TEN ROMEO NEWSLETTER
Report 58
Spring, 1995
Dear Friends:
This has been a difficult year. Your wonderful letters, cards, and phone calls have lifted my spirits as many of you shared with me words of comfort which had been helpful under similar circumstances in your lives. It's true - "No man is an island!"
But - life goes on!
TEN ROMEO is being prepared for our next challenge! While it is tempting to share those plans with you now, it seems appropriate to allow planning to progress a bit further, with disclosure to be included in a later report. However, excitement is building!
Since my last report I have made two trips to Tallinn, Estonia, in March and December of 1994, so this will be an update.
When I arrived in Tallinn in December I had no idea that the extensive renovations that had been underway for a number of years at HOTEL OLYMPIA had been completed.
HOTEL OLYMPIA
General Manager Andres Liinat is the young, effective administrator of Olympia who has guided extensive reconstruction through a difficult period of dislocation. How pleasant to have the work complete!
However, it was certainly worth his effort. Hotel Olympia is now a five star hotel with accommodations as fine as is found anywhere in Europe. The new bathrooms, with Western plumbing, take on the splendor of the best Helsinki hotels, all rooms have been redone, and TV provides extensive "fare", including CNN. (Thank you, Ted!)
Andres, who represents the young, dynamic, new Estonian leadership.
In December, to celebrate completion of construction, room rates were halved to $40.00 per night, an early Christmas present. When you go to Tallinn, be sure to stay with Andres at HOTEL OLYMPIA. A FAX (372-6315- 305) will have your room waiting!
MEDICINES FOR ESTONIAN CHILDREN
My efforts in 1993 were focused upon acquiring medicines for children in Estonia. This need was first brought to my attention by Dr. Natalie Zvereva who introduced me to Dr. Antz Jogiste, Deputy Head and Chief Epidemiologist for Estonia. Vaccine for mumps was at the top of the list from which I was working.
Arrangements for 20,000 units of vaccine for delivery to Tallinn were nearly complete in early November when it became necessary to focus my energy in a different direction.
In early 1994 as mumps vaccine was readdressed, I recalled a reluctance in the fall of 1993 among partners I had located for commitment of the requested vaccine. The view of the "pros" on such humanitarian aid suggested there were far more dangerous children's diseases for which vaccine could be provided, and which would afford greater health benefits than the mumps vaccine. Mumps, with isolation and time, is manageable with few consequences.
My position was, "This is what was requested. Let's give them what they asked for. We can deal with more serious problems once we've filled their request."
I was successful in pressing for mumps vaccine in 1993, probably because there was unspent money in late '93 allocated funding, but by spring, approval was not forthcoming. European sources were found to provide the needed mumps vaccine.
Dr. Antz Jogiste, whose tireless efforts serve Estonian children.
Those following my work in recent years know of the limited success in providing large-item support to Estonian colleagues. The mechanics of the Martin Marietta purchase of segments of General Electric complicated efforts for acquiring an MRI for Tallinn. In time, the MRI came from Germany. Efforts to provide mobile homes for the Russian Officer Corps as an incentive to remove Russian soldiers from Estonian soil did not generate the US interest I expected, and ---- with time, Norway provided Moscow with building incentives helpful in easing Russian military from Estonian soil.
As long as support is forthcoming, it may not matter where it comes from. And, European neighbors are closer to Estonia. It's a different world than when the "Marshall Plan" represented our willingness and ability to provide extensive help to worthy causes.
A VISIT WITH LUDMILA
You may recall Ludmila, who handled TEN ROMEO's approach to Tallinn Airport. She also served as Sergey's interpreter for his medical review and developmental check here in '92.
It may be difficult for Americans to comprehend the adversity of living in the former Soviet Union in these interesting times.
As an ethnic Russian, Ludmila faces those problems widely shared by many of her colleagues in Tallinn today. Her Russian passport has expired, and acquiring an Estonian passport is in question. She feels certain of passing the language requirement, but the "Estonian History" segment is a concern to her. At the moment, she is a woman without a country. Her apartment building is being "privatized", with residents having first choice of purchase. Unfortunately, her resources are insufficient to buy her apartment. These concerns, plus the daily battle of planning time and resources to locate food for the day, present a challenge few Americans can imagine.
Our prayers are with you, Ludmila!
INTERVIEW WITH SORMUS
In 1994 the American Bonanza Society presented ABS memberships to several world aviation leaders. Among that group was Mati Sormus, the Estonian CAA Administrator. I interviewed Mati for the monthly ABS Newsletter. He has brought Estonian airspace to Western specifications quite rapidly and has set a high standard for Soviet breakaway republics.
