17 May 2004 18:51
Premier discusses EU values, Russian minority in Estonia
Russia is not justified in its criticism of Estonia in respect of the Russian speakers' human rights while it
fails to tend to those of its own peoples, Estonian Prime Minister Juhan Parts has said. Not only Chechens, but
Finno-Ugric peoples have no rights in Russia, he added. He said the local Russians appreciated European values and
enjoyed a much better standard of living in Estonia than their compatriots in Russia. The following is an excerpt from
an interview with Parts conducted by Ilona Vinogradova entitled "Estonian Prime Minister Juhan Parts: Russia has no
moral grounds to criticize us" by the Russian newspaper Izvestiya web site on 13 May. Subheadings have been
inserted editorially:
There are more and more young politicians in Estonia who think about the past, remember it, including our common
Soviet past, but are not attached to it. Estonian Prime Minister Juhan Parts is an excellent example of a "new
generation" politician. He is ambitious, businesslike and pragmatic. Can we find a common language with this new
Estonia that is more and more oriented towards Europe? Will we resolve the political and economic problems troubling
both parties? Will we be able to overcome gradually the psychological barrier in our communications with this former
Soviet republic that joined the EU the other day? Izvestiya correspondent Ilona Interviewer coped with at least one of
the above questions: she found a common language, Russian, with Juhan Parts. Of three languages - Russian, Estonian and
English - the prime minister chose the first one, which he speaks almost as well as his native tongue.
Parts has been civil servant since graduation
[Interviewer] Mr Parts, you became prime minister a year ago when you were 37. You have been in public service for
about 10 years now. You graduated from the department of law at Tartu University in 1991, a year before Estonia gained
independence. How did you see your future career back then? What prospects were open to you?
[Parts] I did not have clear career goals at the time. The most important thing was to have both an interesting life
and job, I thought. In 1991, I could choose between working in the business sector and working for the state. Both
options were interesting. I opted for state service and I do not regret my decision. Pompous as it may sound, but my
inclination for public work prevailed. Generally, every individual has a greater role in a small state. After all, we
started building an independent state practically from scratch. [Passage omitted]
Russian propaganda about human rights
[Interviewer] Practically immediately after Estonia became independent, a question arose about respect for the rights
of ethnic minorities. It is still a stumbling block in relations between Russia and Estonia... [newspaper ellipsis]
[Parts] In 1992, all the ethnic minorities of Estonia had the right to choose a homeland. Some left, some stayed.
Together with those who stayed, we develop Estonia now. There are certainly problems but Russian propaganda on how the
rights of the Russians living in Estonia are violated does not by any means resolve them. No-one should interfere in
such issues; we will take care of everything on our own. Particularly as the local Russians live much better than their
compatriots in any part of Russia. I know this for a fact.
Russia has no moral grounds for criticizing us on this issue. It should first look at itself in the mirror. I am not
even speaking about Chechnya now; I am speaking about our Finno-Ugric peoples, who do not have any rights in Russia. Our
citizens, Russians, are already laughing at this propaganda. They have realized that they, just as in Soviet times, are
used as a tool in a political game.
[Interviewer] Now that we have mentioned ethnic minorities and social integration, what has changed in the status of
Russians in Estonia in the past 10-12 years?
[Parts] Public awareness gradually changes. This applies to both Estonians and Russians. Acceptance is taking root on
both sides. This is especially evident among young people and socially active people. They do not live in the past, they
live in the present, for the future. And many of them connect their future with Estonia. In addition to all that, both
Estonians and the local Russians have a European view on the world.
[Interviewer] How would you yourself describe an average Russian in present-day Estonia? Who is he? What are his
aspirations?
[Parts] It is a complicated question. The Russians vary. Socially active Russians are working for their aims; they
are reliable people. They want to do well, just like all of us.
[Interviewer] Nevertheless, some Russians say that despite their good knowledge of Estonian it is difficult for them
to pursue a career in state structures or find a job in a large corporation. If the personnel manager is Estonian, he
would simply brush aside a CV with a Russian name on it.
[Parts] I am not aware of such facts. But if they are true, it is a human factor. Everything will change with time.
