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| === Artificial birthday party controversy === | === Artificial birthday party controversy === | ||
| On ], ], Rein Lang celebrated his 50th birthday at a beer restaurant in Tartu, Estonia.<ref name='ee-juubel'>] ], ]: by ]</ref> The |
On ], ], Rein Lang celebrated his 50th birthday at a beer restaurant in Tartu, Estonia.<ref name='ee-juubel'>] ], ]: by ]</ref> The party featured a performance of the play ], a critically acclaimed ]<ref>], describing the play on a .</ref><ref name='epl-lang-review'>] ], ]: </ref> ] by ]. They also pointed out that this era was characterised by ], and stressed that the event was not intended as a ]; specifically, guests wouldn't be expected to arrive in uniforms or bearing Nazi symbols.<ref name='ee-juubel'/><ref name='epl-lang-review'/> | ||
| Russian media ] this event as the minister "decorating his birthday with swastikas".<ref name='pm-rus-acc'>] ], ]: </ref><ref>] ], ]: , edited by ]</ref><ref>] ], ]: </ref> This interesting distortion was widely pointed out by Estonian media.<ref name='pm-rus-acc'/>. The ] group has in ]n media made calls for the Minister of Justice to resign over the event.<ref>] ], ]: </ref> Lang stated ''"The Republic of Estonia has condemned Nazi crimes and my birthday was attended by people who, without exception, despise fascism."''<ref name='epl-lang-review'/> | |||
| In an ] discussing his birthday party, Lang, who had been invited to the opening performance of the play by ] in 2005, reminded readers that he had already on ], ], published his own review of the play.<ref name='epl-lang-review'/> The review, in line with reviews by more professional theatre critics, was positive, and discussed the political ramifications of ] tendencies lingering in society.<ref>] ], ]: </ref><ref>], ], ]: </ref> | |||
| Russian media ] this event as the minister "decorating his birthday with swastikas".<ref name='pm-rus-acc'>] ], ]: </ref><ref>] ], ]: , edited by ]</ref><ref>] ], ]: </ref> Interestingly, the Russian news agencies have neglected to mention the topic — a ] of the dangers of lingering fascist ideas — of the play, and have instead concentrated on a ] element of the play, a vertically hung ], presenting it as an arbitrarily chosen party decoration rather than a ], and implying that the minister sympathises with ].<ref name='pm-rus-acc'/> This interesting distortion was widely pointed out by Estonian media.<ref name='pm-rus-acc'/> Ironically, Rein Lang has recently called for criminalising public display and propagation of ] — including both the ], the ], and the ] — when used for purposes of hatred incitement. Under his guidance, the Ministry of Justice has prepared a ] to that effect, modelled largely after similar law of ], to be considered by ].<ref>Estonian Ministry of Justice ], ]: </ref> | |||
| The ] group, whose original ''raison d'être'' was opposition to relocation of the ] and who have earlier in ]n media made calls for the Estonian cabinet of ministers to resign, has in ]n media made calls for the Minister of Justice to resign over the event.<ref>] ], ]: </ref> | |||
| It has been claimed that Lang chose this play as a special provocation in the aftermath of the ] controversy. This is incorrect; Lang made the choice months ago, and contracted the theatre for the performance even before the final administrative proceedings were considered.<ref name='epl-lang-review'/> | |||
| ==== Quotations ==== | |||
| {{cquote|1=The Republic of Estonia has condemned Nazi crimes and my birthday was attended by people who, without exception, despise fascism.<ref name='epl-lang-review'/>}} | |||
| ==== Political echoes ==== | |||
| Minority opposition fraction of ] in ] discussed the resulting bad publicity on Lang's birthday party and have called for his immediate voluntary resignation.<ref>] ], ]: , edited by ]</ref><ref>delfi.ee ], ]: </ref> The press release{{Fact|date=July 2007}} of the party condemned what it deemed "provocative action" by the minister. | |||
| The largest opposition party, ], issued a humorous analysis in its official newspaper, ], and added a photo of Lang wearing a Red Army's winter hat, "to calm down Russian media".<ref>], ], ]: </ref> | |||
| == External links == | == External links == | ||
Revision as of 18:53, 24 July 2007
Rein Lang (born July 4 1957 in Tartu, Estonia) is an Estonian politician, a member of the Estonian Reform Party since 1995, and a diplomat. He is currently serving as the Minister of Justice.
