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issue 5, year XVIII, 2011 |
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TOOMAS HENDRIK ILVES PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF ESTONIA
Address by the Estonian President exclusively for the readers of “Europe 2001" magazine
Page 4
URMAS PAET MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE REPUBLIC OF ESTONIA
Interview by Valentin Kostov
Page 5
BILATERAL RELATIONS BETWEEN THE REPUBLIC OF ESTONIA AND THE REPUBLIC OF BULGARIA
By the Embassy of the Republic of Estonia
Page 7
The diplomatic relations between Estonia and Bulgaria were established on 20th May 1921, when Bulgaria first acknowledged the young Republic of Estonia. In 1938 in Tallinn a friendship association between the two countries was founded. The accession of Bulgaria and Estonia to the EU and NATO has brought the bilateral partnership to the new stage. Several high-level visits have helped to develop mutual contacts further.
ESTONIAN ECONOMIC POLICY
By the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Estonia
Page 9
Estonia’s economy is open and stable, characterized by adaptility and innovation. The governmental economic policy aims to increase the welfare of Estonian people. On 1st January 2011 Estonia joined the Euro zone and the euro automatically became the official currency in the country. For the last two decades the EU member states have been major trading partners for Estonia.
e-ESTONIA
By the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Estonia
Page 12
The term e-Estonia is denoting the Estonian electronic society. Today Estonians do almost everything online just by using their electronic identity cards: e-elections, e-taxes, e-police, and e-health services, e-banking and e-school. The Estonian ID card serves as an identity document, and within the EU, also as a travel document.
LET’S DO IT
By http://www.letsdoitworld.org and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Estonia
Page 15
In 2007 in Estonia the initiative “Let’s do it" was born, aimed at cleaning the country from garbage. A couple of friends came up with the idea during a conversation. On 3rd May 2008 more than 50 000 people came together in order to clean up Estonia in a day. Since then the movement has spread in 16 different countries, including Bulgaria. The day of the big clean-up of Bulgaria will be 21st April 2012. Initiator of the Bulgarian campaign is the journalist from bTV Venelin Petkov.
STUDY IN ESTONIA
By the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Estonia
Page 18
The education system in Estonia is diverse, extensive and well-established. All academic institutions have introduced bachelor and master degrees and their study programs are internationally acknowledged. The number of study programmes with instruction in English has increased every year at all major universities. The Estonian Ministry of Education and Research offers the foreign students scholarships.
THE ESTONIAN LANGUAGE
By Urmas Sutrop (first published by the Estonian Institute in 2010)
Page 20
Estonian belongs to the Finnic branch of Finno-Ugric group of languages and is one of the smallest languages in the world. The native speakers comprise approximately 1 070 000 people. The first attempts to describe the Estonian language scientifically were undertaken in the early 17th century. At present, research on the Estonian language-related topics is being carried out at universities and various research institutions all over the world.
THE ESTONIAN HISTORY
By the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Estonia
Page 22
The Estonian Republic was proclaimed on 24th February 1918. The pact between the Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union repealed Estonia’s independence. After the Soviet occupation finished, Estonia succeeded to regain its independence in 1991. On 29th March 2004 the country joined NATO and on 1st May 2004 - the EU.
NATURE TOURISM IN ESTONIA
By the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Estonia
Page 24
Forests cover about 50% of the country and wetland habitats are well represented by over 1 400 lakes. These conditions have determined the variety of representatives of the flora and fauna throughout the country. In Estonia you can see species that are rare in the rest of Europe. Low population density, empty roads and excellent infrastructure turn Estonia into a favourite European wild nature destination.
THE BEAUTY OF ESTONIA - A SHORT TOUR
By the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Estonia
Page 26
TALLINN
The capital of Estonia is the oldest one in Northern Europe. The Old Town of Tallinn belongs to the list of UNESCO for World Heritage.
LAHEMAA NATIONAL PARK
Lahemaa national park has been inhabited for an estimated 4 000 years and is a home to different species of mammals, birds and fishes.
TARTU
In 1632 in Tartu, Estonia’s second largest city has been founded a university - the second oldest university in Northern Europe.
Other recommended places of interest in Estonia: Narva, Setomaa, Otepää, Viljandi, Pärnu and Haapsalu, the Kuremäe monastery, the Lake Peipus and numerous islands.
