$Unique_ID{COW01270} $Pretitle{415} $Title{Estonia (See also the USSR) Republic of Estonia -- fact sheet 1990} $Subtitle{} $Author{Republic of Estonia} $Affiliation{Estonian Consulate, New York} $Subject{estonia estonian republic soviet language years } $Date{1990} $Log{Map of Estonia*0127001.scf Flag of Estonia*0127002.scf } Country: Estonia (See also the USSR) Book: Fact Sheet Author: Republic of Estonia Affiliation: Estonian Consulate, New York Date: 1990 [See Map of Estonia] [See Flag of Estonia] Republic of Estonia -- fact sheet 1990 The Republic of Estonia is occupied by the Soviet Union since World War II. The annexation has not been legally recognized by the Western democracies. GEOGRAPHY Area: 18,370 square miles (47,549 km^2). Cities: Capital - Tallinn 506,000; Tartu, Kohtla-Jirve, Narva, Prirnu. Terrain: Rather plain with highest peak 1,000 feet above sea level. Climate: Temperate; average temperature in July is 62F and in February 23F, PEOPLE Nationality: Noun and adjective - Estonian(s). Population: 1.5 million. Annual growth rate: For ethnic Estonians 1.6%. Ethnic groups: Estonians 61.5%, Russians 30.3%, Ukrainians 3.1%, Byelorussians 1.3%, Finns 1.1%. Religions: Lutheran 78%, Orthodox 19% (1937). 1944-1939 while worshipping was restricted and worshippers discriminated against, membership in the Lutheran Church dropped from 851,000 to 61,000. In 1989 Christmas service was televized for the first time and practice of religion is noticeably on the rise. Languages: Estonian (closely related to Finnish), and Russian. In 1989 a language law was passed, making Estonian the official language, requiring minimal language abilities of all public servants in Estonia by January 1993. Until World War II, German was the first foreign language taught at school; during the Soviet occupation Russian assumed this role. Education: Years compulsory - high school, 12 years. Full literacy was achieved already a hundred years ago. The massive forced immigration has now resulted in a lower literacy percentage. Health: Life expectancy - males 66 years, females 75 years. Work force: In urban areas 72%, on the countryside 28% (1987). GOVERNMENT Type: Transitional, from a Moscow-directed occupation government to an anticipated independent democratic government. Constitution: The Constitution of the illegal ESSR is apparently still functioning, although 6 articles of the Constitution of the Republic of Estonia (1938) have been adopted - those articles concerning the Republic, its independence, borders, language and state symbols. As of March 30, 1990, Estonia has abolished its subordination to USSR's legislative, judicial and executive organs. Independence: February 24, 1918. Occupied since 1940. On the road to regaining freedom and independence, the following dates can be considered as milestones: November 16, 1988 - Estonia decided not to accept new laws from Moscow without prior scrutiny; March 11, 1990 - the Estonian Congress (with a mandate by more than 700,000 citizens of the Republic of Estonia and some 40,000 non-citizens) convened and elected its executive body, the Council of Estonia; March 18, 1990 - A new Supreme Soviet of Estonia was elected with remarkably few communists, but with dozens of members of the Estonian Congress; May 3, 1990 - the official renaming of the country, omitting the "Soviet Socialist", and adoption of the Coat of Arms of the Republic of Estonia (of 1918). Political parties: The multiparty system was allowed again in 1989. Since then the membership of the Communist Party (now with 2 factions) has dropped from 105,000 to 63,000 (most of them non-Estonians). Over a dozen political parties have emerged, some with counterparts in the West). Defense: Mandatory conscription to the Soviet Army has been openly opposed, based on the Geneva Convention of 1949, art. 51. Organized draft evaders number 1,000 men. Alternative service possible according to law since Summer 1990. The Soviet Army has some 150,000 troops on Estonian soil, serving military bases. Flag: Blue, black and white fields arranged horizontally; banned by the Soviet occupation authorities 1944-1989, now legalized by the ESSR government. ECONOMY GNP: Not available Per capita income: Not available Inflation rate: Not available Natural resources: Oil shale (the world's No. 2 producer), phosphorites. Agriculture: In 1949 the forced collectivization of farms - carried out with the deportation of some 60,000 people, is one of the reasons for severe food shortages in Estonia; another reason is the forced Moscow-directed massive export of food stuffs to the East. Industry: Shale oil processing, mineral fertilizers, wood processing, pulp, peat. Trade: Exports to more than 30 countries, but (at least until 1989) sold for Rubles to Moscow, who exports the products to the West for hard currency, keeping most of the revenues. Official currency: Ruble, though steps have been taken to create an Estonian currency, in order to prevent non-residents from buying scarce goods in Estonia. MEMBERSHIP IN INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS During the independence era, Estonia was a member of many international organizations, like the League of Nations, International Labor Organization, the Olympic Committee etc. The occupation authorities cut off all these ties, even prohibiting the Boy Scouts Movement, the Esperanto Club and the Salvation Army in Estonia. Among the few memberships to remain intact were those with active members in exile, like the World Federation of Lutheran Churches, the International P.E.N. Club etc. Estonians work hard to renew their lost memberships. Additionally, many new organizations are approached with more or less formal applications, like the United Nations the Conference on Cooperation and Security in Europe etc.