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Estonia Country study

FY 2014-15

MAJ Brandon A. D’Andrea

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Estonia

US Embassy Estonia

Ambassador: Jeff Levine U.S. Embassy TallinnKentmanni 2015099 Tallinn, Estonia 372-668-8100 http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/biog/195389.htm

AREA:total: 45,228 sq kmcountry comparison to the world: 133 land: 42,388 sq km water: 2,840 sq km :includes 1,520 islands in the Baltic Sea slightly smaller than New Hampshire and Vermont combined

National Guard State Partnership Program:Maryland (1993)

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US Embassy in EstoniaUS Embassy Estonia

Ambassador: Appointed: Beginning Foreign Service in 1985.Education BS in journalism from California State University, Humboldt and a MS in Resource Strategy from the National Defense University in Washington DCLanguages: Spanish, Portuguese, Bulgarian and Hungarian and is currently taking Estonian Military Veteran: No

U.S. Embassy TallinnKentmanni 2015099 Tallinn, EstoniaPhone: 372-668-8100Fax: 372-668-8265

Consulate Location: Tallinn

Deputy Chief of Mission:

Chever Voltmer

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People and SocietyEthnic groups:Estonian 68.7%, Russian 24.8%

LANGUAGESEstonian (official) 68.5%, Russian 29.6%

RELIGION54.1%, unspecified 16.7%

AGE15-24 years: 11.2% (male 72,318/female 68,373) 25-54 years: 41.5% (male 250,244/female 271,450)

MONEYKroon (EEK) per US 0.7697 (2013 est.) EUROS: YES

Pop. 1,257,921 (July 2014 est.)Ranked: 158

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US \ Estonia

The Skype software was created by Estonian

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Estonia Top spot in East European Estonia has the highest spot among East European states. The report points out Estonia's good education system, well-functioning and developed financial and goods markets and constant aspiration for raising technological abilities, a relatively well managed state and flexible labor market – in the latter Estonia is on the 12th position among 148 states

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Government

Estonia is a parliamentary representative democratic republic in which the Prime Minister of Estonia is the head of government and which includes a multi-party system. The political culture is stable in Estonia, where power is held between two to three parties that have been in politics for a long time. This situation is similar to other countries in Northern Europe. The former Prime Minister of Estonia, Andrus Ansip, is also Europe's longest-serving prime minister .

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GovernmentChief of State: President Toomas Hendrik ILVES (since 9 October 2006)

Head of Government: Taavi ROIVAS (since 26 March 2014)

Cabinet: Ministers appointed by the prime minister, approved by Parliament (Elections: president elected by Parliament for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); if a candidate does not secure two-thirds of the votes after three rounds of balloting in the Parliament, then an electoral assembly (made up of Parliament plus members of local councils) elects the president, choosing between the two candidates with the highest number of votes; election last held on 29 August 2011 (next to be held in the fall of 2016); prime minister nominated by the president and approved by Parliament

Election Results: Toomas Hendrik ILVES reelected President; parliamentary vote - Toomas Hendrik ILVES 73, Indrek TARAND 25

Chief of State

Head of Gov’t

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ECONOMYUnemployment rate10.9% (2013 est.)Population below poverty line17.5% (2008 est.)GDP per capita$21,100 (2013 est.)Labor Force by occupationagriculture: 4.2%industries: 20.2% services: 75.6% (2013 est.) Exchange rate kroon (EEK) per US dollar -0.7697 (2013 est.)Imports (commodities)machinery and electrical equipment, mineral fuels, chemical products, foodstuffs, plastics, textiles Imports (partners)Finland 15.1%, Germany 10.7%, Sweden 10.7%, Latvia 10%, Lithuania 9%, Poland 6.6%, China 4.4%, Russia 4.1% (2012)

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SERVICES

Internet (Services)The Internet in Estonia has one of the highest penetration rates in the world. In the first quarter of 2010, 75% out of 1.34 million people in the country used the Internet.

