TALLINN - Russia's concerted diplomatic efforts over the past week to get the European community to censor Estonia was largely ineffective, though the stage was set for the Soviet war memorial and grave to become a key issue at the upcoming EU-Russia summit in Samara.
The European Parliament adopted a resolution May 10 in support of Estonia, calling on the EU's executive branches to "demonstrate solidarity with Estonia and speak with one voice in the context of recent events in Tallinn." MEPs also called on Russia to observe the Vienna Convention and protect Estonia's diplomatic corps in Moscow.
Hans-Gert Pottering, president of the European Parliament, made a statement in support of Estonia, stressing that, for many nations, May 9 symbolized the beginning of communist tyranny.
Images of Estonia's Embassy in Moscow under a blockade and news of an all-out cyber attack on Estonian government Web sites had a profound effect on many Europeans. As Joseph Daul, chairman of the EPP-ED parliamentary group, said May 10, "We are all Estonians now."
Russia responded the next day, as Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov warned that events in Tallinn could influence relations with the EU and NATO. He criticized Western nations for giving "their tacit approval" to Estonia's attempts to "equal the heroism of soldier-liberators and the crimes of Nazis" and "rewrite history."
Lavrov demanded that Estonia's allies in Europe and transatlantic organizations in particular, including the Council of Europe and OSCE, give an "adequate assessment of the Estonian authorities' activity."
He reiterated that "Russia, which has paid a terrible price for the victory over fascism, cannot remain indifferent to developments, in which sacred historical memory is turned into a hostage of the moment's political demands."
The outrage, while not unnoticed, seems to have had minimal or no effect. NATO has already expressed its unequivocal support for Estonia, which joined the alliance in 2004, while EU leaders tried to diffuse the tension on the eve of the May 18 summit.
"It will be a difficult summit, but we will go through with it," said Frank-Walter Steinmeier, foreign minister of Germany, which currently holds the rotating EU presidency.
Estonia is just one of the many issues that currently plague EU-Russia relations. Others include the ban of Polish meat, a possible missile shield in Central Europe and the EU's sharp criticism of human rights violations in Russia.
"While many accusations are justified, we should be talking with each other about them," said Steinmeier. "On both sides reason should prevail."
In the words of EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana, "We need to lower the temperature and reduce the tensions."
Russia, however, was determined to raise the issue of the Bronze Soldier, which now stands in its new location in the Defense Forces cemetery, some two miles from Tonismagi. A ceremony marking the re-interment of 12 Red Army officers and soldiers will take place in June.
Interfax cited a Kremlin source as saying that the World War II monument "is a politicized issue that will have its place at the summit." The source said that 90 percent of the summit would be devoted to discussion of bilateral issues, while 10 percent would go to the situation with Estonia, the missile shield and Polish meat.
The source confirmed Moscow's disappointment in the EU's position. "If, while supporting Estonia, Brussels had said that the outcome of World War II and history in general could not be reviewed, Russia would have taken this differently," the source said.
Still, President Vladimir Putin and other Russians will have no small amount of explaining to do in Samara. During the debate in the European Parliament, Marianne Mikko, an MEP with the Socialist Party, pointed out that the computer attacks on Estonia had originated in Russia.
"Estonia was able to fend off the attack, but instigation by Russia is an act of aggression which must not be left without reaction," she said, adding that the EU must treat the cyber attack against Estonia as an attack on the entire EU.
"This has to be talked about with the Russians in Samara in a clear language," Mikko said.
In the future, Russia may find more open ears in the Council of Europe, which is known for its non-politicized approach to human rights issues. During the riots in Tallinn, president of the council's parliamentary assembly, Rene van der Linden, expressed regret for the decision.
"I understand that the monument is controversial as it symbolizes…painful moments of Estonia and Russia's past. Precisely because of this, the soldiers that this memorial commemorates should have been left to rest in peace rather than being used as a political tool," van der Linden said.
The PACE president urged Estonia's government "to respect the feelings of all those living in their country."
Russia raised the Bronze Soldier issue at the Council of Europe's Committee of Ministers meeting on May 10 - 11, but other than a resolution opaquely mentioning the prevention of "extremism" and moving beyond "the wounds of the past," the effort had no affect.
The Kremlin source also denied reports that Russia intended to impose sanctions on Estonia, a move that would invoke a strong response from Europe. "No instructions have been issued to sanction Estonia," Interfax quoted the source as saying. "We have limited opportunities to pressure Estonia."
Still, evidence showed that there was significant pressure being applied on the private sector in Russia not to do business with Estonia. (See story on page 5.)
