The opposition Centrist faction in Parliament has come out against cuts in international and home defense budget to 2009. Ain Seppik, deputy chairman said that the world situation showed to cut defense expenditure is extremely short-sighted and irresponsible. He also underlined that Estonia had given undertakings to its NATO partners and they had to be met, because as small country "credibility was a priceless asset." On August 11, the Chancellor of Justice, Indrek Teder, sent out a note pointing out that despite the need to the budget Estonia still needed to live up to its international obligations especially when it comes to security.
Two members of coalition government Marko Mihkelson from Pro Patria and Res Publica Union and Silver Meikar from Reform Party have demanded that Russia should be stripped of the right of holding the winter Olympic Games after recent events in Georgia. Mart Siimann, President of Estonian Olympic Committee (EOC), has refused back or even comment on the proposal. Siirmann said h e would only comment when the games are over. The Russian Olympics are due to be held in Sochi in 2014. Estonia won 3 gold medals at the last Olympics.
More than 120 people volunteering to go to Georgia to give humanitarian aid. The organizers of mission are hoping to find an aircraft to take the volunteers there. A spokesman for the mission told BNS that as of Tuesday more than 120 people wanted to go to Georgia, which means organizers must make a choice as to who is best qualified. Organizers wanted to send at least 60 persons. People with the background as reservists who have a trained sense of discipline and the ability to cooperate in the difficult conditions are preferred. The volunteers will only find out what they're going to do after arrival, but is likely to be humanitarian type tasks like distributing bread to children, finding blankets for the elderly and cleaning runways to the airports.
The official Web site of the Estonian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate (EOCMP) was attacked again by unidentified hackers. The church has given information to the police. The site was attacked on August 6 when indecent text and pictures were posted. The site was attacked again on the night August 8, hackers posted texts, including anti-Christian ones to the site. The church is apolitical. Church leader do not believe that there are political motives behind these attacks.
