From: sommar@enea.se (Erland Sommarskog)
Newsgroups: talk.politics.soviet
Subject: Re: The ESTONIAN cabinet coalition agreement
Date: 8 Nov 92 22:11:39 GMT
Organization: Enea Data AB

I've read the paper that Tapani Hietnaniemi was kind to share with
us, and I must say that I am impressed. It is a surprisingly
strong declaration, and if the Estonian government can cooperate
in the future as they did in composing this platform, it is very
encouraging to know that Estonia are in firm and steady hands.

Not that I necessarily agree with everything being said in it;
it is the document of a government in the tradition of Western
conservatism, which is not really my ideology. But it is still
built on the democratic values that I hail, and that is what is
essential.

There is no reason for me to comment various approaches on economy
etc, but I would like to highlight some paragraphs on the citizenship 
issue and the treatment of the Russian minority:

)IN ITS ETHNIC AND CITIZENSHIP POLICIES the Government proceeds
)from the principle, set forth in the Constitution, of
)guaranteeing the preservation of the Estonian nation and its
)culture throughout the ages, while at the same time protecting
)the human rights and freedoms of all Estonian residents,
)regardless of their ethnic origin, religion, language or
)citizenship.
)
)The Government considers it of utmost importance to form a
)permanent and loyal citizenry - regardless of ethnic origin.
)...
)The Government believes that the rights and status of individual
)aliens residing in Estonia must be regulated by law and that they
)must be registered as permanent residents and be issued
)corresponding documentation. This law must provide aliens with
)clear guarantees for the inviolability of their property, the
)right to participate in privatization and enterprise, their right
)to social, labour and health insurance, their right to
)participate in trade unions and to form non-profit organizations
)and associations.
)
)The integration of non-Estonians who remain in Estonia into the
)Estonian society and culture as loyal ethnic minorities is vital
)to Estonia's future. We will restore cultural autonomy for ethnic
)minorities in a renewed form.

We have regularly seen various negative statements on Estonia
from Russian netters. "Violating human rights". A certain
Sergei Viznyuk has gone as far as calling Estonia fascist and
neo-nazi.

It is very difficult to find any support for such statements
in this agreement. Not only are there words who speaks against
this alledgements, but they are very concrete and committing.

And what happened to "forced deportations"? Let's see:

)The Government supports those non-Estonians who wish to return
)to their historical homelands - Russia, Ukraine, or elsewhere,
)and will provide them with practical assistance in this effort.
)The Government is appealing for agreements through negotiations
)with those states on matters of voluntary migration.

The difference between voluntary migration and forced deportation
is hevaen-wide. Maybe even Sergei Viznyuk can understand that?

Finally, a question to Tapani or any other who may be able to
answer:
)The process of determining Estonia's citizenry, based on legal
)succession, and compiling the registry of voters must be
)completed. We will eliminate the traumatic bureaucratic obstacles
)to granting citizenship to Estonian nationals in accordance with
)Point 1 of Article 7 of the Law on Citizenship.
)
)Persons who registered as applicants for citizenship prior to the
)election of the Congress of Estonia in February of 1990 must be
)granted citizenship under simplified conditions (without the
)language requirement), in accordance with Point 2 of Article 7
)of the Law on Citizenship.

What do these points say? Somewhere I saw a claim that the implication
of the second paragraph is that 40.000 Russians would be saved from
the language requirement? Is that so? Good news, in such case.
-- 
Erland Sommarskog - ENEA Data, Stockholm - sommar@enea.se
Newsgroups: talk.politics.soviet