Paet: Russia now attacking EU

From Postimees (my tr.):

Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Paet said that in attacking Estonia, Russia was attacking the European Union. He also promised to submit to the government on Thursday proposals on measures that the EU could, in the opinion of Estonia, take on Russia.

Paet said that these measures should have an impact on Russia, so that Moscow would cease its attacks and interference in the internal affairs of other states and comply with the Vienna diplomatic convention. These attacks on Estonia, according to Paet, are both psychological and actual.

According to the head of the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on the eve of the riots representatives of the Russian embassy met with the organizers.

The minister said it has become clear that the cyber-attacks on Estonia are coming from specific computers and individuals, and their traces even lead to the administration of the Russian president.

“These measures cannot but affect the EU’s relations with Russia as a whole,” Paet said. - “We consider it necessary that the EU should react to Russia’s behaviour with the utmost seriousness “.

Estonian flag desecrated in Moscow

01 May 2007

Estonian flag torn off Estonian Embassy in Moscow

The Estonian flag was torn off the Estonian Embassy in Moscow and shredded into pieces on Tuesday, 1 May. Ministry of Foreign Affairs considers this absolutely unacceptable.

While the Estonian flag was desecrated, the Russian Duma delegation currently on a visit to Estonia admitted to the Secretary General of Estonian Ministry Foreign Affairs that the security of the Embassy could be restored in three minutes if Russian side only wished it.

Unwillingness of the Russian authorities to restore the security of the Embassy is incomprehensible as the Duma delegation conceded that this could be done very quickly.

PRESS SPOKESMAN’S OFFICE

6 377 654

50 94 645

pressitalitus@mfa.ee

Letter from Tallinn

MAK writes from Tallinn, Estonia:

Note: My personal internet and email communications have been problematic. And then I could not get connected to the internet for a good 24 hours. The situation is the following. Last night was mostly peaceful here in Estonia - some acts of vandalism. Today Russian language SMS’s were sent telling drivers to slow down to a crawl and to honk their horns in order to impede traffic in Tallinn. Seems to ahve worked to some degree, but the police are dealing with it. 3000EEK fines. A bigger worry for me - some of the people there are my colleagues from when I was the Press Spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs - is the fact that the Estonian Embassy in Moscow has been barricaded by young people and no one is getting in or out. The protesters are keeping upa huge racket, throwing things at the building, scrawling graffiti and they have set up tents and portable toilets - apparently to settle in for the long haul. Curious that the Russian government, which has been so quick to disperse Russian demonstrations critical of Putin, is unable or unwilling to enforce its responsibilities under international law regarding diplomatic conventions and practices in this case. Ambassador Marina Kaljurand in an interview on Raadio 4 in Tallinn (Russian language station) said that many other embassies are sending them notes of support and criticizing the Russian government for uncivilized behaviour. Even ordinary Russians have offered their help which Ms. Kaljurand has declined with thanks, saying that there is no point in their arguing with organizations with no ideals or principles.

A major target of criticism in Estonia has been the mayor of Tallinn, Edgar Savisaar. Despite his popularity among Russians, he has not done anything to calm things down. Instead, by criticising the Estonian Government and making apologies in the Russian media, he has added fuel to the fire. Center Party, which he leads, is planning some sort of citizens discussion on Friday, but it seems that they have had difficulty in finding an appropriate venue.

