Ansip backs Britain

2008-01-17
By Mike Collier

TALLINN 's Estonian Prime Minister Andrus Ansip has condemned the actions of the Russian government in its attempts to shut down offices of the British Council in Russia.

"What is currently happening in Russia with the British Council is not acceptable to the civilised world," he said.

The Prime Minister gave recognition to the role of the British Council in spreading the English language and British culture over the world, and noted that every host country where the council is operating benefits from it. "Estonia has received a lot of help via the British Council, from which Estonians and Russian-speaking residents of Estonia have benefited," he noted.

According to the Prime Minister, the sanctions applied against the British Council in Russia will be detrimental mainly to Russians eager to study British culture and language.

Andrus Ansip expressed his regret that the behaviour of Russia towards the British diplomats has been in contravention of both international communication principles and practice. "The fact that the British Ambassador has been persecuted for a long time, and his actions hindered by the Nashists, is consistent neither with diplomatic etiquette or the Vienna Convention."

Andrus Ansip has notified the British Prime Minister Gordon Brown of the Estonian position as well.

Russian authorities say that British Council offices in the country are operating illegally and do not have the necessary licences and other paperwork to carry out their activities. The British government denies this, saying that the British Council conforms to international norms with regard to cultural institutions.

Protestors have recently picketed both the Estonian and British embassies.