Estonian President Kersti Kaljulaid called for the ratification of the border treaty with Russia.

The politician said this during a ski patrol along the Estonian-Russian control line, in which Kaljulaid took part.

"I am one of those who have always thought that it is important to conclude a border agreement (with Russia. -

RT

), but the other side must be ready for this," the newspaper Postimees quotes the Estonian leader.

Kaljulaid added that now it is Russia's turn to respond to Tallinn's desire to ratify the document.

Earlier, Estonian Foreign Minister Eva-Maria Liimets also raised the issue of ratifying the border treaty with Russia.

According to the minister, it is in Tallinn's long-term interests to have good relations with Moscow.

  • Kersti Kaljulaid during a ski patrol at the eastern border

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  • © Kersti Kaljulaid

“I am convinced that the ratification of the signed border treaty by Estonia and Russia continues to be in the interests of Estonia,” Liimets said in her speech at the Estonian Parliament on 16 February.

The minister added that the government is fundamentally ready to move forward on this issue and supports the border agreement signed in 2014 between the two countries.

According to Liimets, the ratification will help establish stability and predictability in bilateral relations with Russia.

However, as experts emphasize, the statements of the Estonian leadership alone are not enough for real progress on the issue of border demarcation.

“If the statements are followed by real steps, Moscow will welcome this.

But so far, Estonia does not see a comprehensive readiness to ratify the treaty, only the opinions of individual politicians are heard, "said Vladimir Shapovalov, deputy director of the Institute of History and Politics at Moscow State Pedagogical University, in a commentary on RT.

A similar point of view is shared by Dmitry Lanko, Associate Professor at the Department of European Studies, St. Petersburg State University.

“If the Estonian leadership calls for the elimination of the differences between Russia and Estonia, then this can only be welcomed.

However, Moscow will not take concrete steps yet, you should first look at what Tallinn is ready to do in practice, ”the expert explained in an interview with RT.

Insurmountable differences

Let us recall that after the collapse of the USSR and Estonia's independence, the delimitation and demarcation of the Estonian-Russian border was never carried out.

This is still hindered by Tallinn's position on the Tartu Peace Treaty: the Estonian side believes that the document signed in 1920 is valid to this day.

The Treaty of Tartu was signed by Estonia and the RSFSR in 1920 in the city of Yuryev (after joining Estonia, the city began to be called Tartu. -

RT

) and put an end to the military conflict that was waged in those years between supporters of the "red" and "white".

The first were helped by Soviet Russia, their opponents - the Entente and the forces of General Yudenich.

Under the terms of the treaty, Estonia gained independence, and parts of the modern Pskov and Leningrad regions of Russia were also transferred to it.

For its part, Estonia pledged not to present Russia with any claims arising from the fact of its previous stay in the empire.

  • Signing of the Tartu Peace Treaty in 1920

  • © Wikimedia

However, in 1940, Estonia became part of the USSR, becoming the Soviet Socialist Republic.

As a result, the Tartu Peace Treaty became invalid, and the Russian territories obtained under its terms by the Estonian side were returned to the RSFSR with the consent of Tallinn.

However, the modern Estonian authorities believe that the Tartu Peace Treaty did not terminate.

This position is even enshrined in the basic law of the republic, which says that "Estonia's land border is established by the Tartu Peace Treaty of February 2, 1920 and other interstate border treaties."

And the ratification of treaties that change the borders of the state requires the support of two-thirds of the national parliament - the Riigikogu.

The Russian side rejects Tallinn's attempts to declare the Treaty of Tartu a valid document.

As the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova said earlier, after Estonia became part of the USSR, the document became invalid and now it is absent from the register of the UN international treaties in force.

In addition, the entry of the Baltic republics into the USSR was not questioned by the international agreements reached following the results of the Second World War.

"The final line in this matter was drawn by the Final Act of the Helsinki Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe," the Foreign Ministry said in a commentary.

In 2005, Moscow and Tallinn were able to find a compromise and sign an agreement on the state border.

However, then the Estonian parliament retroactively introduced an indirect reference to the Soviet "annexation" of Estonia in the preamble of the document, and a phrase about the relevance of the Tartu Peace Treaty appeared in the ratification documents.

Moscow responded by withdrawing its signature from the border agreement.

Subsequently, the parties returned to negotiations on the border.

In February 2014, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and his Estonian colleague (then Urmas Paet held the post of Estonian Foreign Minister) signed a new agreement on the state border and delimitation of the sea space in the Narva and the Gulfs of Finland.

