Moscow creates a dangerous precedent
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Maxim.10 Sep 2005 13:31
It's in the bag for the Russians this time, because the precedent for large migration in Europe, together with issuing appropriate laws to succour these new immigrants is really a non-negotiable issue. Estonia has satisfied the general requirement for being "open" about immigration, by not insisting that the citizens of other nationalities than Estonian who wish to remain in Estonia may freely do so. However, I think the catch-22 of this argument is; what and how much compromise on language? It is on this vague point that Estonia will find it extremely difficult to convince the EU that only Estonian should remain the primary language. I think that the EU expects Estonia to be more lenient towards the Russians, but if anyone has any strong reasons to the contrary, it would be good to hear those opinions. However, I am quite concerned that we are in for a major capitulation to the Russians on this issue...
To Maxim13 Sep 2005 07:13
It's not as black and white as Maxim makes it out to be. The Russians in the diaspora, approx 25 million and not all Russian citizens, have already demonstrated a proclivity to converse in the English language as opposed to Estonian, Latvian - the indigenous language of their coyuntry of residence. It's perceived as the language of business oprtunity. Even the Russian language will soon become of secondary importance for them. It stil creates a problem for the host country, but a different problem than the one Maxim hypothesizes.
Maxim.13 Sep 2005 22:37
Your point is correct, but you missunderstand that Europe is a place of its own traditions, and the problem is this; to what extent (and inversely how much) is Estonia and the EU willing to permit traditional local inhabitants of a territory feel safely within their own language and cultural zone. Yes, Russians are quick to learn English to their advantage, but that's no different to Estonian's feeling the need to adopt English as their new language when they went to Canada. The point is-Damocles' sword hangs over Estonia constantly, and one wrong move on the part of the EU and our fairfeathered leaders in Brussels could bring the entire pack of cards tumbling to pieces.
NN17 Oct 2005 00:47
hat stance - which has no basis in international law

Not true. One might recall the attitude of
Federal Republic of Germany to GDR citizens, or attitude of Israel to Jews anuwhere.

The only way to reject the right of Russia
to the same atttude is plain racism, which
is of course quite popular in Estonia.


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