Eesti in brief - 2010-01-27

Although the problem concerning overdue mortgage repayments seems to be under control in Estonia, between 500 and 700 families could still lose their home, says Aivar Rehe, chairman of the Estonian Banking Association. “Fortunately, doomsday scenarios of thousands of families going bankrupt and losing their homes did not come true. Ninety-five percent of people with mortgages made due payments this year and I hope that they will do so also in the future,” said Rehe. According to authorities, debtors of utility bills and overdue mortgage loan repayments make up about one-third of people who visit a financial consultant provided by the City of Tallinn. “There are no hopeless situations, but many people are doing nothing, while their debts are growing,” says one consultant, advising people who can no longer meet their financial obligations to go the bank and honestly talk about their problems.

A short story by the Estonian author Mati Unt, “Brecht at Night,” was chosen as one of the 25 best translated literary works in the United States and this is seen as a breakthrough of Estonian literature in the world market, reports bns. The choice by one of the biggest book wholesale chains, Barnes and Noble, is extraordinary because never before have Estonian books been included on the list. Representatives of Dalkey Archive Press came to Estonia five years ago at the invitation of the Estonian Literature Information Center (EKT). EKT Director Ilvi Liive said that the choice of the best books was made by professionals who were not only book wholesalers but also published them. “As only two percent of the book market in America is books of translated fiction, being picked as one of the top 25 is a big breakthrough,” Liive said. 

Estonian Minister of Agriculture Helir-Valdor Seeder and Georgian Minister of Agriculture Bakur Kvezereli signed the Memorandum of Cooperation, which concentrates on the development assistance provided by Estonia and on bilateral economic and trade relations in the field of agriculture and food production. According to Georgian Minister Kvezereli, his country is interested in cooperation with different international organizations and wants to hear the contribution from Estonian experts. He says Georgia is open for investment from Estonian companies, to which several opportunities are being offered, including the sale of agricultural land under favorable terms. Regarding trade, Georgia primarily offers to Estonia its wines, and would like dairy and seafood products in return. Fisher products currently make up the majority of Estonia’s food exports to Georgia. As for trade in dairy products, direct contacts between companies should follow while the Georgian minister promised his support for establishing further relations.