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Russia issues official warning to Estonia in Soviet monument row
RIA Novosti ^ | 18/ 01/ 2007

Posted on 01/18/2007 12:42:12 PM PST by Grzegorz 246

MOSCOW, January 18 (RIA Novosti) - Moscow has issued its first official warning to Estonia amid an escalating row over the possible demolition of Soviet war memorials in the ex-Soviet Baltic state.

Estonia's parliament adopted a law last week paving the way for the dismantling of Soviet-era war memorials and the reburial of the remains of Soviet soldiers who died fighting German invaders during the Second World War, but who are seen by many Estonians as former occupiers.

The Russian Foreign Ministry said it had summoned Estonia's ambassador to Russia, Marina Kaljurand, who was told that in spite of protests from Moscow, Estonia was continuing attempts to form a legal basis for disinterring Soviet soldiers and destructing monuments, and that such moves could harm bilateral relations.

"The implementation of these plans is fraught with serious consequences for Russian-Estonian relations," the ministry said in a statement.

The controversial bill, which was passed in its first reading in November 2006, resulted from a dispute over a Monument to a Soviet Liberator in central Tallinn, which authorities want removed.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Tuesday that Soviet war memorials in Estonia should remain where they are.

"We must insist that the monuments remain in place," he said, adding that the move was a disgrace, and had nothing to do with preserving historical accuracy.

"The task is to prevent a repetition of the lessons of World War II," he said. "We hope common sense will prevail and an understanding will be reached in order to avert the desecration of monuments to liberators."

The State Duma, Russia's lower house of parliament, is considering a draft resolution on severing contacts with the political forces that initiated and passed the law.

The Russian leadership has repeatedly called the European Union's attention to attempts by Estonia, which declared its independence from the Soviet Union in the early 1990s and joined NATO and the EU in 2004, to glorify Nazi Germany, including with parades by former Nazi SS fighters.

Moscow has also harshly criticized Estonia's discriminatory policies with respect to ethnic Russians who moved to the republic following its annexation by the Soviet Union in 1940 and their descendents.

Many members of Estonia's Russian community are denied citizenship and employment rights, and cannot receive an education in their native language. Amnesty International has condemned the situation in the Baltic country, and called on its leadership to respect the rights of ethnic Russians.


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Russia
KEYWORDS: coldwar; estonia; russia; sovietunion; stalinistrussia; ussr
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1 posted on 01/18/2007 12:42:14 PM PST by Grzegorz 246
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To: Grzegorz 246

Estonia should build a memorial with the remains of Estonians soldiers who died fighting Soviet invaders during the Second World War.


2 posted on 01/18/2007 12:46:19 PM PST by AU72
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To: Grzegorz 246

If Estonia relents on this, they will still essentially be living under Soviet Rule.


3 posted on 01/18/2007 12:49:40 PM PST by rottndog (While reading this tag, remember Tens of Thousands of Americans are risking their lives for you.)
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To: MomwithHope; sidegunner; outofstyle; quesney; Brad's Gramma; OriginalChristian; Huber; ...
Eastern European ping list


FRmail me to be added or removed from this Eastern European ping list

4 posted on 01/18/2007 12:51:31 PM PST by Grzegorz 246
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To: Grzegorz 246

Better behave or putin will cut off their oil too.
Russia just can't get over not being a power. If not for oil the'd be a third rate third world dung heap.


5 posted on 01/18/2007 12:53:35 PM PST by Joe Boucher (an enemy of islam)
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To: Grzegorz 246
I have visited Estonia and the people are great
but they do hate the Russia invaders and treat the
remnants of the occupiers with as much respect
as they deserve (i.e. NONE).
6 posted on 01/18/2007 12:54:38 PM PST by RetiredSWO ((You have to have nuts to be squirrelly))
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To: Grzegorz 246

The idea that Russia can tell Estonia what they can and cannot do on their sovereign territory is unsupportable.

Russia should request that the monuments and the war dead be repatriated to Russia. The Russians can bury their dead in their own land that wants them and they can do what they wish with the war monuments.


7 posted on 01/18/2007 1:00:34 PM PST by Cheburashka ( World's only Spatula City certified spatula repair and maintenance specialist!!!)
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To: Cheburashka
That would be the sensible thing to do.

Did Estonia make that offer? That would be the civilized thing to do.

8 posted on 01/18/2007 1:06:44 PM PST by Calvin Locke
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To: Grzegorz 246

We have been getting those warnings almost daily for quite some time now.

