Siim Kallas said that the elimination of the duty-free status of ferries to Estonia will mena the subsidization of these ships to maintain competitive status on the Baltic Sea.

The trade unions in tri-lateral negotiations are seeking umeployment insurance to rise to 700, minimum wage to 2100 and the income tax deduction to 1400 crowns per month next year.

The political party Estonian Peopleès Federation and non-profit organization With Reason and Heart signed an agreement for the fall municipal elections whereby they will run the same list of candidates in Tallinnn and four townships.

Justice minister Mart Rask suggested that a referendum in conjunction with the next parliamentary elections or next March 2nd should be held to decide accession to the European Union.

The executive of four parties could be fined 24,000 crowns for not submitting financial statements as required by law.

Estonian accession to the European Union in 2004 might be clear this fall when the European Commission studies the candidate countries' reports.

Foreign minister Kristiina Ojuland said that the preparedness of Estonia for accession to the European Union may be in jeopardy because many pieces of legislation have not yet been passed by parliament.

A conscript who had been recruited at the beginning of this year in the the Guards Battalion in Tallinn committed suicide yesterday while guard duty.

Nine prison escapees are still at large, Three have been missing for nine months.

The young girls organization, Kodututred, affiliated with the national guard, needs three applicants for its leader's postion to make a choice of who to appoint.

A suspect, stll at large, fired at a salesperson in the face in a store a Riismae in Tarto and robbed the cash register yesterday.

Toomas Palu, the director of the governmental health insurance service is leaving for a job in the USA with the World Bank, according to Aripeav.

Aripeav states that many insurance agencies are willing to buy back stolen vehicles or pay bribes to the Russian police to decrease insurances losses.

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