BREAKFAST WITH THE PARNAMETSES
It was good to visit again with Rev. Olav and his delightful wife Urva.
Rev. Olav and Urve as we had breakfast at the Olympia.
Rev. Olav's church is a sister church to the FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH here in Delmar. There is hope of visitations between our two congregations.
Rev. Olav was filled with excitement about construction which has started on a new building for his congregation and new seminary. Government approval has also been received for publishing his church paper.
The foundation is in. Soon a new three million dollar structure will house Tallinn's Methodist church and seminary.
More good news! The Tulsa UNITED METHODIST CHURCH has purchased the PIONEER CAMP which guarantees summer camp for Estonian children. (Senator Jim Inhofe's influence in Tulsa is impressive. CHRIST FOR HUMANITY operates out of Tulsa, and now the Tulsa church has made a significant gift to Estonian youth!)
-------------
THE FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH OF DELMAR, NEW YORK
and the
LUDMILA PROJECT
This insert provides additional information not included in Report No. 58 on Ludmila whom I became acquainted with in 1990 when she handled TEN ROMEO's approach to the Tallinn Airport. Her English is superb, and I invited her to accompany little Sergey and his mother to Albany to serve as interpreter for his medical review and development check. While here, Ludmila was baptized in our church as indicated in Report No. 54.
Tallinn is an interesting place these days! The new currency in Estonia is stable, and everything is available, although prices are often beyond the average worker. Unemployment is Increasing, and I was told by my friend, Rev. Olav Parnamets, that on a per capita basis, Tallinn is now more dangerous than New York City. For the first time in 51 trips to Tallinn I was more cautious when planning my city travel, often inviting friends to my hotel for meetings, and avoiding the outskirts after dark.
It is difficult to generate an understanding by my neighbors in Delmar, in the midst of affluence, of how difficult life is in Tallinn for the average worker. Ludmila spends most of her waking hours planning resources and time to provide sufficient food for herself and young son. She works for one of the new Estonian airlines, and her skill is put to good use in worldwide communications requiring English, the mother language of all air operations.
As an ethnic Russian, Ludmila has a particularly difficult time. Her Russian passport has expired, and it may be difficult for her to obtain an Estonian passport. Her language skill is sufficient for her to manage the passport language examination, but the "Estonian History" segment is thought to be used as a way of exporting a sufficient number of ethnic Russians so as to give full employment to the Estonian segment which is 60% of the population.
While Ludmila's status as a "countryless" person is stressful enough, she also faced a more immediate and similarly disturbing factor. Housing in Estonia is being "privatized", with current tenants having first choice of purchasing their apartment. Ludmila does not have the resources to purchase her apartment, so was facing the possibility of becoming a "street person".
Upon my return to Delmar, I shared Ludmila's housing problem with our church's Administrative Board. On January 9th the board voted unanimously for Ludmila's need to be shared with the congregation.
On the 10th I called Ludmila to share with her the action of the Administrative Board. In her FAX received the following day she said, in part, "Just to know that my precious friends in Delmar are concerned about me allows me to live with 'hope' rather than 'despair'!".
The Delmar UMC has a reputation for being "mission" oriented, and the outpouring of support for Ludmila was heartwarming! On Ash Wednesday a bank transfer of sufficient money to purchase her "privatized" apartment was sent to Ludmila in Tallinn.
The outpouring of concern and support by so many church members and most groups within the church indicates, once again, that the First United Methodist Church of Delmar, NY, is indeed a mission-oriented church.
Ludmila now owns her apartment. As an Estonian property owner, she now cannot be deported from Estonia - a welcome but unexpected bonus!
THANKS TO ONE AND ALL!
Mil Harmon
-------------
FULFILLMENT OF A DREAM
You may recall in Report No. 51 my discourse on the possible site and structure for the new US Embassy in Tallinn entitled "BIRTH OF A DREAM".
"Somewhere, in the fullness of time, 8 bright symbol must be established to remind the world and future generations of the triumph of man's soul and its desire for freedom. Why not here in Tallinn? The concept could be embodied in a beautiful structure, not ostentatious, ... It should face East and Moscow, should be open with no security wall, ... and become the living example of the strength and leadership of the United States." It could house branches of the Ford Foundation, Carnegie Foundation, and other humanitarian units as well as the US Embassy. (Estonian government members reminded me of the Estonian status as less than a third-world nation under Soviet occupation. They expected Western assistance and looked to US institutions for help.)
I checked with the Deputy Mayor on a location I believed appropriate between the heart of the city and the docks, an area slated for restoration. In time, our embassy was relocated at Kentmanni 20, the pre-war site.
How much more appropriate for the new United Methodist Church to be built at that same location, facing East! THE DREAM WILL BE FULFILLED!
------------
