New amendments to Estonian Law on Language
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From: MINELRES moderator <[email protected]>
Date: Tue, 16 Feb 1999 21:32:58 +0200 (EET)
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Subject: New amendments to Estonian Law on Language
From: MINELRES moderator <[email protected]>
Original sender: Jelena Karzetskaya <[email protected]>
New amendments to Estonian Law on Language
On 9 February 1999 the Parliament of Estonia has adopted in the second
reading the Law on Amendments to the Law on Language and to the Law on
the State Taxes. It was done despite the fact that during the
discussion, Mr. Lauri Vahtre (who presented the bill, being the
Chairman of the Riigikogu Culture Commission) could not give
satisfactory answers to all questions. 51 deputies voted (of 101), 35
of them voted "in favour", 6 - "against" and 10 abstained. "Against"
voted 4 members of the Russian Fraction and 2 leaders of the Centre
Party. According to these amendments "for performance of the
requirements of protection of the consumers and in the interests of
protection of public order, health and national security" the
Government of Estonia establishes an obligatory level of knowledge of
Estonian language not only for government officials and municipal
employees, but also for the employees of commercial, non-profit,
target organisations and institutions and for private businessmen.
Russian Fraction offered an amendment. According to this only employer
should ensure the service in the state language. But the amendment was
rejected. In order to determine of Estonian language knowledge, it is
necessary to take an examination. The Minister of Education will
approve the procedure of this examination. Persons who received
education in Estonian language are not obliged to pass examination.
Law stipulates also the opportunity to get free consultation before
the examination. The law will come into force on July 1, 1999. The
certificates of the level of Estonian language knowledge, which are
valid up to this moment, will be invalidated in 3 years after coming
into force of the present law.
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