RESEARCH IN ESTONIA: IMPROVING THE QUALITY AND THE COMPETITIVENESS
Ministry of Education and Research Estonian Science Foundation
Page 30
The history of the Estonian scientific research goes back to the foundation of the Tartu University. Nowadays the main objectives of the research are to promote competitive quality and increased productiveness, innovative business activity that creates added value in the global economy, and innovation-friendly society aimed at long-term development. (Source: The Estonian innovative strategy for research and development 2007-2013 - “Knowledge-based Estonia")
EUROPEAN CAPITAL OF CULTURE - TALLINN 2011
By Maris Hellrand Foundation Tallinn 2011
Page 34
In 2011 Tallinn is sharing the title of the European capital of culture with the Finnish city Turku. The main theme of the celebrations in Estonia is the Baltic Sea. About 7000 cultural events will be held here during the whole year. Here are some of them: The Straw Theatre, Design Night 2011, 60 Seconds of Solitude in The Zero Year.
THE ARCHITECTURE OF ESTONIA
By Priit Juurmann Estonian Architecture Centre
Page 37
The capital Tallinn with its surroundings and the towns Tartu, Pärnu, Rakvere and Kuressaare represent good examples of the architectural features in Estonia, where the historical and contemporary architecture styles are being clearly outlined.The historic center of Tallinn is one of the world’s best preserved medieval architectural ensembles. Next to it, the country has experienced a remarkable construction process within the past 20 years.
100 YEARS ESTONIAN CINEMA
By Jaan Ruus Chairman of the Union of the Estonian Film Journalists
Page 40
In 2012 the Estonian cinematography celebrates its 100th anniversary. The first Estonian film-show was held in Tallinn already in 1869. The first Estonian movie “Hunting bears in Pärnu" was shot in 1912. Gradually, the cinema halls became a favorite place for the Estonians. Although the Estonian cinematography has not been awarded so often with a Grand Prix, the number of Estonian movies being presented every year at different film festivals all over the world has been increasing.
ESTONIAN SONG AND DANCE FESTIVALS
By the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Estonia
Page 42
The Song Festival is an enormous open-air choir concert held at the Tallinn Song Festival Grounds with the participation of hundreds of choirs and thousands of singers. The first song festival was organized in June 1869 in Tartu. Together with it, in 1934 was held a dance festival. During every festival the participants wear traditional Estonian clothes. In November 2003 UNESCO declared Estonia’s Song and Dance Festival tradition as masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.
RUSSO-TURKISH WAR AS A THEME IN THE ESTONIAN SONGS
By Ingrid Rüütel
Page 44
Estonian folk songs on the Russo-Turkish war have focused on three central themes: the departure of Turkish troops, specific descriptions of warfare and more general military poetry. The figure of the Estonian soldier became a favorite motif in the soldiers’ songs. Famous military songs from that period are: “Dvadtsat let sluzhilsya I", "A song for the journey" and "Song of the Turkish army".
THE ESTONIAN FOLK CULTURE THROUGH THE AGES
By Piret Õunapuu Estonian Ethnographic Museum
Page 48
The geographic location of Estonia on the border of the western and eastern part of Europe has shaped the formation of the folk culture of the small nation. The external influences have been integrated with indigenous culture traditions. This has been well reflected in the development of the traditional clothes in Estonia. The flower pattern on the clothing material in Northern Estonia reminds of the Bulgarian embroideries. The Ethnographic Museum in Estonia treasures also an earthen jug for wine and dolls in traditional Bulgarian clothes.
ESTONIAN CUISINE
On the basis of the book “Eesti Köök Estonian Cuisine" by Maire Suitsu, Harri Ilves, Lia Virkus and the brochure “Estonian Cuisine" by Estonian Institute
Page 50
ESTONIAN SPORTSMEN
By the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Estonia
Page 51
PAUL KERES BARUTO FAMOUS PERSONALITIES FROM ESTONIA:
By the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Estonia
Page 53
LENNART MERI
JAAN KROSS
ARVO PÄRT
NEEME JÄRVI
ANU TALI
ANDRES METSPALU
MARIKA MIKELSAAR
PHOTOATELIER PRESENTS:
Page 58
ANNIKA HAAS
LITART PRESENTS:
ESTONIAN POETRY:
Page 61
JAAN KAPLINSKI
MATS TRAAT
ESTONIAN CHILDREN LITERATURE
By Jaanika Palm
Page 63
ESTONIA, BULGARIA AND THE CHILDREN
By Dora-Janeva Mednikarova
Page 63
ATELIER PRESENTS:
MAYA KUBRATOVA: MAYA KUBRATOVA LOOKS FOR THE HARMONY IN LIFE’S LITTLE THINGS
By Ognian Stamboliev
Page 66
IVAN IVANOV - JOANIY THE ANACHRONISTIC PAINTING OF IVAN IVANOV - JOANIY
Interview by Ognian Stamboliev
Page 68
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| Translated by Ilina Vasileva |
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