Russian MP praises Russian-Estonian relations

Irina Hakamada, deputy speaker of Russia's State Duma, said last week that Estonia's Reform-Center party coalition has made clear improvements in the country's foreign policy stance toward Russia in the last six months.

Edgar Savisaar, chairman of the Center Party and Tallinn's mayor, met Hakamada during her unofficial visit to Tallinn on May 30.

Hakamada, a member of the right-wing bloc in the Duma, spent three days in Estonia last week following an invitation by the Baltic Russian Research Center.

"We are witnessing positive changes in Estonia's 'Eastern' policy and see a firm foreign policy strategy led by the Savisaar-headed coalition," said Hakamada.

She also said it would be possible to scrap the double customs tariffs on Estonian goods that have been hampering Estonian-Russian business relations.

"According to my information a bill has already reached the Duma (to do that)," she said.

Hakamada said she did not believe Russia would obstruct Estonia's membership in NATO or the European Union.

"Russia itself is now more willing to become closer to those organizations," she said.

Anatoli Chubais and Yegor Gaidar, Hakamada's colleagues from the right-wing parliamentary bloc, expressed similar opinions during earlier visits to Estonia.

Rein Taagepera, head of the recently formed Estonian party Res Publica, and Hakamada agreed during talks that there was now a unique chance to further improve relationships between Russia and Estonia.

"A decade ago the chance was missed, but we can try again today," said Taagepera.

But statements from Hakamada and her Estonian counterparts drew criticism from former Foreign Minister Toomas Hendrik Ilves.

"Who is running Estonian foreign policy then?," he asked rhetorically. "The prime minister, the foreign minister or maybe Tallinn's mayor?"

He also called the statement that legislation was en route to cancel double customs tariffs as nonsense.

"Abolition requires an agreement between the two countries," said Ilves.

Relationships between the two countries were also boosted slightly last week after a delegation from Moscow's city administration was in Tallinn for the unveiling of a monument to Russian writer Fyodor Dostoyevski, who lived in Tallinn in the 1840's.

Alexander Muzykantski, head of Moscow's information department, signed a memorandum on cooperation between Moscow and Tallinn on May 31, and there are unconfirmed reports that Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov will visit Estonia later this year.