These events bring me back to my idea that studies should be done about what happens to a small country that is occupied - in effect hijacked - for a long time. I think the analogy between what happened to Estonia under Soviet terror and occupation and the Stockholm syndrome,is quite strong. Plus you have to add to that the deplorable lack of understanding even today in international public opinion about communist crimes and how these abuses were integral parts of the Soviet system designed to shore up the power of the party dictatorship. The fact that the Russian part of the Hitler-Stalin equation is not only unpunished, not even repentant but actually defiant is a stark contrast to the situation in today’s Germany. The results of the killings and terror, deportations, etc., in the Baltic states meant not only a loss of freedom and sovereignity, but also affected people psychologically. Subconscious or actual fear, the loss of hope for justice has affected these people and their children for all these years. Young Estonians were raised by parents who had lived through Soviet terror - the times when people could not talk freely at home and especially in front of the children. Independence was restored after 1991, but this was not like the fairy tale of Sleeping Beauty when all the evil past just dropped away. Estonia has been independent again for a relatively short time and it is clear that most of the young adults of today went to school under Soviet occupation with a curriculum full of propaganda. In my opinion, what has made everything much more complicated is that the occupation lasted so long.

The interpretation and role of the collaborators during a half century of occupation is often painful and yet crucial to examine and understand. To cover their own guilt and their own roles in all this, collaborators have often been the ones who try the hardest to portray it as an Estonian vs Russian issue, not a Communism vs Democracy issue. They somewhat acknowledge having been part of the system to some extent, but they excuse this in several ways - “there was no choice,” “one had to go along to get along,” etc. But they all claim that they were still good Estonians at heart - not “bad Russians”. A great deal of self-serving chauvinism comes from those circles. And if some of these collaborators should still be closely tied to Moscow and clever demagogues to boot you have a really wicked mix.

Mart Laar

The blog of Estonian MP Mart Laar is here.
(hat tip: Leopoldo)

Russian Duma delegation visits Tallinn

From the Estonian foreign ministry:

30 April 2007

Foreign Ministry shocked by the behaviour of the Russian Duma delegation

The Foreign Ministry expresses surprise over the behaviour of the Russian Duma delegation. The Estonian side put together a comprehensive programme, which allowed the visiting delegation to thoroughly familiarise itself with topics of interest to them. The Russian delegation refused to participate in the programme that was approved by the head of the delegation, Leonid Slutski, the Vice-President of the State Duma’s Foreign Affairs committee. The members of the Duma did not participate in planned meetings at the Foreign Ministry, where the planned discussion was to cover questions related to the negotiations on the Estonia-Russia war graves agreement.

Upon arrival, the members of the Duma began making unrealistic demands, such as demanding a meeting with arrested Estonian citizen Dmitri Linter.

In addition, the State Duma delegation refused to participate in a joint press conference with Riigikogu Vice-Chairman Kristiina Ojuland and Chairman of the Riigikogu’s Foreign Affairs Committee Sven Mikser, where members of the diplomatic corps were invited to attend. The refusal to participate was explained by a demand to organise a press conference for the press behind closed doors in the Russian Embassy. This demand was based on the absurd assertion that all journalists would not have access to the press conference that was to be held in the Foreign Ministry.

The Foreign Ministry apologises for any inconveniences created by the Russian delegation for those journalists and representatives of the diplomatic corps who had come to attend the press conference.

The Foreign Ministry affirms that Estonia is always prepared and open to all contacts. However, it cannot agree with absurd statements and unreasonable demands.

VÄLISMINISTEERIUMI PRESSITALITUS
6 377 654
50 94 645
pressitalitus@mfa.ee
www.vm.ee

The Unknown Soldier

The stone that will mark the new Bronze Soldier war memorial in Tallinn’s military cemetery from May 8 onwards. The inscription reads, in Estonian and Russian: “To the Unknown Soldier 1941-1945.” (via Postimees).

The Statue - IV

From the Estonian foreign ministry website:

http://www.vm.ee/eng

29 April 2007

Foreign Ministry website once again accessible to all

The Foreign Ministry apologises for any inconveniences caused by the lack of accessibility to the Foreign Ministry website from abroad. The website problems were caused by malevolent attacks from the East (artificially high number of inquiries sent in an organised manner). To protect the site, the Foreign Ministry was forced to block access to the website from abroad. Now the problem is under control and the website is once again accessible to all.