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AGRICULTURE

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INDUSTRIES

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ECONOMY

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AIRPORTS18 (2013) Over 3,586 ft (2)

RAILWAYStotal: 1,196 kmBroad Gauge: 1,196 km 1.520-m and 1.524-m gauge (133 km electrified) (2011)

ROADWAYStotal: 58,412 km (includes urban roads)10,427 km (includes 115 km of expressways) Unpaved: 47,985 km (2011) WATERWAYS335 km (320 km are navigable year round) (2011)

TRANSPORTATION

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TRANSPORTATIONAIRPORTS18 (2013) Over 3,586 ft (2)

RAILWAYStotal: 1,196 kmBroad Gauge: 1,196 km 1.520-m and 1.524-m gauge (133 km electrified) (2011)

ROADWAYStotal: 58,412 km (includes urban roads)10,427 km (includes 115 km of expressways) Unpaved: 47,985 km (2011)

WATERWAYS335 km (320 km are navigable year round) (2011)

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TRANSPORTATIONAIRPORTS18 (2013) Over 3,586 ft (2)

RAILWAYStotal: 1,196 kmBroad Gauge: 1,196 km 1.520-m and 1.524-m gauge (133 km electrified) (2011)

ROADWAYStotal: 58,412 km (includes urban roads)10,427 km (includes 115 km of expressways) Unpaved: 47,985 km (2011)

WATERWAYS335 km (320 km are navigable year round) (2011)

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TRANSPORTATIONAIRPORTS18 (2013) Over 3,586 ft (2)

RAILWAYStotal: 1,196 kmBroad Gauge: 1,196 km 1.520-m and 1.524-m gauge (133 km electrified) (2011)

ROADWAYStotal: 58,412 km (includes urban roads)10,427 km (includes 115 km of expressways) Unpaved: 47,985 km (2011)

WATERWAYS335 km (320 km are navigable year round) (2011)

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LAND FORCES

MAP OF MILTARY BASES

Colonel Artur TiganikDeputy Chief of Defense(See Notes below)

The Estonian Land Forces (Estonian: Maavägi), unofficially referred to as the Estonian Army, is the name of the unified ground forces among the Estonian Defence Forces where it has an offensive military formation role. It is currently also the largest military branch with the average size during the peacetime with around 6,000 soldiers, conscripts and officers.

Captain Igor SchvedeChief of Defense

( (Acting)

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LAND FORCES

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AIR FORCE

MAP OF MILTARY BASES

The Estonian Air Force is the name of the unified aviation forces of Estonia. The Õhuvägi is the main arm of the Estonian aviation forces. The average size of the military formation in peacetime is about 210 men. The Estonian Air Force is tasked with dealing with political, military, economical, social, environmental and psychological threats.

Commander of the Estonian Air ForceColonel Jaak Tarien

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Air Force

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NAVYThe Merevägi is the navy of Republic of Estonia and is part of the unified Kaitsevägi (Estonian Defence Force).In total, there are about four commissioned ships in the Estonian Navy, including three auxiliary ships; the displacement of the navy is under 10,000 tonnes making it one of the smallest navies in the world

Commander-in-chiefCAPT. Sten Sepper(See Notes)

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Defence LeagueThe Estonian Defense League is the name of the unified paramilitary armed forces of the Republic of Estonia. The Defense League is a paramilitary defense organization whose aim is to guarantee the preservation of the independence and sovereignty of the state, the integrity of its land area and its constitutional order.

CommanderBG Meelis Kiili

Chief of StaffCOL Ilmar Tamm

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International Disputes& Crime

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International Disputes & Crime

The number of asylum seekers in Estonia has been quite low compared to other EU countries. That might be the reason why studies show that the general public is not aware of this issue and unfortunately this topic has not been a priority on the governmental level either.

Estonia has the smallest amount of refugees among EU states

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Medical Issues in Estonia Top 10 Disease Rate WR

1 Coronary Heart Disease 173.3 34

2 Stroke 57.76 137

3 Hypertension 56.39 26

4 Lung Cancers 30.13 19

5 Liver Disease 20.94 34

6 Breast Cancer 18.46 68

7 Other Injuries 18.15 53

8 Inflammatory/Heart 17.56 13

9 Suicide 16.31 2410 Colon-Rectum Cancers 16.01 30

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Misc Information

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Mobile There are 3 main mobile providers in Estonia

Elisa is the recommend services to use while in Estonia

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Estonian Rail System

http://www.gorail.ee/en/

http://elron.ee/en/

Like most European countries Estonia has well developed ail system

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SafetyEstonia is a relatively safe country. Violent crime occurs, but foreigners are not usually targeted. Petty crime (e.g. pickpocketing, purse snatching and mugging) also occurs, particularly in Tallinn’s Old Town during the summer tourist season. Thieves often work in small groups and target tourists in airports, train stations and other public areas. Avoid parks, poorly lit streets and certain areas of Tallinn after dark, including Kopli and Lasnamäe.Theft of vehicles or their contents is common. Keep vehicles locked and in guarded parking lots overnight.

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References 1) http://www.state.gov/

2) https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/

3) www.wikipedia.org/

4) http://www.eucom.mil/key-activities/partnership-programs

5) http://www.nationmaster.com/

6) http://apps.who.int/

7) http://www.nationmaster.com