Azerbaijan, Baku / corr. Trend A.Gasimova / The Director for the Center for Defense Research of Estonia, Editor-in-Chief of Diplomaatia magazine, Kadry Liyk, considers that Estonia will not make sanctions with regards to Russia, but the Russian sanctions of Estonia will be raised in the European Union and World Trade Organisations.
Liyk said by telephone on 4 May that NATO had made a very brutal statement requiring Russia to give up its interference in the internal affairs of Estonia and ensure order around the embassy. "We will support our position in the international organizations. But I do not know if the Council of Europe wishes to do anything," she said.
The tension in relations between Russia and Estonia resulted from the decision of the Estonian Government to dismantle the Monument of Military-Rescuer in Tallinn. In the evening of 27 April, together with a mass demonstration, the dead bodies of the Soviet soldiers kept in the memorial chamber were exhumed in the capital of Estonia. Over the last few days, the activists of the Russian youth movements 'Ours', 'Local' and 'Young Guard' have been holding demonstrations in front of the Embassy of Estonia in Moscow to protest against the destruction of the monument. In addition, the young activists tried to interrupt the press-conference of the Estonian Ambassador to Russia.
"Nothing will happen with the monument, it stays and will stay there. Nobody will return it to its previous place and the local Russian inhabitants have already agreed with this. The wreaths in front of the monument will be laid on 8 May by the Estonian Government and diplomats who work in Estonia," she said. With regards to the situation around the Estonian Embassy in Moscow, Moscow police and its officials should take measures to prevent this. "Naturally Russia will use this episode everywhere for defamation of Estonia. But the main issue is the relations between the Estonians and Russians in Estonia. It needs to calmly explain to people why it has been done and that it is not against anybody and was not made to insult the memories of the victims of the World War II," she added.
Touching upon the ban to import Estonian commodities, Liyk called this a short-sighted action. Russia can not impose a ban on the import of the Estonian commodities. Estonian entrepreneurs have already got into a habit to pass on such obstacles.
Terminating the sale of Estonian commodities was broadcastby the networks of Russian supermarkets 'Sedmoy Continent', 'Kopeyka' and 'Samokhval'. The boycotting of Estonian commodities was also mentioned by the Mayor of Moscow, Yuri Lujkov. The State Duma of Russia required the Government to impose economic sanctions against Estonia.
Last year the trade turnover between Estonia and Russia increased by 80% and amounted to nearly € 1.5 bln.