The Statue - III

Estonian defence minister Jaak Aaviksoo and Estonian foreign minister Urmas Paet have announced at a press conference that the Bronze Soldier statue will be moved from its present site at Tõnismägi to Tallinn’s military cemetery tomorrow, and will be open to the public on May 8.

Reuters has a report here.

The Statue - II

From the Estonian government press office:

29 April 2007

Bronze Soldier will be relocated to the Military Cemetary in central Tallinn

The Estonian Government will begin preparatory works today, Sunday, 29 April, at the military cemetary in central Tallinn to relocate the grave marker (Bronze Soldier).

Dear editors and journalists!

Estonian Prime Minister Andrus Ansip, Foreign Minister Urmas Paet and Minister of Defence Jaak Aaviksoo will give a joint press conference on Sunday, 29 April at 11:00 in the Press Centre of the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Attention!

All journalists, photographers and TV cameramen should apply for accreditation from the MFA Press Centre by e-mail: centre@mfa.ee (first and surname, news organization, number of passport/ID-card) . The final deadline for accreditation is Sunday, 29 April, 1000.

Please arrive no later than 1045 at the Visitor’s Entrance of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Lauteri 2). Please have passports or personal identification cards with you.

SPOKESMAN’S OFFICE
+ 372 6377 654
+ 372 50 94 645
pressitalitus@mfa.ee
www.vm.ee

Estonia: the Sudetenland comparison

In a well-researched and thoughtful comparative study (pdf) of the issues surrounding the Russian minority in Estonia and Czech-Sudeten German relations between the two world wars, Tartu historian Reigo Lokk has drawn attention to disturbing similarities between the Sudeten crisis which developed when Hitler became German Chancellor in 1933 and the present situation in Estonia, which has developed to a critical point since Putin became Russia’s President in 2000. Although it was written before the current unrest over the relocation of the Bronze Soldier statue, the essay contains many perceptions that may help towards an understanding of what is now taking place:

For Russophones living in Estonia, the new situation signified an identity crisis identification difficulties or fragmented identities) which spelled out the need to redefine their personal and collective identities. Primarily, it brought great difficulties in trying to unite two realities – Russian cultural identity and Estonian political identity. The results of surveys indicate that at least one-third of the Russians have adopted a different understanding of their ethnic or cultural belonging and homeland in connection with the collapse of the Soviet Union. As Czech Germans once were, the present Russian-speaking community in Estonia is, in fact, already highly differentiated by their ethnic origin, citizenship status,future aims, social capital, and cultural and political allegiances. For example, Melvin writes that Russian speakers “still face fundamental questions about whether their identity is primarily Baltic, Slavic, Russian or Russian-speaking”. The degree to which the post-Soviet Russian minority will be integrated into their new homeland is intimately linked to the question of what kind of collective identity it will develop. Different researchers have pointed out the weakening of a formerly widespread sense of Soviet identity, and the strengthening of a regional identity which is bound to the territory of Estonia. The level of identification with the country of Estonia and its culture is still relatively low. Instead, the majority of Russians identify themselves culturally and emotionally with Russia. A very vivid example of this is the fact that about 100,000 permanent inhabitants of Estonia of Russian origin have taken Russian citizenship; in addition, the number of people with no citizenship in Estonia is still over 165,000. Therefore, it can be said that the Russian minority seems to display a postmodern identity policy of multiple loyalties but one which lacks a clear
pattern.

Lokk points to four critical factors that are likely to influence the outcome of the crisis on the domestic situation in Estonia and the other Baltic states, and their national security:

the activity and attitude of the state authorities and titular nations
the foreign policy of the Russian Federation
the behaviour of the Russian minority itself
the international climate

The Statue

For the past few days, the BBC has been hosting an open public discussion of the Bronze Soldier issue. It’s heartening to see the support for Estonians, who currently face a threat to their country of a kind that few in the West can even begin to imagine.

