Edgar SAVISAAR, chairman];
Union of Pro Patria or Fatherland League (Isamaaliit) [Toivo
JURGENSON, chairman]; National Independence Party or ERSP [Tunne
KELAM, chairman]; Our Home is Estonia [Viktor ANDREJEV] made up of two
parties: United Peoples Party and the Russian Party of Estonia;
note-Our Home is Estonia split when two Russian Party of Estonia
members withdrew; United Peoples Party [Viktor ANDREJEV, chairman];
Russian Party of Estonia [Nikolai MASPANOV, chairman]; Moderates or M
[Andres TARAND] made up of two parties: Social Democratic Party or
ESDP and Rural Center Party or EMK; Social Democratic Party [Eiki
NESTOR, chairman]; Rural Center Party [Vambo KAAL, chairman];
Right-Wingers [Ulo NUGIS, chairman]; Republican Conservative [Vootele
HANSEN]; Development/Progressive Party [Andra VEIDEMANN, chairwoman],
note-party was created by defectors from Center Party in late spring
1996, Development Party faction split and now holds five independent
seats

International organization participation: BIS, CBSS, CCC, CE, EAPC,
EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IFC,
IFRCS, IHO (pending member), ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO
(correspondent), ITU, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNMIBH, UNTSO,
UPU, WEU (associate partner), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO (applicant)

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Grigore-Kalev STOICESCU
chancery: 2131 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 588-0101
FAX: [1] (202) 588-0108
consulate(s) general: New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Walter
ANDRUSYSZYU
embassy: Kentmanni 20, Tallinn EE 0001
mailing address: American Embassy Tallinn; PSC 78, Box T; APO AE 09723
telephone: [372] (6) 312-021
FAX: [372] (6) 312-025

Flag description: pre-1940 flag restored by Supreme Soviet in May
1990-three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), black, and white

@Estonia:Economy

Economy-overview: In 1997 Estonia's continued implementation of market
economic reforms, disciplined fiscal and monetary policies, and a
liberal free trade regime resulted in GDP growth of 10% and a drop in
inflation to 11.2%. Estonia can point to its inclusion among the first
group of Central and East European countries to begin EU accession
talks in 1998 as its most significant economic achievement in 1997.
Other economic strengths include solid investment grade rating from
b