ETHNIC RUSSIANS' PLIGHT WORSE AFTER LATVIA & ESTONIA JOINED EU, RUSSIAN MP WARNS HCNM

MOSCOW, November 9 (RIA Novosti) - Russian ethnic communities in Latvia and Estonia are in an even worse situation than before now that these post-Soviet Baltic countries have joined the European Union. The information came today from Konstantin Kosachev, international affairs committee head at the State Duma, the Russian parliament's lower house. He addressed the media after conference with Rolf Ekeus, High Commissioner for National Minorities (HCNM) on the OSCE, Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe.

"Negative trends have been gaining momentum ever since Latvia and Estonia joined the EU. Hampering interethnic contacts are efforts to pass nazis for heroes and galvanise [allegations of Soviet military] occupation of the Baltics. The situation is not doing honour to those two countries, and promotes radical views among their ethnic minorities," said the MP.

While in conference with Mr. Ekeus, he also discussed ethnic minorities' situation in the Balkans, Transdniestria, and the Georgian-Abkhaz conflict zone, the post-Soviet Baltics remaining in the centre of their agenda.

Russia is an influential country, and OSCE activities need its support, Rolf Ekeus said, in his turn. He is taking a lively interest in reforms underway in Russia, the federal top's policies in the provinces, and the impact those policies may have on ethnic minorities in this country, the HCNM added.