Meanwhile, the Estonian government has released the following press statements:

28 April 2007

Groundless accusations by Russian Foreign Ministry are directed at escalating tensions in Estonia

The Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs decisively refutes the statement made today by the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and considers it unfortunate that the groundless accusations are directed at escalating tensions in Estonia.

The Estonian Prosecutor’s Office has confirmed that the death of a Russian citizen was in no way related to the actions of the police officers maintaining public order on 27 April in Tallinn.

According to the Estonian Prosecutor’s Office an investigation has been launched to establish Dmitry’s (born 1987) cause of death. The evidence collected so far indicates that the death was a result of injuries obtained from a conflict between two private individuals during the riots. The investigation is progressing in order to establish all circumstances of the incident and to find all offenders.

The Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has informed the Russian Embassy in Tallinn of the Russian citizen and Estonian resident’s death.

According to the Estonian Health Care Board, the majority of injuries from the riots were head and minor hand injuries, most likely caused by glass shards from broken shop windows.


SPOKESMAN’S OFFICE
6 377 654
50 94 645
pressitalitus@mfa.ee
www.vm.ee

28 April 2007


Estonian Foreign Minister expressed indignation at the lack of actions by Russian authorities

Foreign Minister Urmas Paet on Saturday voiced indignation at the lack of actions by Russian authorities in ensuring the security of the Estonian Embassy in Moscow.

“During yesterday’s telephone conversation, Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov assured me that Russia would fulfil all of its obligations in ensuring the safety of all Estonian representations in Russia,” emphasised Paet. “A day later and the wall of the Estonian Embassy in Moscow has been desecrated,” minister said.

Paet added that Estonia demands explanations with regards to this incident from the Russian Foreign Ministry.

These conditions will not allow the Consular Section of the Embassy in Moscow to operate to its full capacity on Monday 30 April. Irrespective of the situation, Estonia will continue to provide its citizens with consular assistance. The Consulate will return to normal business once the security of the Estonian Embassy in Moscow has been ensured.



SPOKESMAN’S OFFICE
6 377 654
50 94 645
pressitalitus@mfa.ee
www.vm.ee


Death Prayer Held and Identification Proceedings Started at Tõnismäe War Grave

Today, on April 28 Orthodox priest Aivar Sarapik and Lutheran ministerTaavi Laanepere held a Death Prayer at the Tõnismäe war grave before the surveying works are started. Aivar Sarapik held the Death Prayer according to Orthodox traditions.

Ecumenic Death Prayer was held at the Tõnismäe war grave, containing Death Prayers of both Lutheran and Orthodox churches. The essence of the Death Prayer is to pray for departed souls. To pray for departed souls is a traditional Christian and Orthodox custom. The procedure can be carried out independently from the time and place, especially if it is not known who have been killed and where their graves are located.

Photos of the saying of Death Prayer will be published at www.riik.ee/tuvastus <http://www.riik.ee/tuvastus> and at http://www.kmin.ee/ <http://www.kmin.ee/> . Upon using the photos please refer to the Ministry of Defence as the author. The Death Prayer service was recorded by Estonian Radio and Estonian Television, the recorded material is available to everyone interested. The contact person is Andres Kuusk, e-Mail address andres.kuusk@etv.ee <mailto:andres.kuusk@etv.ee> .

The identification proceedings will be carried out according to international regulations, customs and agreements. These include: Disaster Victims Identification Instructions (DVI), general rules and methods of forensic and anthropological practice and recommendations to archeological and anthropoligical investigation.

The identification of persons buried in the war graves is carried out by state forensic institutions the Estonian Bureau of Forensic Expertise and the Estonian Forensic Centre. A coroner will be present at the excavation works, at whose instruction the discovery, excavation and assembly of the remains will take place. The found remains will be documented and packaged by the forensic experts. The research will be carried out as quickly as possible and the results will be forwarded to the Ministry of Defence.

The conclusion of the results of research will be disclosed by the Ministry of Defence.

