From: thietaniemi@cc.helsinki.fi (Tapani Hietaniemi)
Newsgroups: talk.politics.soviet,soc.culture.soviet
Subject: ESTONIAN news, Jan 93, foreign policy
Date: 21 Jan 93 16:39:30 GMT
Organization: University of Helsinki

Estonian news from Tallinn:
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     ESTONIA AND RUSSIA NEGOTIATIONS FAIL TO BRING RESULTS
     ESTONIA JOINS CONVENTION BANNING CHEMICAL WEAPONS
            CSCE MINORITY REPRESENTATIVE IN ESTONIA
     ESTONIA'S AMBASSADORS ABROAD MEET IN TALLINN
    

                      11.01.93 - 18.01.93
                         
     ESTONIA AND RUSSIA NEGOTIATIONS FAIL TO BRING RESULTS

On January 13 the Estonian-Russian working parties for
military, humanitarian, economic and border issues met in
Nakhabino near Moscow, and a plenary session of the
delegations took place on January 14-15, but resulted in no
breakthroughs. "The delegations remained certain of their
hereto official standpoints," said Estonian Minister without
portfolio (of Estonian-Russian negotiations) Ju"ri Luik.

Estonia hoped to concentrate on establishing a deadline for
the withdrawal of foreign troops in Estonia. Mr Luik, in this
respect, said Estonia would not let itself be pulled into
disputes on "less important problems" and leave the main issue
hanging. Estonia has repeatedly stated that Russian troops
should be withdrawn by the middle of this year. The Russian
position, however, is that troops must stay until the end of
1994, pending the construction of housing for their return.

The working party for economic issues focused on the former
Soviet Union's foreign debt as well as on the USD 80 million
of Estonian assets frozen by the Vneshekonombank in Moscow.
Discussions regarding appendices to a free trade agreement
between the two countries and an accord on investment
protection were at a stalemate. "Disagreements are due to the
different interpretation of the free trade regime," Mr Luik
added. While the appendices to the free trade agreement are
incomplete the agreement cannot be put into effect. The group
for humanitarian issues on January 13 discussed topics
concerning the protection of cultural and historic heritage.

After his return to Estonia, Mr Luik said that Russian
positions have become more rigid. Mr Luik attributed this to
changes within the Russian government, resulting in the
strengthening of some departments and the connection of
questions with political interests. The leader of the Russian
delegation's military work group, Admiral Gromov, declined to
allow international atomic experts to review the atomic
reactor at Paldiski as previously agreed to, stating that it
is a military secret.

An agreement on deporting persons illegally staying in the
territory of the other state was also discussed. According to
Mr Luik, the positions differ on the date from which persons
illegally staying in another state are subject to deportation.
"Russia is of the opinion that the agreement should concern
only those who have arrived after the conclusion of the
agreement," Mr Luik said.

     ESTONIA JOINS CONVENTION BANNING CHEMICAL WEAPONS

On January 14, Estonian Foreign Minister Trivimi Velliste
signed the international Chemical Weapons Convention in Paris.
The 127 nations who signed the convention are obliged not to
use, produce, modify, own, or maintain chemical weapons.

Estonia signed a convention that banned the use of chemical
weapons in 1925. Estonia does not possess any chemical
weapons; Russian military authorities have given no guarantees
regarding chemical weapons of the occupying Soviet army in
Estonia, which are said to have been removed by the
withdrawing forces.

After signing, Mr Velliste spoke about the importance of the
convention in reducing one more weapon of destruction at a
ceremony held in UNESCO headquarters.

While in Paris, Trivimi Velliste held bilateral discussions
with Bulgarian Prime and Foreign Minister Luben Berov and
Indian Foreign Minister Eduardo Faleiro. He also met US
Secretary of the State Lawrence Eagleburger, German Foreign
Minister Klaus Kinkel, Polish Foreign Minister Krzysztof
Skubiszewski, Hungarian Foreign Minister Geza Jeszenszky,
Belorussian Foreign Minister Pyotr Kravchenko, and his Finnish
counterpart Paavo Va"yrynen.

            CSCE MINORITY REPRESENTATIVE IN ESTONIA

On January 12, CSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities,
Max van der Stoel, arrived in Estonia in order to review and
gain an objective picture of the present condition of minority
relations in Estonia. Foreign Minister Trivimi Velliste
described the problems of Russian troop withdrawal from
Estonia, and informed him of the nuances in present
negotiations with Russia. Mr van der Stoel stated his interest
in Estonian citizenship issues, and the status and integration
of immigrants who arrived in Estonia during Soviet occupation.
Mr Velliste expanded on the problems posed by former Soviet
Army and KGB officers in Estonia and the participation of non-
citizens in local elections.

Mr van der Stoel, accompanied by his assistant Rob Zaagman and
professor Alan Rosas, also met with Estonian President Lennart
Meri, who spoke about the present condition of the economy and
foreigners in Estonia. The president stressed that a
difference must be made between those individuals applying for
Estonian citizenship and those individuals who were sent here
by Soviet colonization policies. Mr Meri also explained the
plight of Finno-Ugric peoples in Russia. Mr van der Stoel
expressed his hope that the CSCE delegation will obtain an
objective picture of Estonian national minorities.

On January 15, Mr van der Stoel travelled to Narva and met
with members of the Narva city council and government, deputy
director of the Kohtla-Ja"rve Oil Shale Processing factory and
visited the Viru Information Centre. On the last day of his
visit, Mr van der Stoel also met with the leaders of the
Russian Orthodox church in Tallinn.

     ESTONIA'S AMBASSADORS ABROAD MEET IN TALLINN

On January 16-17, Estonian ambassadors abroad, including
foreign ministry officials and government ministers, convened
in Tallinn for their 2nd meeting which focused on issues
connected with the financing of embassies, organising the work
of the Foreign Ministry and Estonian domestic developments.

Foreign Minister Trivimi Velliste addressed the meeting on the
priorities of the country's foreign policy. Ju"ri Luik, head
of the Estonian delegation for talks with Russia, discussed
Estonian-Russian negotiations and Indrek Kannik, Deputy
Chairman of the "Pro Patria" Riigikogu faction, spoke about
the domestic political scene. The meeting was also attended,
and reports presented, by Minister of Culture and Education
Paul-Eerik Rummo, Minister of Defence Hain Rebas, Director of
the Estonian Border Guard Department Andrus O"o"vel and
Riigikogu member Andres Heinapuu. The first meeting of
Estonia's ambassadors took place last autumn.
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Tapani Hietaniemi, Universitas Helsingiensis
                   urbs fennorum
Newsgroups: talk.politics.soviet