VZCZCXRO9979
RR RUEHAG RUEHDA RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHLN RUEHLZ
RUEHROV RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHTL #0439 1301445
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 101445Z MAY 06
FM AMEMBASSY TALLINN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8581
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS TALLINN 000439 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV EN
SUBJECT: ESTONIA: VE DAY REMAINS DIVISIVE 
 
 
¶1. On May 8 approximately 200 World War II veterans 
gathered at Tallinn's Maarjamae memorial to mark the 
anniversary of the end of the war.  The event was 
organized by the Estonian War Veterans Association, an 
umbrella group that includes veterans associations from 
both Soviet and German units.  Defense Minister Jurgen 
Ligi laid a wreath commemorating all of Estonia's war 
dead.  In the event, the vast majority of participants 
were veterans of German units.  Ligi reportedly told the 
group their fight against the advancing Red Army in 1944 
was "a fight for Estonia's freedom."  Speakers included 
MPs Mart Laar and Trivimi Velliste. 
 
¶2. On May 9 an estimated 600 people (mostly Russian- 
speakers) gathered at a Red Army monument ("the bronze 
soldier") in downtown Tallinn to celebrate Victory Day. 
The Russian Ambassador laid a wreath at the monument. 
While the event was largely peaceful there were minor 
confrontations between participants and two Estonian 
protesters, one of whom paraded around the gathering 
with a poster reading "This soldier occupied our country 
and deported our people."  The Estonian flag of the 
second was apparently desecrated and the police escorted 
both men away for their own safety. 
 
¶3. The Pro Patria Union faction of the Tallinn City 
Council submitted a bill at the beginning of May which 
calls for the removal of the Red Army monument from its 
present location.  A fringe group that includes the 
instigator of the short-lived Lihula SS memorial, Tiit 
Madisson, said on May 10 that the "Bronze SoQier" will 
"no longer be standing" on the next anniversary of 
Estonian indepedence.  The group did not specify how it 
would accomplish its goal, nor is this the first time 
that more nationalistically-inclined Estonians have 
sought the monument?s removal. 
 
¶4. Comment: This year's commemorations were lower-key 
affairs than the 2005 60th anniversary celebrations. 
But reconciling the competing views of history will 
remain a challenge for Estonia -- at least as long as 
there are surviving veterans. 
 
WOS