Madis Mikko
Director of Public Relations
MoD of Estonia
+ 372 51 88 281
http://www.mod.gov.ee/?op=news&id=1118&prn=1

Putin's CFE threat and the North Caucasus

Writing in RFE/RL’s North Caucasus/Chechnya section, analyst Liz Fuller suggests that President Putin’s threat to suspend compliance with the amended 1999 CFE Treaty - an ominous move which is causing consternation in Europe - may be aimed at the North Caucasus region: given the increased deployment of Russian armour and artillery in Chechnya and neighbouring republics since 1999, a further military buildup there could pose a threat to Georgia.

Rostropovich dies

Helsingin Sanomat reports that the great Russian cellist, conductor and human rights defender Mstislav Rostropovich has died in Moscow, aged 80.

Soviet grave marker removed

From the Estonian government’s press office:

27 April 2007

Estonian Government has removed the grave marker

Originating from the situation in Tallinn and acting based on the “Protection of War Graves act” §8 article 2, the Estonian government has decided to immediately remove the Tõnismäe grave marker (Bronze soldier).

The objective of the government’s decision is to avert further brutal acts of public violence, which are realistic threats to the health and property of citizens. The decision to immediately remove the Bronze Soldier was made to ensure that it cannot be used in the future as a reason or cause for extensive and dangerous rioting.

Yesterday’s rioters found the police presence and the assembly of people to be a good reason to act destructively.

The rioters showed clearly that their real goal was to riot, destroy, break and loot.

These actions confirm that they have nothing to do with respecting and protecting the memories of those who fell during World War II.

Reporter seeks asylum in Britain

Via MosNews:

Yelena Tregubova, a former Kremlin pool reporter and author of several books about the Russian political elite, has applied for political asylum in Great Britain, the Ekho Moskvy radio reported on Tuesday quoting Tregubova’s own statement.

Reitschuster's Russia

At the blog of Boris Reitschuster, the author of a biography and portrait of Vladimir Putin which has upset the Kremlin in no small degree, some interesting details of events surrounding the death of Boris Yeltsin, an interview on the current state of Russia, an analysis of Kremlin propaganda techniques, and much, much more. In German, but a very good read.

Intox

The Babel Caucase Caravan has now reached Turkey, on its way to Chechnya.

Commentary in the French press has been largely supportive of the venture, which aims this month and next to bring a motley group of artistes, musicians and performers to Grozny and other cities in Chechnya. Attacks on the project continue to come from Chechen sources, however. In an article published a few days before the Caravan left Paris last week, one observer wrote that

Alas, this simple gesture of friendship is upsetting some people. Just a few days away from the departure, the Internet is spreading dirty rumours. The most sickening ones imply that these “clowns” have been invited by Kadyrov, the despot in the pay of Moscow who has had himself elected president, to perform in his honour. Others insinuate that these “pseudo-artistes” are being manipulated by the French government in collaboration with Moscow, which is trying to use them in order to say that everything in Chechnya is normal. False propaganda (intox), in other words. All the more so as these diatribes emanate from Russian-language sites which are clearly Islamist… (my tr.)

See also in this blog: Caucasian Babel

KGB men to face murder charges

Via the Mail on Sunday:

Scotland Yard detectives are to issue arrest warrants against three former KGB officers suspected of poisoning ex-Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko.

Police have told sources close to Mr Litvinenko’s widow Marina that they intend to lay charges of murder and poisoning against the men, who met the victim three weeks before his death in London.

The move will damage the already strained relationship between Downing Street and the Kremlin, which is almost certain to block any request for the men’s arrest and extradition.

The Kremlin Boycotts Eventica

Each year, London's Russian expat business community holds a large and elaborate conference organized by Eventica, the company which also arranges the annual Russian Winter Festival in Trafalgar Square. The conference, which is often addressed by senior British government figures - this year Alistair Darling is due to speak - is one of the main pillars of Russian-British relations, and its upbeat, business-oriented flavour is often contrasted with the state of relations during the Cold War. This year, however, a dozen influential executives with links to the Kremlin have pulled out, according to a report in the London Times:

The move prompted speculation that President Putin had ordered the event to be boycotted in light of Britain’s continued refusal to extradite Boris Berezovsky, the billionaire businessman and outspoken opponent of the Russian leader.

