MOSCOW, May 7 (RIA Novosti) - Russia is ready to sign a border-demarcation treaty with Estonia, reads a statement by the Russian Foreign Ministry's spokesman Alexander Yakovenko on its official web site."This may happen during the Estonian Foreign Minister's May 18 Moscow visit," Yakovenko noted. As far as Latvia is concerned, serious complications have arisen in connection with the approval of the so-called "explanatory declaration" by the Government of Latvia. This document essentially voices territorial claims to Russia," Yakovenko noted. Russia will not sign the border-demarcation treaty, unless Latvia disavows this declaration," Yakovenko stressed.
Estonian President Arnold Ruutel said in an interview to the Postimees newspaper that Estonia could mend relations with modern Russia because the legacy of the past should not entangle the country's present and future.
According to Ruutel, time is ripe for new relations with Russia, now that the war has ended 60 years ago.
