Estonian foreign minister: Visit of parliament panel to Russia is unthinkable

TALLINN - According to Estonian Foreign Minister Sven Mikser Estonia's foreign political course has not changed and he considers unthinkable the plan introduced by the chairman of the parliamentary finance committee Mihhail Stalnuhhin to visit Moscow to set up contacts with colleagues in the State Duma, the daily Eesti Paevaleht reports.

"I consider it to be unthinkable in a situation where the European Union has implemented financial sanctions against Russia, among other things. I see no good that can come to Estonia from this visit, and it would only diminish the message of the Estonian state as well as the joint position of Europe," Mikser said.

"The position of Stalnuhhin that the European Union sanctions implemented against Russia due to the aggression against Ukraine are a catastrophe is especially inappropriate and totally contradicts with the Estonian government's position. On the contrary, the EU's common position regarding Russia's aggression against Ukraine and the illegal annexation of Crimea have stopped the Putin regime going even further with the realization of its expansionist ambitions," Mikser said.

Mikser said that although Estonia is a parliamentary country where the government cannot dictate to MPs what they should and should not do, he advises all members of the finance committee to vote against Stalnuhhin's plan to visit Russia.

Stalnuhhin on Monday proposed setting up bilateral relations with the Russian State Duma's budget committee by making visits for improving the situation of the transit and logistics sector.

"I think that not yet in the spring but most likely in the late fall a change will take place in the European Union's relationship with Russia. Then those will succeed who are there first," Stalnuhhin said.