Russia stirs emotions over border treaty signings

By Dace Akule

Date: 20/01/05

Moscow has stirred controversy by suggesting that a border treaty with Latvia and Estonia should be signed on 10 May, the day following celebrations of the victory over the Nazis, which also marks the start of Soviet occupation of the Baltic republics.

More than eight months after the enlargement to 25 states, the EU still does not have a formal eastern border as bilateral agreements between Russia, and Latvia and Estonia are yet to be signed. Both Tallinn and Riga claim they have been ready to sign them for years, but they point to a "lack of political will" from the Russian side.

"Estonia has been ready to sign an agreement since 1999 when the necessary preparations on our side were completed," said a spokesperson for the foreign ministry in Tallinn. Estonia has suggested several dates for the signing ceremony, but Russia did not find them acceptable.

Similar comments come from Riga. "Latvia has expressed its willingness to sign the agreement since 1997, but even after the latest consultations with Moscow we are still waiting for a date when it could be done," reads a statement from the Latvian foreign ministry.

In reality, the operations between the borders are running smoothly. Borderlines have been established and controls operate under agreements from the late 1990s. Which is why neither the EU nor NATO demanded that the accords be signed before the accession of the Baltic countries. Moscow has now allegedly suggested 10 May as a possible date for the signing of agreements with Latvia and Estonia. This is one day after the celebration in Moscow of the victory over Nazis. But 9 May also marks the beginning of the Soviet occupation of the Baltic states and even though officials do not want to link the two issues, for most Latvians and Estonians signing the treaty on this date would be unacceptable. Officials in Riga and Tallinn said they have not yet received an official invitation to sign the agreement on 10 May.

• Dace Akule is a freelance journalist based in Riga, Latvia.

Article reports that the Russian government allegedly suggested that a border treaty with Latvia and Estonia should be signed on 10 May 2005, the day following celebrations of the victory over the Nazis, which also marks the start of Soviet occupation of the Baltic republics. While the proposed date met protest from the side of the Baltic states, Russia was long expected to sign a treaty which would then formally confirm the EU's eastern border in the region.