Mr Berezovsky sparked an outcry in Moscow last week by claiming that he was financing an anti-Kremlin “revolution”.

Kremlin sources said that the conference boycott was the result of “an order from above”.

The Russian Economic Forum, organised by London-based firm Eventica, is the world’s biggest international networking event for Russian companies. This year’s event, the tenth, begins tomorrow and was due to attract more than 2,000 delegates.

Read it all.

Tallinn Memorial

The Estonian foreign ministry has released the following fact sheet about the Tallinn war memorial:



The Memorial in Tallinn to the Fallen of World War Two

20 April 2007

The Republic of Estonia, like the other EU member states, honours the memory of all the victims and the fallen of World War Two. As well as greatly values the contribution of those nations that fought in the name of destroying fascism in Europe and in the whole world. At the same time, the Estonian government condemns the activities of those individuals – be they Estonian citizens or the representatives of a foreign power – who, on the territory of the Republic of Estonia, committed crimes against humanity, and carried out mass repressions. By dealing with crimes against humanity as international crimes without a statute of limitations, we sincerely hope that they can be prevented in the future.

In Estonia, the graves of 217 Soviet soldiers and nearly ten German military cemeteries have been declared to be national heritage landmarks. The exact number of military graves has been constantly changing due to both new finds and re-interments. The burial sites of Soviet soldiers have been taken care of by local administrations.
____________________________________________________________

World War Two was a tragic page in Estonia’s history. In 1940, Estonia was occupied and illegally annexed by the Soviet Union for more than 50 years. Forcibly drafted Estonians were forced to fight in the ranks of foreign armies on both sides of the front, since the male residents of Estonia were forcibly mobilised into the armed forces of the occupying regimes – into the active units of both the Red Army and the Waffen-SS. This was a serious breach of a generally accepted principle — that a military draft may not be enforced on occupied territory. During the course of World War Two, as a result of occupations and massive deportations, Estonia’s human losses were immense. Alongside tens of thousands of Estonians, the Russian, and other minority cultures, that had developed in Estonia before the War were practically wiped out. As a result, the celebration of all kinds of victories and liberations is a very controversial subject for the Estonian people.

The memorial for those who had fallen in World War Two was erected in central Tallinn, in Tõnismäe Park, on 22 September 1947. As an obligatory component of Soviet city planning, a Red Army monument had to be placed in the centre of the city in a public place, and be surrounded by a spacious square where it would be possible to carry out large-scale events on Soviet and Red Army anniversaries. Later, Tõnismäe, as a burial site for those who had fallen in the Second World War, was declared to be a cultural landmark.

This memorial has a dual meaning for the people living in Estonia – on the one hand, it is a painful reminder of Estonia being occupied by a foreign army. On the other hand, it recalls the fallen who gave their lives fighting against Nazi Germany. The praising of the first meaning and its demonstrative celebrating is, of course, unacceptable for Estonia. The second meaning is the only possible one, and similar in content to that of memorials elsewhere in Europe.

On the basis of an historical query compiled by the Estonian International Commission for the Investigation of Crimes Against Humanity, “The Red Army Troops’ Common Grave and Memorial in Tallinn’s Tõnismäe”, it can be stated that on 14 April 1945, 12 coffins were buried in Tõnismäe for propagandistic purposes. But existing documents do not indicate the exact burial spots, and archives and other sources of information do not give a clear picture of who, and why, are buried in Tõnismäe. Meanwhile, not all archive materials, primarily those in Russia, are accessible, and the various existing sources provide somewhat contradictory information. Thus, the need has arisen to clarify, in greater detail, the circumstances surrounding the supposed burial spots in Tõnismäe Park.

