News
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Invitation
Movie preview and discussion with contemporary witness "The Lives of Others"
The German Culture Institute in Tartu and the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung cordially invite to the preview of the Academy Award winner "The Lives of Others". The contemporary witness Mr. Karsten Dümmel will give the introduction to the film. Mr. Dümmel was founding father of work group „Kunst und Kirche“ in GDR, which was split and forbidden by State Security. Lateron Mr. Dümmel was bought free by the FRG and became external consultant to the team of film director Donnersmarck. Admission free.
Marathon will remind of the Baltic Way twenty years ago
On August 22./23. an 24 hour marathon from Tallinn via Riga to Vilnius will take place. With 678km long marathon the organizers want to recall of the "Baltic Way", which took place twenty years ago and gathered round 2 Million people from Tallinn via Riga to Vilnius in order to draw the world's attention to the destini af Baltic countries. The "Baltic Way" meant the beginning of the end of the Sowjet occupation era of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania and led to independence in 1991.
EPP-party "Union of Pro Patria/Res Publica" (IRL) achieves minimum goal at the European Elections
The conservative Union of Pro Patria/Res Publica will be still represented by one member at the European Parliament. With 12,21 percent of votes IRL won against Social Democrats (8,7%) but was left behind by Reform party (15,34%), Center party (26,07%) as well as by an independent candidate Indrek Tarand. IRL will be further represented by Tunne Kelam at the EPP parliamentary group. There was 43,2 percent turn-out, which was slightly higher than five years ago (26,8%).
Summer Academy 2008
Young political leaders are meeting in Viinistu
Young political leaders from the Baltic States, Skandinavia, the Ukraine and Germany are meeting in Viinistu to discuss with PR-experts about the effects and limits of political communication. Experts on communication and campaigning from Estonia, Finland and Germany will present the latest developments in political communication including the trends of the upcoming US Presidential elections. More...
Conference
Ethics and Policy Making
On May 30, the KAS in cooperatioon with Tunne Kelam's (MEP) Tallinn office has invited politicians and experts from the Baltic Sea region as well as from the European structures in Brussels to discuss the ethic dimension in policy making. A focus of the discussion was put on the alleged contradiction between economic interests and the promoting of human rights. Therein lies also the great responsibility of the EU with its common values, as the Spanish MEP Salafranca Sánchez-Neyra pointed out.
News Flash
New Foundation for the study of crimes of communism launched in Estonia
A new foundation regarding the study of crimes of communism was launched in Estonia by former Estonian Prime Minister Mart Laar. The foundation's mission is the unconditional condemnation of Communism as a criminal ideology equal with Nazism. The Foundation's website covers more than 50 countries and regions that have suffered under communist regimes. The webportal will publish memoirs of repressed persons, audio and video recordings.
90th anniversary
Estonia is celebrating its Independence Day
On 24 February, Independence Day is celebrated in the Republic of Estonia. This is the day that the Independence Manifesto was declared in Tallinn 90 years ago. As the Committee of Elders of the Maapäev, the First Estonian Assembly, issued the Estonian Declaration of Independence first in Pärnu on February 23, 1918, and in Tallinn officially the day after, this year's national celebration of Independence Day takes place on two days and in the two towns of Pärnu and Tallinn.
Conference
Russia after the Elections
On January 18th, the office of the KAS in Tallinn invited to the conference “Challenges and Realities of the Current EU-Russia Relations. Do the Elections in Russia Change It?”. Under the patronage of the member of the European Parliament Tunne Kelam and in collaboration with Pro Patria, well-known representatives from politics and economy debated on the Duma elections, the relations between the EU and Russia and the upcoming Presidential elections in Russia in March 2008.
essentia baltica 2008
German-Baltic cultural relations
To mark the first independence of the Baltic States in 1918 as well as the deep relationship to Germany, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania present the German-Baltic "Kulturfrühling". In collaboration with the German embassies, the Baltic States will organize different events and exhibitions themed "Essentia Baltica 2008". Germany was the first country that acknowledged the independence of the Baltic States and started diplomatic relations after the break down of the Soviet Union.
Crew Change in the Baltic States
Andreas von Below leaves – Andreas Klein is new head of office
Andreas von Below is leaving the Baltic States' office of the KAS in Riga after four years of duty in the region. His successor, Andreas Klein, was heading the Foundation's regional office in Dusseldorf since April 2006, and is having Foreign experience as KAS's country director in Macedonia from 2000 until 2004. From October 8th, 2007, will be in charge for the KAS's projects in the Baltic States. Andreas von Below is leaving to Bulgaria to head the Foundation's office in Sofia.
