EU, writes aripaev.ee.http://www.irl.ee/en/Media/News/675/communist-crimes-must-be-condemnedSome weeks ago the Foundation for the Investigation of Communist Crimes (FICC) was officially launched in Tallinn. The purpose of the foundation is to diffuse knowledge and increase international understanding of the crimes against humanity conducted by violent communist regimes across the globe in different times. http://www.irl.ee/en/Media/News/342/mart-laar-estonia-can-be-successful-in-20-yearsAccording to Laar, Estonia's success is based on the ability to make radical decisions during the economic crises and in case Estonia is able to repeat it, we are successful also in the future.http://www.irl.ee/en/Media/News/65/tunne-kelam-mep-epp-ed-group-committed-to-moral-and-political-assessment-of-all-totalitarian-regimesThe EPP-ED Group has welcomed yesterday's debate in the European Parliament on the assessment of crimes of totalitarian regimes as a promising starting point to achieving an integrated understanding of all the human tragedies of the 20th century, no matter which totalitarian system may have caused them. The message of the debate could be coined in the words: "Justice belongs to all citizens of Europe, without exception," said the EPP-ED Bureau Member Tunne Kelam MEP.http://www.irl.ee/en/Media/News/346/echoes-of-1930s-in-russian-annexationVladimir Putin, the outgoing Russian president, on Wednesday accelerated Moscow's creeping annexation of Georgian territories to sweeping annexation. This is a victory for hardliners who pressed Mr Putin to give the order before he moves from the Kremlin to the Russian White House as prime minister. It comes as Georgian proposals for peaceful settlements in the territories, Abkhazia and South Os­setia, languish. The west must shake off its torpor, condemn Mr Putin's gambit and support the Georgian proposals. http://www.irl.ee/en/Media/News/676/baltic-countries-need-more-cooperation-on-energyLooking at the Baltic energy policy the only thing which is clear is that nothing is clear. Some years ago common energy projects like the new Ignalina power plant looked to become examples of Baltic cooperation, now Baltic countries are moving in more and more different directions. The Ignalina project is still there, but progress there has been so painfully slow and an outcome so unclear that both Latvian and Estonian governments have started looking for alternatives.http://www.irl.ee/en/Media/News/73/marko-mihkelson-on-bela-kadars-how-europe-should-address-the-challenges-of-the-asian-centuryIt's hard to dispute Bela Kadar's view that we are going to have to rejuvenate the European Union in order to keep pace with our global competitors, especially the emerging Asian giants. But there's no need for excessive pessimism. http://www.irl.ee/en/Media/News/335/real-threats-of-the-imaginary-worldWhere we are today? We are in a world where, in addition to the classical dimensions of land, sea, and air, we have a virtual reality; we use the term cyberspace. There is similarly a manner as going out to the high seas created new global powers, as conquering the air space for defense, but also for global dominance, we entered airspace and further to the space. It is imminent I think that the future developments will see conflicts, attacks, if you like wars in this newly born cyberspace. http://www.irl.ee/en/Media/News/401/laar-calls-for-common-eu-stance-on-russiaBERLIN -- Speaking at the opening event of the European Council on Foreign Relations in Berlin, the chairman of Estonia's Pro Patria and Res Publica Union (IRL) Mart Laar called on Europe to form a common foreign policy in dealing with Russia.http://www.irl.ee/en/Media/News/71/why-it-is-time-to-give-our-kids-a-voice-tooEstonia led the way in e-government and fighting cyber wars. Now its experiment in reversing the collapsing birth-rate is attracting international attention.http://www.irl.ee/en/Media/News/67/europe%e2%80%99s-virtual-soft-underbellyEstonia is a country with an electronic identity. Practically every possible service has also an alternative in the virtual world. Some 97% of bank transactions are carried out on-line. What happens when this virtual world is suddenly nearly paralysed?http://www.irl.ee/en/Media/News/402/estonian-mep-calls-for-external-energy-coordinatorBRUSSELS - Tunne Kelam, an Estonian member of the European Parliament, has told the EU it should appoint a coordinator for external energy policy.http://www.irl.ee/en/Media/News/68/estonia-a-needed-enemy-for-russiaI start with a question: "What era do I describe?" Head of Russian legislative body Duma threats to cut diplomatic relations with a EU country. Official youth organisation of the Russian president's party is blocking for weeks the entrance of an embassy of an EU country in Moscow. http://www.irl.ee/en/Media/News/75/frozen-conflicts-2-handling-moscow-tips-from-estonia-for-georgia-and-moldovaConflicts in Georgia and other parts of the South Caucasus region owe much to Russia's "peace-keeping" policies in the region, says Mart Laar, a former Estonian prime minister. He tells how his country's experience is relevant to the resolution of these conflicts.http://www.irl.ee/en/Media/News/334/estonia-defense-minister-says-bronze-soldier-had-to-goAs the Estonian authorities brace themselves, fearing a repeat of the riots by ethnic Russian youth that followed the removal of a Soviet World War II memorial from central Tallinn, RFE/RL correspondent Ahto Lobjakas spoke to one of the main architects of the move, Defense Minister Jaak Aaviksoo. Aaviksoo told RFE/RL that it was time for the Bronze Soldier to go once it became associated with forces opposed to Estonia's independence. But Aaviksoo also says the country could do more to fight ethnic discrimination. http://www.irl.ee/en/Media/News/74/the-awful-truth-that-lies-behind-the-bronzeThe monument to the Soviet ‘liberation' in September 1944, the bronze soldier standing in one of Tallinn's central squares, was one of the most hated monuments in Estonia until the Soviet occupation ended 50 years later.http://www.irl.ee/en/Media/News/9/tunne-kelam-mep-arrest-of-belarusian-artist-alaksiej-marackin-condemnedA well-known Belarusian artist Alaksiej Marackin, whose exhibition in the European Parliament was opened two weeks ago by President Hans-Gert Pöttering, was arrested on March 24 by special militia and KGB officers in his atelier.