Head of Narva City Administration
Subject: “Russian city administration head in the Estonian Republic”
The conference was held on May 22, 2007 from 01:00 p.m. to 02:00 p.m. Moscow time. It is a joint project of REGNUM News Agency and Echo Moskvy in St. Petersburg Radio.
What Russian-language residents of Narva think of the April-May events in Tallinn and transfer of the Bronze Soldier Monument? Was there any need to act so tough? — Igor
There are as many opinions as people; it is hard to draw a single opinion. But the action to cover the Common Grave with granite apparently during the May holidays can be cited as an indicative one. There is still no ambiguous assessment. There is a feeling that everything was not well-considered, not only by the police and those who were standing near the monument, but by the government as well.
Please, say how the events in Estonia with the monument and limits on traffic via the Ivangorod-Narva bridge are related. Today, as far as I understand, the question of traffic on the bridge is discussed on the level of Russian and Estonian officials. — Yuri
The bridge belongs to Narva. And there are no technical problems concerning limits on weight. I am curious too what they reveal after today's meeting.
Mikhail, have you ever thought of Estonian North-West obtaining autonomy? At least, a cultural and economic one. — Alexander, Moscow
The question was widely discussed before the elections. The law on cultural autonomy cites all advantages that autonomy gives. I can say that Narva already has all those advantages. But apart from advantages, autonomy results in establishing one more bureaucratic institution.
Why, do you think, when Finland was obtaining independence it chose the Swedish language as an official one with only 6% of Swedish-language people. And the number of Russian-language people in the Baltic countries is much higher. Why Russian cannot be the second official language? The second question is about the same issue: many cities in Ukraine adopted laws giving the status of regional official language to Russian in accordance with the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. Has Estonia signed the charter and is it possible in Estonia? — Anton, Veliky Novgorod
The European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages does have the point. But the matter there concerns, first of all, usage of the language in cultural sphere. It does not settle the problem of using Russian in official documents. If we take the situation as realists and take into account the balance of powers in the parliament, I can say that in the near future the Russian language as the second official one is practically impossible.
Mikhail, what is KaPo’s (Security Police of Estonia - REGNUM) role in Estonia’s political life? — Vladimir, St. Petersburg
Well, I think that if someone could tell me what is FSB’s role (Federal Security Service in Russia - REGNUM) and I could say what is KaPo’s role, it would not be a matter of secret institutions but a matter of a common governmental body. We can see results of the Secret Police working, but one cannot say how it affects he political life of the country. It cannot be seen in any country, where secret services are working professionally.
Whom will Estonia choose, with whom will it be, Russia or the West? — Alyona
Estonia’s future is undoubtedly with the West. But if we think of what is going on in the world, I think the world soon will think with whom Russia will be. In the foreseeable future we can speak of common future. We have close cultural and economic ties with Russia, but Estonia is firmly oriented towards the West. There are politicians in Estonia, who believe that all ties must be broken, and to come to another stage of more independence from Russia. Let’s see how the recent events in Estonia would reflect upon its economy. Then there will be a decision.
I read an interview of yours once and you said that Ansip was one of Estonia’s most successful prime ministers. After the April events, do you still think so? — Leonid, Riga
I believe that Ansip had been the most successful prime minister till last (I need to stress it) March-April: the government was working smoothly, the country was developing fast. Until Ansip became involved in the purely nationalistic politics, he had been the best. The situation changed when he decided to start resolving ethnic issues.
Please, say how people after the Tallinn events look at each other in Estonia? The fragile unity of Russian and Estonians that appeared for the 15 years of the regular life was ruined after the events, as people say? People are now looking at each other whether it is Russian or Estonian — Nikolai, St. Petersburg
There is nothing of the kind in everyday life. The question is possibly connected that you read publications in the internet. If you read comments on internet sites, there is an impression that everything is awful. In the everyday life people do understand that if something irretrievable happened, it was not our fault.
Is Russian response to the events in Tallinn adequate? As far as I understand, there has been no official reaction to the events around the Bronze Soldier Monument, there was a series of civil actions and calls not to eat Estonian foodstuffs. What the Russian Diaspora in Estonia thinks of the actions taken by the Russian side? — Nikolai
I cannot speak on behalf of the Diaspora in general, only on behalf of the people with whom I discussed the situation. The only conclusion we have come to is if Russia posed the task of saving the Ansip government in this situation and prevent it from resigning, Russia fulfilled it by 100%. I mean, it is strange not to understand what reaction the statement of the Russian State Duma members, who believed that Ansip was to resign, could cause.
All the measures taken in economy regarding suspension of oil transit, some problems with foodstuffs mostly affected the Russian-language population. Suspend the transit – yes, Estonia is suffering, but thousands of Russians, who are mostly employed in this sphere, will lose their jobs. A disguised embargo can be introduced on Estonian goods, but it will affect the two thirds of the Russian population in north-western Estonia.
Mikhail, how did the recent events around the Bronze Soldier influence upon Narva, the largest Russian-speaking Estonian city? Do you feel any pressure? — Andrei Igorevich, St. Petersburg
As early as yesterday I would say “no,” because it impossible to exert pressure upon me: I am not a functionary, I was elected by the people and this is a must for the next four years after the election. But yesterday the whole Estonia learned that our parliament handed over to Tartu University the territory in central Narva, in the downtown, near the City Hall. The stand-off has lasted for a year and a half. To remind, the university is going to construct a new building under a completely ugly plan categorically opposed by the whole city. The case is now being treated in the court. But instead of awaiting a court verdict, the parliament handed over the territory to the university. During the discussion of the question concerning handing over a territory in the city, be it a state territory, the municipality was not invited. If it happens and under a court verdict we have to issue permission for the construction, it means the old Narva will never be restored. I think, at present moment, it is the brightest example of pressure upon Narva. Narva had its word, but they decided to push it through. If they resort to a policy of forceful imposing their own opinion instead of negotiating, it is a bright example of pressure.