Childhood and education
Lang's father was appointed to work at the Soviet embassy in Helsinki. Consequently, Rein Lang grew partly up in Finland, becoming a fluent speaker of Finnish. He has championed Finnish-Estonian relations. Lang graduated cum laude from University of Tartu in 1980, acquiring a degree in law.
Business career
In late years of the Soviet Union — since 1986 —, Lang worked in the entertainment business. He has been a deputy director of the Linnahall and in 1989 became a deputy director of club 'Muusik' (Estonian for 'Musician'). In 1990, he became CEO of AS Laulusillad (Estonian for Song Bridges), and in 1991–2001 served at various positions in AS TRIO, along with Hans H. Luik establishing and running the first politically independent radio station in post-Soviet Estonia, Radio Kuku. Over the next several years, Lang launched two more radio stations, Radio Uuno, a music-only radio station, and the Russian language Radio Tallinn (later renamed Radio 100). In 2002, Lang and Luik sold their radio interest to their then co-partner from the United States, Metromedia International Inc.
Media career
In Radio Kuku, Lang regularly appeared in talkshows, ending up gaining considerable reputation as a political analyst. His most popular programme, the weekly 'Midday Hour' (Template:Lang-et), has become legendary, and a subject of a number of jokes mostly associated with Valdo Jahilo.
Political career
Following his departure from the media business, Lang served as deputy mayor of Tallinn in 2001–2003 and as a member of Riigikogu in 2003–2005. He served as the Deputy Speaker of Riigikogu and Chairman of its European Affairs Committee. In 2005, Lang was the minister of Foreign Affairs for two months, from February to April. With the resignation of Juhan Parts, the ten prime minister, a new cabinet was proposed by Andrus Ansip; there, Lang would serve as the Minister of Justice, a position he officially took when the government was sworn in on April 12, 2005.
Controversial "Delfi bill"
In autumn of 2005, Lang initiated a bill that would have allowed to penalise web portals for anonymous commentary left by their visitors. The bill, nicknamed after an Estonian web portal commonly associated with poorly thought out and scatological commentary, was widely criticised and ended up rejected by Riigikogu. Among other concerns, critics commonly pointed out that Delfi belonged to a media concern competing with AS TRIO, and questioned the minister's neutrality.
The Ministry of Culture can only be tidied up by a grenade, thrown in through its window.
Artificial birthday party controversy
On July 4, 2007, Rein Lang celebrated his 50th birthday at a beer restaurant in Tartu, Estonia. The party featured a performance of the play Adolf, a critically acclaimed anti-fascist drama by Pip Utton. They also pointed out that this era was characterised by poverty, and stressed that the event was not intended as a fancy dress party; specifically, guests wouldn't be expected to arrive in uniforms or bearing Nazi symbols.
Russian media spun this event as the minister "decorating his birthday with swastikas". This interesting distortion was widely pointed out by Estonian media.. The Nochnoy Dozor group has in Russian media made calls for the Minister of Justice to resign over the event. Lang stated "The Republic of Estonia has condemned Nazi crimes and my birthday was attended by people who, without exception, despise fascism."
External links
- Official blog, sponsored by the Estonian Reform Party
- A news item by Rossiya, the national TV channel of Russian Federation.
References
- Postimees February 22, 2005: Soome ajaleht: Lang on «kõva pähkel»
- delfi.ee November 1, 2005: Sõnavabadus internetis ohus
- Keskpäevatund, quoted in Sõnavabadus internetis ohus
- ^ Eesti Ekspress July 4, 2007: Langi juubelil "Adolf" by Alan Proosa
- Pip Utton, describing the play on a promotional website.
- ^ Eesti Päevaleht July 9, 2007: REIN LANG: Mis siis tegelikult toimus?
- ^ Postimees July 6, 2007: Rein Langi juubelipidu äratas huvi Vene meedias
- Eesti Päevaleht July 6, 2007: Vene meedia haaras Rein Langi sünnipäeva mõnuga hambusse, edited by Tuuli Aug
- REGNUM July 5, 2007: Estonian justice minister “decorates” his birthday party with swastika
- ITAR-TASS July 5, 2007: Estonian minister marks jubilee under aegis of Nazi Swastika
| Preceded byJaak Jõerüüt (acting) | Minister of Foreign Affairs February 2005 – April 2005 |
Succeeded byUrmas Paet |