VZCZCXRO4095
RR RUEHAG RUEHDF RUEHIK RUEHLZ RUEHROV
DE RUEHTL #0598 2541431
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 111431Z SEP 07
FM AMEMBASSY TALLINN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0169
INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS

UNCLAS TALLINN 000598 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PREL EU EN
SUBJECT: EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT PRESIDENT OFFERS SUPPORT 
FOR ESTONIA'S LANGUAGE REFORMS 
 
 
¶1. (U) Summary:  In August, President of the European 
Parliament Hans-Gert Poettering visited Estonia to 
discuss the GOE's language and integration reform 
efforts for the Russian-speaking minority.  Poettering 
met with representatives of Estonia's Russian-speaking 
community as well as President Ilves, Prime Minister 
Ansip and key Parliamentarians.  Poettering publicly 
commended the GOE's integration efforts -- in 
particular its language reforms in Russian-speaking 
schools -- and mildly chastised Russia's refusal to 
acknowledge its history in regards to Soviet 
occupation of the Baltic States.  End Summary. 
 
Russian-Speaking Minority Integration 
------------------------------------- 
 
¶2. (U) According to Anneli Entson, Advisor to Speaker 
of the Estonian Parliament Ene Ergma, the principal 
purpose of Poettering's August 14-17 visit was to hear 
the views of representatives of Estonia's Russian- 
speaking minority on the European Union (EU) and life 
in Estonia.  Poettering met with leaders from the 
"Russian Party", Russian-speaking members of the 
Center Party, business leaders, and different cultural 
associations in Narva.  (Note:  Narva is Estonia's 
third largest city.  It is located on the border with 
Russia and its population is 98% Russian-speaking. 
End Note.)  Poettering told the press that his 
meetings confirmed that Estonia's Russian speakers see 
their future in Estonia and the EU. 
 
¶3. (U) While some Russian speakers complained to 
Pottering about the Estonian language test requirement 
for citizenship, Poettering commended the GOE's 
promotion of Estonian language in Russian-speaking 
high schools as an important tool for integrating the 
Russian-speaking minority.  He encouraged Russian 
speakers to fully integrate themselves as Estonian and 
European citizens.  Entson said that Poettering's 
support for Estonia's language reforms was extremely 
important in light of renewed accusations from Moscow 
on Estonian "mistreatment" of the Russian-speaking 
minority. 
 
Europe's Relations With Russia 
------------------------------ 
 
¶3. (U) In their meetings with Poettering, senior GOE 
and Parliament officials (e.g., President Ilves, Prime 
Minister Ansip, Speaker Ergma, and other officials) 
discussed the EU's relations with Russia. 
Parliamentary Speaker Ergma thanked Poettering for the 
European Parliament's support during the Bronze 
Soldier crisis in April.  Ergma stressed the need for 
the EU to strengthen its common policies vis-a-vis 
Russia, especially with regard to energy security. 
Ergma said the EU must take a stand on its democratic 
principles and not sacrifice them for 
economic/national self-interest.  President Ilves told 
Poettering that it is crucial for Europe to speak with 
one voice and for EU member states to demonstrate more 
solidarity when dealing with Moscow.  Poettering 
agreed that there is a lack of unity in the EU on 
Russia. 
 
¶4. (U) In his comments to the press, Poettering 
chastised Moscow for its refusal to acknowledge the 
suffering of Estonia and the other Baltic States 
during the period of Soviet occupation.  "Life under 
the communist dictatorship left a very strong mark on 
Estonians," Poettering told the Estonian press, "[and] 
that understanding, I think, is not very widespread in 
Russia."  Poettering called on Russia to deal honestly 
with its history.  Jaanus Rahumagi, MP and member of 
the parliamentary Estonia-U.S.A Group, hailed 
Poettering's visit as an example of the European 
Parliament's consistent support for Estonia. 
Poettering's positive assessment of Estonia's 
integration efforts and criticism of Russia's refusal 
to honestly deal with its history went over well with 
his GOE and parliamentary hosts.  Our MFA 
interlocutors have told us that they hope this message 
from such a high-level EU official will counter some 
of Moscow's "anti-Estonian" press. 
 
DECKER