NATO and U.S. rally support for Estonia

Eurasia Daily Monitor ^ | May 7, 2007 | Vladimir Socor

[vahet pole]

Responding to Russia’s bullying of Estonia (see EDM, April 27, May 1, 3) the U.S. White House has invited Estonian President Toomas Ilves to meet with U.S. President George W. Bush on June 25 in Washington. The invitation itself, and the announcement’s timing in May, is the strongest demonstration of support for Estonia against Russia’s escalating threats since April 26. Estonia’s presidential office as well as the ambassador to the United States, Juri Luik, remarked that the invitation validates Estonia’s policy choices: democracy and freedom as Western values at home, participation in NATO-led peacekeeping missions, and assistance to countries in the European Union’s eastern neighborhood.

Bush and Ilves last met in late November 2006 in Tallinn, two months after Ilves’ election as president. The scheduling of another presidential meeting only six months after the first, particularly with a small country, is a highly unusual move by the White House, signaling U.S. backing for Estonia all the more clearly in the present crisis.

Speaking at the May 5 commemoration of a U.S. diplomat killed by the Soviet military while over flying Estonia in 1940, U.S. Undersecretary of State Nicholas Burns noted that free Estonia’s sovereignty is once again under attack. The entire U.S. government regards Estonia as a friend and ally and respects Estonia’s right to make its decisions independently in a free country, Burns noted. These unprecedently strong statements seem designed to discourage Russian escalation and adventurism in Estonia.

On May 2 the U.S. Senate passed a resolution condemning the riots in Estonia and attacks on Estonian embassies and supporting Estonia’s right to deal with internal matters, such as the relocation of the Red Army monument from Tallinn.

[statered]

Russia is currently a big threat all over the world and you are bitching about Estonia? This is a joke, right?

[RusIvan]

It’s pointless to argue with him - you username says it all! :)==

Simply you have nothing to object:).

[vader69]

Of course I do.

I am just not as talented propagandist as you are. ;)

You are like a Russian Al Sharpton. You keep creating this image like there is terrible discrimination going on in Estonia against the Russian minority and the Estonian government is run by ex-communists and Waffen SS.

The looting thugs who went on a rampage 3 weeks ago were like poor Katrina victims. Because of the continuing oppression by the evil fascist state, they simply don’t know right from wrong any more.

Putin Jugend needs to be sent into Tallinn to sort out this horrible situation.

[vahet pole]

Putin-jugend has already infiltrated into Estonia. A member of the pro-Putin youth cult Nashi was arrested in Tallinn. Nashism is the new fascism.

[Leonora]

Estonians were Nazis. There is no reason to support them in any way.

[vader69]

Estonians were Nazis

Another historian.

Strange, coming from someone who's native country was run by Nazi puppet Milan Nedić. Should I mention concentration camps Sajmište and Banjica? Under Nedić, Belgrade was declared to be Judenfrei in 1942. That's pretty quick and efficient.

Those who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones. ;)

[Leonora]

Well, did you then know that Serbs as quickly overthrew Nedic government? Resistance to Hitler in Serbia was overwhelming. My grandfather was killed in WWII by Nazis, ans so were over million Serbs. Better learn your facts.

[vader69]

So if my facts about Serbian Nazi government and the concentration camps are irrelevant, what are your facts to declare Estonians Nazis in such a blanketed statement?

[vader69]

Well, did you then know that Serbs as quickly overthrew Nedic government?

It was not until October of 1944. I would hardly call it a quick overthrow.

[vahet pole]

I don’t think there is a nation in Europe that didn’t collaborate with the Nazis. Even the heroic Russians had their own SS divisions.

[vader69]

Even the heroic Russians had their own SS divisions.

That's correct.

29th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS (1st Russian) under Brigadefuhrer Bronislav Kaminski.

[Leonora]

Belgrade was bombed by Germans on April 6th, 1942. Learn your facts. By 1944 Tito’s partisans pretty much finished off the remaining German divisions on the Yugoslav territory.

I personally don’t have anything against Estonians, however, removal of the Soviet monument was a mistake. In Vienna, I was surprised to find out that there is a huge monument to Soviet soldiers. I mean, if Austrians can keep it, and Hitler himself was Austrian, would it kill Estonia to keep it too? After all you are neighbors with Russia.

Why can’t we all get along? :))

[vader69]

I was not talking about when Germans bombed Belgrade. I was simply pointing out how long Nedic was in power.

As to the monument - there are plenty of monuments for Soviet soldiers in Estonia. Read my post #61. This particular monument was controversial and it was not removed, it was relocated to the Military Cemetery where it belongs among his comrades. Tell the "getting along" part to the Russian looters and GasPutin's Jugend.

[vader69]

For those who are interested. Here are some pictures from the May 9th at the new location of the Bronze Soldier.

Does this look like a group of oppressed Russian minorities by the desecrated war monument?

[RusIvan]

You keep creating this image like there is terrible discrimination going on in Estonia against the Russian minority and the Estonian government is run by ex-communists and Waffen SS.==

It is not my opinion it is the opinions of Russian who live in Estonia.

The looting thugs who went on a rampage 3 weeks ago were like poor Katrina victims. Because of the continuing oppression by the evil fascist state, they simply don’t know right from wrong any more.==

Accually it was just riot of people who were fed up enough by acctions of SS suporters of your goverment. Such rioting happens. Nothing new.
Look on United States. Such riots happened there quite frequantly. Recall the black rights movements 30 years ago. BUT.. In United States the people think and change the attitude and internal laws so the base for rioting diminishes. Est0onia should learn from USA how to create the interethnical peace..

[RusIvan]

29th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS (1st Russian) under Brigadefuhrer Bronislav Kaminski.==

Who was Pole considering his name:).

[vader69]

That's right - Polish father and German Mother, born and raised in Leningrad.

Like you say - Soviet Union was a wonderful multicultural place. :))

[RusIvan]

That’s right - Polish father and German Mother, born and raised in Leningrad.
Like you say - Soviet Union was a wonderful multicultural place. :))==

Exactly:)). BUT.. Strange thing happens when the we discuss the crimes of Soviet Union then suddenly for some people Soviet Union becomes the only Russian like no Poles and no Estonians were not in the elite of USSR and the communist party? Why that I really do not understand?:)

[vader69]

Exactly:)). BUT.. Strange thing happens when the we discuss the crimes of Soviet Union then suddenly for some people Soviet Union becomes the only Russian like no Poles and no Estonians were not in the elite of USSR and the communist party? Why that I really do not understand?:)

Now this would take a lot of time to sort out. While it is true that there were a lot of card carrying party members in the other ethnic Soviet Republic, don't forget that without being a member of the party you had no chance in politics or government.

You have to take a individual look at each person to see how "communists" they really were and whether their hands have blood on them.

[RusIvan]

You have to take a individual look at each person to see how “communists” they really were and whether their hands have blood on them.==

Agreed. You accepted the Ancip past, we accepted Yeltsin’.