It is the moral and international obligation of the Estonian state to ensure the security and the peace of the grave of military graves and their adjoining monuments. On the basis of this, on 10 January 2007, the Military Graves Protection Act was passed, that observes international principles (the corresponding Geneva Convention) and practices. In accordance with this legislation, a Military Graves Committee was established at the Ministry of Defence, that presents proposals to the defence minister on matters concerning the security of the burial spots of the victims of war as well as the possible re-interment of remains.

On the basis of the aforementioned conventions and common humane practices, it is not acceptable that people are buried in unmarked graves in a park in central Tallinn, and that public events are held on these unnamed graves. Just as the present utilisation of Tõnismäe Park does not ensure the peace of the grave, since unhindered pedestrian traffic crosses the supposed burial spot. This means that, in Tallinn, we are dealing with what, according to generally recognised humane practices and value judgements, can be regarded as an abnormal situation.

In addition to the problem with ensuring the peace of the grave, there is also the factor that in this central Tallinn, Tõnismäe burial spot for the fallen of World War II, there have occurred several events that have been hostile towards the Estonian state and have quite clearly disturbed the peace of the grave, which, in turn, has brought forth the general community’s counter-reaction. These supposed military graves, together with their monument, no longer symbolise a memorial spot for the fallen, but have turned into a location where various political groups gather to demonstrate and incite hostility, where laws are broken and the criminal Communist regime is praised. This all has, unfortunately, proven to be true in the course of the last 15 years. The moving of the monument, as well as the re-interment of the remains, from central Tallinn to an appropriately suitable location – a cemetery – would dispel this ideological nightmare, and would provide the interred with the peace of the grave. The monument would then acquire the only contemporarily suitable meaning – the function of memorialising those having fallen in war.

Thus, on 9 March 2007, the Military Graves Committee recommended to the defence minister that the remains located in Tõnismäe be re-interred, since, in the present location, the peace of the grave cannot be ensured. To ensure the peace of the grave, the remains in the vicinity of the monument should be reburied in the Tallinn Inner City Cemetery. In the committee’s opinion, this is an honourable location, where the peace of the grave and the respect due to a military grave can be ensured. Estonian, British, and Soviet soldiers, who have fallen in various wars, are already interred at the Inner City Cemetery. The Tõnismäe monument, as a cultural landmark, will also find a new location in the the Inner City Cemetery, and will definitely not be demolished.

All the steps that are to be taken in this matter will be in accordance with Estonian and international laws as well as European principles. Plus, the National Heritage Board, as well as other appropriate experts, will be involved in the re-interment process. In connection with the re-interment, representatives of the Lutheran, Orthodox, and Catholic churches, as well as the Jewish community, have expressed their approval.

In Estonia’s case, there is nothing exceptional about such a development. Throughout Eastern Europe, the remains of those having fallen in war have been re-buried in cemeteries so as to ensure their peace of the grave. This was done on an especially massive scale, for instance, in Hungary, at the beginning of the 90s. In regards to monuments erected to the Red Army, an example can be presented from the Czech Republic – in Prague, no such monument can be found, although smaller memorials do exist, but only in cemeteries.

In connection with the Tõnismäe monument, a widespread debate has developed in Estonian society over the meaning of the memorial and its present location in Tallinn’s metropolitan space. The Estonian Public Understanding Foundation, which combines over 60 organisations, has initiated an extensive debate concerning tolerance. Upon the initiative of the Tallinn City Council, round table meetings are taking place that are dealing with the theme of the Tõnismäe memorial. Over 30 organisations and political alliances, including war veterans’ groups, are participating. At the last session, on 6 March 2007, the participants found that one possibility would be to find the monument another, more suitable, location. This is a step towards a more mature society, that shares democratic values, in which attempts are made to solve the problems confronting society at a common conference table, where the multiplicity of opinions are taken into consideration.