VZCZCXRO3246
RR RUEHLN
DE RUEHTL #0164 0720509
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 130509Z MAR 07
FM AMEMBASSY TALLINN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9621
INFO RUEHCP/AMEMBASSY COPENHAGEN 1590
RUEHLN/AMCONSUL ST PETERSBURG 1270
RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 2480
RUEHVL/AMEMBASSY VILNIUS 6619
RUEHRA/AMEMBASSY RIGA 2865

UNCLAS TALLINN 000164 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR OES 
COPENHAGEN FOR EST OFFICE 
MOSCOW FOR EST COUNSELLOR 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: SENV KGLB POG EN
SUBJECT: GLOBE ESTONIA FINDS PARTNERS IN ST.PETERSBURG 
 
REF: A) 05 TALLINN 00691 B) 06 TALLINN 00791 
 
¶1. (U) Summary.  In February, the Estonian GLOBE 
Coordinator, along with six Estonian GLOBE teachers, 
attended "GLOBE days in St. Petersburg." The three-day 
event was the direct result of GLOBE Estonia's efforts 
to assist St. Petersburg schools in becoming official 
GLOBE member schools.  It concluded with a plan for 
concrete next steps forward - including pairing Estonian 
and Russian schools and hosting a seminar in Estonia for 
Russian teachers interested in the GLOBE program.  End 
Summary. 
 
¶2.  (U) Over the years, GLOBE Estonia has systematically 
worked to find new partners in neighboring countries. 
For example, in 2005 GLOBE Estonia invited a delegation 
from St. Petersburg School No. 393 to participate in 
GLOBE Estonia's "Northern Landscape" project. (REF A) 
The following year, thanks to a grant from the ESTH 
Regional Office in Copenhagen, the same school sent 
representatives to GLOBE Estonia's 10th anniversary 
event.  (REF B)  The Kirov region schools' interest in 
becoming GLOBE schools, and the resulting "GLOBE Days in 
St. Petersburg," are direct results of such outreach 
efforts by GLOBE Estonia.  (Note.  GLOBE Estonia focused 
its efforts on Kirov region because of a pre-existing 
cooperation agreement between Estonia and the Kirov 
region of St. Petersburg.  End Note.)  GLOBE Estonia 
will develop an informal cooperation agreement with 
schools in St. Petersburg's Kirov region. 
 
¶3.  (U) During the three-day "GLOBE days in St. 
Petersburg" event, an Estonian GLOBE delegation 
comprised of six teachers and Estonian GLOBE Coordinator 
Ulle Kikas (along with Embassy Tallinn Economic 
Specialist, Embassy Copenhagen Regional ESTH Office 
Environment Specialist, and Consulate General St. 
Petersburg Polecon Assistant) visited two St. Petersburg 
high schools.  The delegation also met with head masters 
and teachers from five schools that have been actively 
involved in ecological projects.  During a roundtable, 
Estonian GLOBE coordinator Ulle Kikas, along with the 
Estonian GLOBE teachers, made presentations on GLOBE 
protocols and shared stories about their successes and 
challenges.  The roundtable concluded with a joint 
resolution that each participating Russian school would 
be paired with a partner GLOBE school in Estonia to 
determine areas of mutual interest, likely including air 
and water projects. In addition, a teachers' seminar 
will be organized in Estonia this spring for Russian 
teachers interested in the GLOBE program.  To become a 
certified GLOBE school, at least one certified GLOBE 
teacher must be on the staff. The Regional ESTH Office 
in Copenhagen will partly sponsor the seminar in 
Estonia. 
 
¶4.  (U) Comment.  GLOBE Estonia has continuously 
demonstrated its ability to combine science and 
environment with multiculturalism.  This is increasingly 
evident not only in regards to the integration of ethnic 
Russians in Estonia, but also with cross-border 
grassroots cooperation.  Although St. Petersburg schools 
must still overcome challenges before becoming official 
GLOBE schools - both due to lack of budget and support: 
the Russian Ministry of Education is located in Moscow 
and the Russian GLOBE coordinator is located in Rostov - 
lots of cross-border good will, enthusiasm, and 
determination resulted from the St. Petersburg event. 
Encouragingly, the head of the St. Petersburg education 
authority expressed his enthusiasm for future 
cooperation with Estonian schools. Post greatly 
appreciates the travel funds provided by the Regional 
ESTH Office in Copenhagen.  End Comment. 
 
GOLDSTEIN