Estonian Prime Minister Andrus Ansip had ominous words for the agreement the Center Party and the People's Union signed on Aug. 14.
"The cooperation agreement of the People's Union and the Center Party...shows that desires to revert the economic system that has guaranteed Estonia's success have not disappeared," Ansip, chairman of the Reform Party, told the daily Postimees. He said the agreement showed what Estonia could look forward to if the Center Party and People's Union manage to gain power for themselves alone. "The picture is quite threatening -- to discard the present tax system would bring very serious consequences," Ansip said. Ansip said that observing the agreement meant Estonia would have to drop out of NATO and change its defense policy. "Such a scenario has been written into the point, which says that members of the Estonian defense forces take part in international missions only in the condition of a United Nations mandate," he said. "As we know the main principle of NATO solidarity is one for all, all for one -- the basic NATO treaty lays down the obligation of mutual defense without any UN resolutions." Ansip said Estonia would be unable to act as a NATO country if it followed the two parties' plan. "If earlier we had to negotiate important issues with two parties, then in the future we can do it with one partner," he said. But the prime minister added that if the present agreement of the Reform Party, the Center Party and the People's Union was observed, the coalition would hold. "But if there are violations, nothing can be ruled out," he said.
