Eesti in brief - 2011-04-07

  • 2011-04-06

An OECD survey commissioned by the Estonian Finance Ministry at the end of last year showed that Estonians’ financial literacy was rather poor, reports Eesti Paevaleht. The findings of the study show that, without additional funding, only 17 percent of people would be able to maintain their housing for one month; 23 percent would be able to do it for three months; 12 percent - for up to six months and only 18 percent would be able to do it longer. Moreover, Estonians are not good in planning their personal or household finances. For example, only 64 percent of respondents were able to give an accurate response to the question: “If you deposit 1,000 kroons (64 euros) with guaranteed annual interest rate of two percent, how much money will you have after the first interest payment?” Answer: after one year this would total 1,020 kroons.

The 12th Riigikogu convened on April 5 for its first full session, reports National Broadcasting. On April 4, the new MPs gave their oath of office. They also re-elected Ene Ergma as the Riigikogu speaker and elected Laine Randjarv and Juri Ratas as deputy chairpersons. The Riigikogu board registered on Monday four Riigikogu factions. The Estonian Center Party faction chairwoman is Kadri Simson, deputy chairpersons are Mailis Reps and Valeri Korb. The Reform Party faction chairman is Jaanus Tamkivi, deputy chairmen are Remo Holsmer and Valdo Randpere. The Pro Patria and Res Publica Union faction chairman is Urmas Reinsalu and chairpersons are Kaia Iva and Toomas Toniste. The Social Democratic Party faction chairman is Sven Mikser and deputy chairmen Eiki Nestor and Indrek Saar. The Reform Party faction has 33, Center Party 26, PRU 23 and SDP 19 members.

According to unofficially unconfirmed information, Russian law enforcement authorities want the help of their Estonian counterparts to interrogate security adviser and businessman Eerik-Niiles Kross again in Russia in connection with the hijacking of the cargo ship Arctic Sea in 2009, reports Postimees. “Russia has not submitted a new legal aid request, but different states have the same interests concerning Arctic Sea – to find out what really happened,” Chief State Prosecutor Norman Aas said.  “I have given my testimony to the corresponding Estonian institutions more than a year ago. The Estonian Prosecutor’s Office then said that I have no connection to the hijacking of the Arctic Sea,” said Kross, who is Estonia’s former foreign intelligence coordinator, adding that he has heard of unofficial attempts to take him as a defendant in the case to Russia. One of the defendants who was convicted in the hijacking case last year, Dmitri Savins, claimed Kross was one of the people who ordered the hijacking.