Res Publica refuses to vote on treaty ratification

  • 2005-06-15
  • By TBT staff

TALLINN - Parliament's oppositional Res Publica faction decided to withdraw from a vote over ratifying the Estonian-Russian border treaties 's one for land and the other for water - on June 15.


The party finds that an interruption of the second reading would allow more consultations to be held this week, which would best ensure the protection of Estonia's national interests, a party spokesman said.

If an agreement can be reached, Res Publica said it would vote in favor of ratification during an extraordinary session of Parliament next week.

Endorsement of the treaties requires 68 "yes" votes. Res Publica has 28 votes, and the Pro Patria Union, another conservative opposition party that has decided to vote against ratification, has seven seats in the 101-seat legislature