From: thietaniemi@cc.helsinki.fi
Subject: Re: Metal smuggling and trade
Organization: University of Helsinki
Date: Sat, 2 Jan 1993 13:19:32 GMT

In article <1i357cINNivd@uniwa.uwa.edu.au>, dima@maths.uwa.oz.au (Dima Pasechnik) writes:
> thietaniemi@cc.helsinki.fi writes:
> 
>>In article <1992Dec31.023346.13878@lynx.dac.northeastern.edu>, 
>>mkagalen@lynx.dac.northeastern.edu (michael kagalenko) writes:
> 
>>I comment only one detail in an interesting posting:
> 
>>> Baltic rep. are
>>> independent already. Strong border is a good idea in that case too,
>>> since considerable part of national product of this countries is 
>>> obtained by smuggling valuble metals from Russia (tolerated by 
>>> governments of those rep.) & selling to the west without paying export 
>>tariffs.
> 
> 
>>The Baltic states are for a strong border, especially Estonia, which
>>has it's bordes in at least preliminary control now. Many Russians
>>have opposed more rigid border controls and custom and visa regulations
>>in Estonia, instead.
> 
>>"Considerable part of national production" is a very vague statement.
>>It is true that some individual fortunes have been accumulated in
>                  ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
>>metal trade, at least in Estonia, about which I know something. But
>>still, the Estonian economy works mainly with some other kinds of trade:
>>textiles, food processing, oil shale and such things.
> 
>>Claiming that Estonian government would "tolerate" smuggling is a hard
>>accusation which should be substantiated by some facts.
> 
>>I have got the impression that the problem is the LEGAL trade:
>>smuggling is forbidden in Estonia and not tolerated. But what should
>>the Estonian goverment or police do when the non-ferrous metals 
>>exported from Russia have their Russian custom papers totally in order?
>>The problem is that Russia can't eradicate the corruption of it's own
>>and does not effectively control the Red army.
> 
>>Or have you got another kind of impression?
> 
> Yes, the corruption in Russia is incredible. But in this case it is
> inspired from abroad, since it benefits that "some individial fortunes"
> (see above) mainly. Certainly, this people who made "some fortunes")
> are bribing  russian officials (mayby indirectly, but...). 
> Do you think this is the Estonian's govt. duty to prevent
> crimes comitted by Estonian citizens not only within Estonian borders?
 

The most important thing is that what the Estonian government thinks. 
Illegal trade is forbidden and you should support your accusations if you 
think that the Estonian government is NOT PREVENTING the crime in Estonia. 
What comes to crimes committed beyond the Estonian borders, I do not think 
that Russian militsiya would be delighted if the Estonian police operated in 
Russian territory. However, co-operation is not ruled out, of course.


About "individual fortunes"... It should be time again mentioning some
names and concrete individuals.

I suppose you have never heard about the richest lady in Estonia, namely
Tiiu Silves, who has made a fortune by selling non-ferrous metals.
No she is developing her activities and creating a kind of business
dynasty. She might be considered one of the most succesfull new capitalists
in Estonia - and she has not been caught involved with anything illegal.
Do you find something inappropriate in her actions?


asks
the observer
Tapani Hietaniemi, Universitas Helsingiensis
                     urbs fennorum

Newsgroups: talk.politics.soviet