Estonian PM concerned about prospect of Putin staying in power in Russia

Nordic and Baltic prime ministers meet in Oslo

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Estonian Prime Minister Andrus Ansip feels that everyone should be concerned about developments in Russia.
      "Naturally I am worried about the way things are developing in Russia. Only three years ago the state accounted for 50 per cent of the Russian national economy: now it is 70 per cent.", Ansip said in the Norwegian capital Oslo, where the prime ministers of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania met on Monday to along with their colleagues from the five Nordic countries.
      The leaders of the Baltic countries were nevertheless cautious in their statements on how the possible ascension of President Vladimir Putin to the post of Prime Minister after his presidency runs out might affect the situation in the Baltic States.
      "Let's see what happens in March. Today we can only speculate, and that is not the job of a prime minister", said Lithuania's Prime Minister Gediminas Kirkilas.
      Latvia's leader was also cautious.
      "Nobody can predict what will happen in the elections for the Duma and the Presidency. We are open to cooperation", said Prime Minister Aigars Kalvitis.
     
Only Ansip would ponder the implications of Putin staying in power.
      "Some say that it would bring stability to Russia, but I would prefer democracy", Ansip says.
      "It is hard to talk about, say, freedom of the press in connection with Russia nowadays."
      Ansip emphasised Estonia's desire for good relations.
      "We would want good, pragmatic relations with all of our neighbours, and I hope that some day we will have those kinds of relations with Russia", Ansip said.
     
The topic of relations with Russia was not the main issue in the official part of the summit meeting of eight countries. Climate change dominated a one-hour discussion involving the prime ministers of the Baltic countries, as well as those of Finland, Sweden, Norway and Iceland. Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen was at home, taking part in his country's ongoing election campaign.
      A discussion on Russia was scheduled for the dinner hosted later by Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg.
      In recent years the prime ministers of the Nordic and Baltic countries have held a meeting in connection with the annual meeting of the Nordic Council. Hundreds of Parliamentarians, civil servants, and a number of ministers from the five Nordic Countries have convened in Oslo this week for the annual session.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Estonian Foreign Minister wants Russia-Germany gas pipeline to run on land (29.10.2007)
  Finnish PM denounces Russian demands for resignation of Estonian government (2.5.2007)

Helsingin Sanomat