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| Europe |
| Finland denounces Russian demands for resignation of Estonian government |
| 2007-05-02 |
| Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen (Centre) has sharply denounced demands by Russia for the resignation of the Estonian government. Speaking in a television interview on Monday evening, Vanhanen said that the EU and Finland must support Estonia in rejecting the demand. A Russian delegation that arrived in Estonia on Monday called for the resignation of the Estonian government in the dispute that was sparked by the decision by the Estonians to move a controversial Soviet war memorial from the centre of Tallinn to a military cemetery further away from the downtown area. The monument was seen by many native Estonians as a reminder of the Soviet occupation of their country, while it was generally viewed by members of the country's Russian minority, backed by Russia itself, as a tribute to the victory against fascism in the Second World War. Vanhanen sees it as a violation of "international table manners" for politicians visiting another country to demand the resignation of a democratically-elected government. Vanhanen emphasised that Estonia should decide itself what it wants to do with its monuments and how it controls unrest. "Estonia is a sovereign state, and it has the right to deal with these matters. We as the other member states of the European Union support this right of an independent country. This includes Finland's first statement, according to which outside powers should not interfere with this. This is equally a message in the direction of Russia", Vanhanen said in the interview. There was some confusion over what the Finnish government's policy really is, when Vanhanen noted that the situation in Estonia is the country's own affair, which outsiders should not be involved in. Foreign Minister Ilkka Kanerva (Nat. Coal.) sent a message to the Foreign Minister of EU Presidency-holder Germany, saying that he wanted clear support for Estonia from the member states. Then on Monday Vanhanen said that the EU countries, including Finland, must naturally show solidarity toward Estonia in the face of pressure from Russia. Vanhanen also said that he does not support granting special status to Finland's Russian-speaking minority. Russia's Ambassador to Finland Aleksandr Rumyahchev said on Monday that he hoped that the Russian-speakers in Finland would be granted the official status of a national minority. Vanhanen said on a television news broadcast on Monday that he understands the calls but that the time is not right for a discussion on the matter. "Finland is taking very good care of its language minority. The Russian-speakers are a valuable resource for us, but we have no intentions to change our legislation in this respect", Vanhanen said. Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Kanerva visits Estonia today. He will meet President Toomas Hendrik Ilves as well as Prime Minister Andrus Ansip and Foreign Minister Urmas Paet, and will visit the Estonian Parliament to meet with Members of Parliament. So the Russkies are demanding the resignation of the Estonian government, while an ultra-nationalist mob attacks the Estonian ambassador in Moscow. Where's the EU? Where's the UN? Hey, Condi and Robert Gates are Russian specialists, what do they think of this? |
| Posted by:mrp |
| #7 Anonymous 2U: That was exactly the joke a couple weeks ago. After Russia beat Estonia 2-0 in a Euro 2008 qualifier, Estonians joked that they should tell the thousands of Russians that came in for the game that it was a trophy for their victory, and let it take it home with them ... |
| Posted by: Mizzou Mafia 2007-05-02 13:46 |
| #6 Russia - making friends and influencing people the old fashion way. |
| Posted by: Procopius2k 2007-05-02 12:26 |
| #5 If the commies want the statue, give it to them. Send it to Moscow. |
| Posted by: anonymous2u 2007-05-02 12:17 |
| #4 Good luck Mr Kanerva? Maybe Finland and Sweden should have joined NATO ... Estonia is a member of NATO. Putin is testing the alliance members' resolve. |
| Posted by: mrp 2007-05-02 10:30 |
| #3 Thank you Prime Minister Vanhanen. |
| Posted by: Seafarious 2007-05-02 10:17 |
| #2 "Foreign Minister Ilkka Kanerva (Nat. Coal.) sent a message to the Foreign Minister of EU Presidency-holder Germany, saying that he wanted clear support for Estonia from the member states" Good luck Mr Kanerva? Maybe Finland and Sweden should have joined NATO, and not relied on the EU for security? I really hope Germany helps y'all, but if they dont, dont come crying to us. Well, maybe do, but at least face the reality thats been revealed. |
| Posted by: liberalhawk 2007-05-02 10:10 |
| #1 When is Speaker Nancy Pelosi going to make a statement on this? |
| Posted by: Delphi2005 2007-05-02 10:04 |