The documents were sent for ratification to the RF State Duma and the Estonian parliament.

However, the ratification process has stalled on both sides.

The situation in Estonia was aggravated by the fact that the Conservative People's Party of Estonia (Eesti Konservatiivne Rahvaerakond, EKRE) joined the ruling coalition following the 2019 elections, which opposes any "concessions" on the territorial issue.

In turn, as Sergey Belyaev, director of the Second European Department of the Russian Foreign Ministry, explained in the fall of 2019, Moscow was forced to suspend the ratification process of the document amid statements by a number of Estonian politicians appealing to the Treaty of Tartu.

  • Sergey Lavrov and Urmas Paet

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  • © VASILY MAXIMOV

Experts believe that the position of a part of the Estonian political elite precisely on the issue of the Treaty of Tartu prevents the countries from finally officially approving the state border.

“Tallinn's desire to include a mention of the Treaty of Tartu in the border treaty is the main obstacle that has prevented the countries from reaching an agreement over the past decades.

The treaty does not exist and is neither a historical nor a legal basis for claims against Russia.

However, the Estonian side expects to legitimize its territorial claims through the Tartu Treaty issue.

And if this approach is not revised, the border treaty will never be ratified, ”Vladimir Shapovalov is sure.

Dmitry Lanko adheres to a similar point of view.

“The problem is symbolic, and the disagreement over the Tartu Treaty is still insurmountable.

However, it is important to note that, despite all the contradictions, Moscow and Tallinn still continue to conduct a dialogue on this issue, ”the expert said.

"The basis of Estonian statehood"

In turn, the right-wing populists in the Estonian parliament make it clear that they will not allow the ratification of the border treaty.

This was previously stated by the deputy chairman of EKRE and member of the parliamentary commission for international affairs Mart Helme.

According to the politician, the party is mobilizing all its forces to prevent the ratification of the document by the Estonian side.

Helme criticized the government's plans and called the initiative a "gift" to Moscow.

EKRE believes that the ratification of the treaty will mean that Tallinn agrees that the Tartu Peace Treaty has expired.

“This consent, in turn, will legalize the continued occupation of Estonian lands and the abandonment of territories to the east of Narva and part of Petserimaa (Pskov region of Russia. -

RT

).

Ratification of the treaty will deprive us of any right to demand at least some kind of compensation for the occupied lands, ”said Mart Helme.

  • EKRE Deputy Chairman and Member of the Parliamentary Foreign Affairs Committee Mart Helme

  • © Arvamusfestival / Johan - Paul Hion / "Pealtnägija" versus presidendikandidaadid

A similar point of view was expressed by the Speaker of the Riigikogu, Henn Põlluaas (also a member of EKRE).

In his recent speech, the politician called the Tartu Peace Treaty "confirmation of the legal continuity" of Estonia, as well as evidence of the "political and moral victory" of the Estonian state.

Therefore, the Estonian side should emphasize the relevance of this document, Põlluaas believes.

“The continuity of the Republic of Estonia has not been violated.

The Peace of Tartu continues in 2021, ”he said.

At the same time, Estonian President Kersti Kaljulaid adheres to a dual position: on the one hand, she also believes that the 1920 treaty is a relevant document.

She stated this, for example, in her speech on the occasion of the centenary of the treaty.

But at the same time, Kaljulaid does not believe that the borders established following the Second World War in Europe need to be revised.

In addition, the politician recalled that one of the conditions for Estonia's admission to NATO was Tallinn's refusal of territorial claims to its neighbors.

The President stated this when speaking on the occasion of the anniversary of Estonian independence in 2020.

According to Vladimir Shapovalov, differences in the rhetoric of moderate Estonian politicians, such as the current president of the country, and nationalists do not play a big role in practice.

“On the issue of attitude towards Russia, the positions of the majority of Estonian politicians coincide.

Rather, the spread of opinions can be attributed to maneuvering in the internal political field of Estonia.

But the fact that politicians continue to return to the topic of the Tartu Treaty is very indicative, ”the expert noted.

Dmitry Lanko also believes that the Estonian side will again and again return to the topic of the Tartu Treaty.

“This document is taken as the basis of modern Estonian statehood.

If Tallinn abandons this approach, the country will have to change the foundations of the state.

However, this does not mean that the border issue with Russia will not be resolved.

Despite the fact that the parties are now in a dead end, they will be able to get out of it - such examples have already been in history, ”the expert made an optimistic forecast.