Moscow may return to ratification of Estonian-Russian border treaty

MOSCOW - Moscow is prepared to return to the ratification of the Estonian-Russian border treaty when bilateral relations are constructive, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Tuesday.

"When the treaty was in the State Duma foreign affairs committee and the matter was discussed there, rhetoric was heard from Tallinn which was absolutely not suited for the continuation of the process and which earned the resentment of our public," Lavrov told a press conference in Moscow.

He said that "Russia is ready to return to the process of ratification, our Duma deputies have spoken about it on repeated occasions."

"They feel the spirit of the voters, they will decide," the minister added.

"We support this process, but under conditions where relations are developing in a constructive key, not in an atmosphere of constant whipping up of tensions," Lavrov said.