Margelov criticises Estonian version of border treaty

20.06.2005, 15.41

STRASBOURG, June 20 (Itar-Tass) - The Russian-Estonian border treaty in the form, in which it was ratified by the Estonian parliament, will hardly suit Russia, said Mikhail Margelov, head of the Federation Council committee for international affairs.

Estonian legislators did not mention directly the “annexation” or “occupation” of their country by the USSR in the final text of the document, but they included in the preamble of the document references to the legal acts, in which this is stated openly.

“Although the two parties proceeded from the border line, set in 1944, during the drafting of the treaty, Estonia again mentions the 1918 border line in the final document, thus creating conditions for laying territorial and other claims to us,” Margelov stressed.

“If Russia decides after additional examination, that the amendments, made to the text of the treaty by Estonia, are unacceptable for it, the treaty will go to a wastepaper basket, following the treaty with Latvia.

Unlike Estonia, from which the European Union demands the settlement of the problem as soon as possible, we can take time. We shall agree to the settlement of the problem only on the terms, which are suitable for us,” he said in conclusion.
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