MOSCOW, May 5 (Itar-Tass) - Russian President Vladimir Putin believes that speculations about whether the Soviet policy towards the Baltic States was lawful and justified should be regarded as attempts by some countries to settle their own internal problems.

“I think that some forces are trying to speculate on these problems for their own internal political reasons in order to solve their current internal political tasks,” President Putin said in an interview with German television channels on Wednesday.

“I don’t have any other explanation. The only thing that we keep hearing all the time is that our country should recognize the unlawfulness of those decisions and condemn them,” Putin said. “Should we do it every day, every year?” he asked. “Those who wanted to listen have already heard what they want,” the Russian president emphasized.

President Putin reminded the German reporters about the fate of 450, 000 Russian-speaking residents in Latvia. “They have never been our citizens. Therefore, they are being subject to discrimination along ethnic lines, simply because they are Russian-speaking. It is absolutely unacceptable for contemporary relations in Europe and humanitarian law,” Putin went on to say.

“If all of us are supposed to be equal, we should equally comply with the universally recognized international norms, European norms and standards. We don’t want anything except that, including with regards to ethnic minorities,” the Russian head of state said.

“As far as the construction of inter-state relations is concerned, I don’t see any problems here. Of course, some politicians in this country are constantly urging the Russian leaders to impose sanctions and exert pressure on our partners because, as we think, they are violating human rights. But we are not doing it. Isn’t it a gesture of good will?” Putin asked.

Putin called on the Baltic States to end all the speculations about the Soviet policy towards them and the Soviet occupation.

“As far as our country’s attitude to the 1939 agreements on the Baltic States is concerned, the highest representative body of the Soviet Union condemned them in 1989,” Putin clarified.

”We condemn these agreements between Stalin and Hitler and consider them to be Stalin’s personal decision, which contradicts the interests of the Soviet people,” the highest representative body of the USSR said in its documents.

“Everything is already done, one should simply be able to face reality and end speculations,” President Putin went on to say.

The president recalled that the agreement – the Brest Peace Treaty - which Russia and Germany concluded in February 1918 was taken as a basis for the independence of the Baltic States. “Later, in 1939, Russia and Germany decided differently: Germany agreed that this part of Europe should return under the influence of the Soviet Union,” he said.

“ In fact, the Baltic countries were a ‘piece of jack’ in the big world policy and this, of course, is the tragedy of these peoples. We should be straight and open about that,” Putin went on to say.

“While understanding the feelings of the Baltic countries, I, nevertheless, cannot agree with a situation when people of other nationalities – the Russian-speaking population- who happen to be living there (in the territories of the Baltic states) not on their own free will but as fate has willed – the Russian-speaking population – have been unable to enjoy in full measure the rights, which are granted to all people residing in the European continent. They feel themselves like second-rate people, 450,000 Russian-speaking citizens residing in Latvia have quasi-documents, which contain remarks like “non-citizen” or “alien” in the citizenship column,” President Putin said.

Putin noted that he understood the Baltic States’ logic. “It would have been fair if these people have ever been the citizens of the Russian Federation. But they have never been the citizens of our country – the Russian Federation,” the Russian president explained.

“We want to build relations with all our neighbours, with all countries of the world, including our closest neighbours, on the principles of respect for their right to self-determination, respect for their national interests. We will continue doing it irrespective of the current internal political situation in certain countries,” President Putin stressed