"The post-Soviet Baltics' stances are of importance for future Russia-EU relations. They may regard their admission to the European Union as a painkiller for their bitter reminiscences [of the Soviet years]. In that instance, they will quickly overcome their initial euphoria of EU membership, and use the EU as an umbrella to make domestic political improvements and get going a fruitful dialogue with Russia. In the Latvian and Estonian context, that would also imply giving up anti-Russian rhetoric and discrimination of ethnic minorities.
"That stance would allow to fully de-block those countries' relations with Russia. It also promises benefits of such bilateral relations and an improvement of their public ratings in the partnerly West. The West will see then that to report to Brussels on alleged Moscow intrigues is not the only thing Riga and Tallinn can do-that they can use on their own the opportunities to make it up with Russia. Last but not least, the developments will cancel interethnic confrontation among the Latvian and Estonian public," says Mikhail Demurin.
The diplomat, in charge of Russo-Latvian relations, could not appear at the conference to make his communication. Latvian authorities refused him an entry visa, May 19. Latvia's NGO Baltic Forum had invited Mr. Demurin to attend the conference, which concerns Russia's and Latvia's place in 21st century Europe.