We are not fools, after all. Above all, we are interested in professionals. In the Foreign Ministry, for example, the
department dealing with NATO is headed by a Russian guy from Kohtla-Jarve. In high school, he spoke no Estonian at
all.
[Interviewer] Do you have Russians in your team?
[Parts] Not in the prime minister's team. But there are Russians in my party, Union for the Republic Res
Publica.
Parts is a Eurorealist
[Interviewer] Unlike some of your colleagues, you were never a Communist Party member. There is nothing to reproach
you for here. The party that you lead now, Res Publica, positions itself as an association of successful people knowing
how the rest could become successful. Res Publica has already approved its slogan for election to the European
Parliament: "We will break through!" Where is it actually that you intend to "break through"?
[Parts] We tried to describe in a few words Estonia's behaviour in the EU. "We will break through"
means that we do not want to walk on a leash or agree to everything offered by other EU members. It means that we will
uphold our interests even if they do not suit some of the big partners.
[Interviewer] Although the referendum conducted last autumn showed that most Estonian citizens were in favour of
entry into the EU, there is still quite a large group of Eurosceptics in your country. Notably, it is not only
pensioners, who are afraid that all goods will be more expensive and that their pensions will not rise, but also young
and middle-aged people. The Eurosceptics, which incidentally include prominent politicians (Tallinn Mayor Edgar Savisaar
and former Estonian ambassador to Russia Mart Helme) compare the EU to the USSR. They say that Estonia will again live
in accordance with somebody else's orders. As a Euro-optimist, you look at it differently. What do you think is the
substance of disagreement here?
[Parts] I am a Euro-realist. As a human being, I understand the position of the Eurosceptics. Generally, Estonians
are sceptical by nature. They do not trust the state. Or, they do not take any interest in politics at all. For them, it
is more important what happens in their private life. But it is the case everywhere, I think. As for the similarity to
the USSR, this is absurd! The USSR meant a totalitarian regime, a planned economy. Meanwhile, the EU means first of all
common values and, let me emphasize it, values that are democratic plus the market economy, free travel and so on. As
for the fears of some that Brussels bureaucrats will tell us how to live, they are futile.
Russian membership of EU geographically impossible
[Interviewer] The Estonian state declares its interest is in reducing the number of people without citizenship, but
does not hurry to change radically the relevant laws. Estonian Education and Science Minister Toivo Maimets has come up
with a proposal to equalize a good grade for the school course in social science to successful passing of a test in the
constitution and the citizenship law. What is your position?
[Parts] I am for a friendly procedure that provides Estonian citizenship with few bureaucratic barriers. And this is
what is happening. We are simplifying the procedure every year. I support the education minister's initiative. This
law will soon go to parliament. On the other hand, simplifying the procedure to the point where citizenship is granted
automatically does not seem right to me. Applicants should demonstrate an interest in citizenship and make at least a
minimum effort. They should submit an application for citizenship and pass a simple language test. Otherwise, we will
never build a civil society. We do not need viewers but participants.
[Interviewer] Does the fact that Estonia is part of the EU give you more confidence in your power? With this support
in hand (NATO and the EU), will Estonia be building its relations in a different manner? How do you see this
happening?
[Parts] We are positively oriented towards Russia. We want to support and develop goodneighbourly relations. At
first, however, it needs to be understood whether Russian society is ready to accept the core values that we have just
talked about. For me personally, it is not quite clear in what direction Russia is developing. As for Estonia, we have
already chosen our path of development. This did not happen on 1 May; we had been moving towards this goal for years. We
cannot copy either the Finnish or German model of society. We need to find something that is our own. But the general
direction has already been chosen.
[Interviewer] What are the Estonian foreign-policy priorities? As far as I know, your politicians are not unanimous
in this area. You personally are oriented towards the West, while some of your opponents, such as the Centre Party, look
eastwards, to Russia.
[Parts] Our foreign policy is coordinated by the government. Therefore, statements made by individual politicians are
personal opinions. Let me emphasize once again: we are very much interested in goodneighbourly relations with Russia. We
also want to know how Ukraine, Belarus, and Georgia are getting on. For the moment, EU countries are a priority.
[Interviewer] Do you think Russia will ever join the EU?
[Parts] Never. Look at the map. It is geographically impossible.
[Izvestiya web site] |
RUSSIA IN FACTS
