Eesti in brief - 2010-07-29

From among the three Baltic States, Estonia spends the largest amount of money on national defense, reports Postimees Online. Estonia would be able to mobilize the biggest army among the Baltic States. Lithuania, on the other hand, has the most-developed air force. Researcher at the International Center of Defense Studies Tomas Jermalavicius explained the differences, with Estonia and Lithuania having drawn different conclusions from the events of 1939. Lithuania had beforehand spent immense amounts of money on national defense, which had no impact on maintaining independence, and hence Lithuanians have perceived the events as a military failure. Estonians, on the other hand, view the 1939 events as a political failure and hence put much more confidence in military capacity. “It is simple - Estonian society is prepared to pay for national defense,” said Jermalavicius. Unlike Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania have also abandoned the reserve army system, maintaining professional armies and voluntary military organizations.

Director General of the Police and Border Guard Raivo Kuut said that people would be wise to keep an eye on their possessions, as the number of thefts may grow from current levels, reports National Broadcasting. Kuut remarked that the growth in the number of thefts in the first half of 2010 was to be predicted due to the economic decline. The real number turned out to be smaller than projected. “I am very glad that the growth has not been as great as we initially predicted,” he said. Kuut added that the risk and pressure on the growth in the number of thefts exists and hence he recommended that individuals co-operate with police authorities. “Theft is a category of crime where one can do a lot to prevent it and to help the police by providing adequate information on what is going on in the villages or cities, and on one’s suspicions,” explained the police chief.

The polling company Turu-uuringute carried out a survey on Estonian residents’ fears and expectations linked to the adoption of the euro, reports Postimees. According to the poll, Estonian residents’ hopes in connection with the adoption of the euro mostly concern economic growth, job-creation and certainty for the future. Among the biggest fears, the predominant one involves price growth, but also, rather unexpectedly, an increase in the tax burden. As many as 76 percent of the respondents stated that their fear of price growth is linked to the euro. The others fear an increase in taxes. Thirty five percent of respondents worry that their wallets would not be big enough for the euro banknotes and coins. The European Commission is to issue a public report on the state of practical preparations to take for Estonia’s accession to the euro area. Estonia will adopt the European single currency on Jan. 1, 2011.