BTW, Russian-speakers can get a K-12 education in Russian.


9 posted on 01/18/2007 1:07:06 PM PST by vahet pole
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To: Grzegorz 246

My people fared no better at the hands of the Russians in the late 1800s. There is nothing new under the sun.

How about a compromise? The Estonians get to tear down all the monuments glorifying Soviet occupation if the leave the bodies of the dead soldiers alone.


10 posted on 01/18/2007 1:09:39 PM PST by bondjamesbond (Have you ever noticed that whatever the problem, the government's solution is always "more taxes"?)
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To: Grzegorz 246

Estonians are lucky that no Stalin monument left in their country. If this would be the case Putin would invade them immediately without any warnings.


11 posted on 01/18/2007 1:12:01 PM PST by Lukasz
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To: Calvin Locke
That would be the sensible thing to do.

Did Estonia make that offer? That would be the civilized thing to do.

---
Not as far as I'm aware, but it does seem the sensible thing to do. I would appear to me that the suggestion should come from Russia, since they are the ones acting outraged at Estonian actions on sovereign Estonian soil. Others might argue that the Estonians should make the suggestion first. Whatever, as long as the controversy is ended to both sides' satisfaction.
12 posted on 01/18/2007 1:16:46 PM PST by Cheburashka ( World's only Spatula City certified spatula repair and maintenance specialist!!!)
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To: Grzegorz 246
Tough luck Russia.

People should be respectful of monuments that have meaning to others, but in this case it sounds as if these monuments are intended more as marks to impress. These do not appear to be cemeteries or other burial sites, rather monuments to Soviet domination over these people. These are relict's intended to leave an ideological impression on these people, just like the Russian ethnic policy was to subversively take over and absorb these republics.

As far as the Russians living there are concerned; they were neither guests nor desired when they came. The Soviets had a doctrine of racial occupation and dominance which was practiced all through these republics. The Russians are people too, and they deserve to be treated as such. But they are no victims, rather the consequence of a Soviet era racial policy intended to bring about exactly that which today you see happening in the Republic of Georgia and elsewhere. The Russian plan was to control territory by breeding away opposition. It was a stated policy that was put to wide scale practice. Today the Russians want to use these same "transplanted" people living in other peoples space as a reason for staying, or Russia intervention on behalf of their minorities in these republics. It's a sad but true story where a Marxist regime played a game of ethnic chess with human lives.
13 posted on 01/18/2007 1:18:21 PM PST by Red6 (Come and get it.)
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To: RetiredSWO

Many other former Soviet satellites destroyed all such monument long time ago. I think that Russian inferiority complex towards Baltic nations showing up once again. If you ask average Russian to name the worst enemy of Russia, they will say Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania in this order. Circus like hell :)


14 posted on 01/18/2007 1:20:47 PM PST by Lukasz
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To: Joe Boucher

What happens to Vladimir if world oil demands drops sharply?


15 posted on 01/18/2007 1:23:47 PM PST by AmericanVictory (Should we be more like them, or they like us?)
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To: AmericanVictory

He can stand on a soap box and sell pencils on 5th avenue like Gorby does.


16 posted on 01/18/2007 1:30:47 PM PST by Joe Boucher (an enemy of islam)
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To: Grzegorz 246

Russian state-controlled media has conveniently ignored the fact that Estonian government is planning to RELOCATE the memorial to a graveyard. Now it is standing in a high-profile district in the centre of Tallinn. I'm a resident of Tallinn and I have to say that the majority of Tallinners are sick and tired of that memorial because it has become a popular site for pro-Soviet rallies and has been vandalized a number of times. Last year authorities took it under 24/7 surveillance. It was guarded by police officers for six months, sidewalks were blocked, a bus stop nearby was moved. That was pretty unconvenient for Tallinn residents.


17 posted on 01/18/2007 1:46:48 PM PST by vahet pole
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To: Lukasz

I figured the rabid foaming at the mouth russian nationals would name the US their worst enemy.


18 posted on 01/18/2007 1:54:37 PM PST by MARKUSPRIME
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To: Grzegorz 246

bttt


19 posted on 01/18/2007 2:02:32 PM PST by varon (Allegiance to the constitution, always. Allegiance to a political party, never.)
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To: AmericanVictory

He'll probably invade Poland or Ukraine.


20 posted on 01/18/2007 2:31:51 PM PST by Proud_USA_Republican (We're going to take things away from you on behalf of the common good. - Hillary Clinton)
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