Eesti in brief - 2013-05-16

The Estonian Veterinary and Food Board launched on May 6 the spring vaccination campaign for foxes and raccoons in areas near the Latvian and Russian borders, reports National Broadcasting. The vaccine is spread in a 20-40 km area near the Latvian border, 50 km area near the Russian land border and 30 km area near the Narva River. The vaccine will be spread by throwing special bait that contains vaccine from on board planes into the forests. The board cautioned people to keep their cats and dogs indoors on vaccination days and a couple of following days. Vaccination lasts till May 21.

On May 2, Tallinn city government during its meeting accepted a decision to subsidize planting in Tallinn city streets and yards, reports LETA. Subsidies for refurbishing or planting of city lots are officially available for all Tallinn housing managers. The subsidy covers expenses on purchasing and planting flowers, greenery and trees, acquisition and placing of flower pots, cutting and chopping trees, organizing grass plots and buying corresponding services, except for working tools. Applications for the subsidies can be made both in written form and via the Internet. The work for greening yards should be done before Sept. 10, and the subsidy can be up to 60 percent of the total cost of the work, but not more than 600 euros a year.

Estonian Defense Forces launched this year’s biggest infantry field exercise, Spring Storm 2013, on May 9 in northern Estonia, where over 4,000 military personnel are participating, reports Public Broadcasting. The exercise takes place in the Harjumaa, Laane-Virumaa and Jarvamaa counties and the city of Tallinn. The navy participates for the first time in the exercise that lasts till May 25. Allied units from the UK, Belgium, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland also participate. Over 4,000 professional military, conscripts, Defense League members, reserve force members and officials participate. The exercise is a graduation exam for the conscript infantry battalion. The “opposing” force activities are mainly performed by the Scouts battalion, UK and Latvian Defense Forces infantry companies and a Lithuanian reconnaissance unit.

Estonia this month will end its participation in the European Union anti-piracy operation Atalanta, reports Public Broadcasting. The Estonian Defense Ministry noted that the nature of the operation has changed recently and, thus, there is no need for such ship protection teams anymore, those which worked together with military ships. Instead, the plan is to start using so-called autonomous ship protection teams based on land. This requires more marines, a strong shore support system and strong diplomatic representation and relations with the states around the Gulf of Aden. Since contributing autonomous ship protection teams would have been much more complicated and expensive, Estonia decided to end its participation. The Estonian Navy has participated in the operation Atalanta since 2010. Five 10-member Estonian ship protection crews from Estonia participated in the operation. They were based on board German and French military ships and from there, were sent to ships that sailed along the coast of Somalia.