Eesti in brief - 2013-06-13

The Tallinn City government decided to give its green light to two environmental programs - The Program of Development of the Environment of Tallinn 2013 - 2018, and The Program of Landscaping of Tallinn in 2013 – 2025 - the press service of Tallinn said in a statement. “The task of these programs is to ensure a new level of life in the city. The programs define particular actions in line with their value forecast and dates of implementation. In fact, the papers are used to achieve a target - to make the right steps so that Tallinn receives the title of European Green Capital; for this purpose everything [necessary] must be done by 2015,” said Vice Mayor of Tallinn Arvo Sarapuu. The approximate value of the projects specified by the program for the safeguard of the environment has been forecast at 7.3 million euros.

Everything is developing in a positive direction in Estonian-Russian relations now, though there could be more communication at the state leaders’ level, Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Paet said, reports LETA. Paet said in an interview to radio station Echo Moskvy in Kaliningrad that the trend in the relations between the states is good. He pointed out foreign trade, for example, where Russia is in third place in Estonia among partners in export-import volume. Paet expressed his appreciation that Estonia is being visited by more Russian tourists every year. “When I look at the very different cooperation among culture, education and other institutions I can see here too that things are developing well,” said Paet. There is just one sphere where Paet would like more active and better relations. “This concerns the leaders of our states. Unfortunately, it is a fact that over the past 20 years, no Russian foreign minister, prime minister or president has visited Estonia,” he said.

The Patriarch of Moscow and all Russian Orthodox Church Kirill, who will arrive on a visit to Estonia this Friday, will have meetings with Prime Minister Andrus Ansip, Foreign Minister Urmas Paet, Riigikogu speaker Ene Ergma and Mayor of Tallinn Edgar Savisaar, reports Delfi. On Friday at noon, Paet hosts a lunch with the Patriarch in the restaurant Bordoo in Tallinn; a couple of hours later he meets with Ene Ergma in the Riigikogu. That will be followed by a meeting with Ansip in the Stenbock house, and in the evening there will be a reception hosted by Savisaar in the Tallinn Town Hall. On June 15, Patriarch Kirill has meetings in the Kuremae nunnery and several churches in Narva. On the last day of his visit, Patriarch Kirill attends a liturgy in the Lasnamae Orthodox Church in Tallinn and has a meeting with Estonia Evangelic Lutheran Church archbishop Andres Poder. The Patriarch leaves Estonia Sunday afternoon.