Editorial: waiting for them to sign

Photo: Peeter Kümmel / Sakala

Border treaty not about to change complex relations

On October 7^th, President of Russia Vladimir Putin approved plan by government to sign of border treaty with Estonia, actually involving two separate documents: agreements of land and sea boundaries. Thus, the next step for treaty to enter into force would be meeting between Estonian and Russian foreign ministers, Urmas Paet and Sergei Lavrov signing the papers.

This, definitely, would be the most remarkable moment of the past years in Estonian-Russian relationships; we might, of course, recall the signatures already given eight years ago – not leading to a treaty, however. Therefore, we cannot talk about facts before the treaties have passed the ratification siftings by Estonian Riigikogu and Russia’s two houses of parliament.

There are no reasons to believe that the difficult relations between Estonia and Russia would be by any means altered by the border treaty. The neighbours will remain with differences due to conflicting interpretations of history, the Russian-speaking community, NATO and EU relations etc.

Border treaty concerns border issues only, as Estonia has underlined at every opportunity. Meaning: by border treaty, Estonia and Russia will not enter into a shared understanding on the meaning of Tartu Peace Treaty for the birth of Republic of Estonia and what it meant for Estonia to have Soviet troops invade us at the beginning of WW2. The new treaty is a pragmatic move – the border lies where it does, in reality; better fix the situation in documents than leave everything open and hope for a miracle which would restore to Estonia its earlier borderline.

Treaty or not, Estonia keeps keeping a close eye on any military exercises in Russia, near our borders; monitoring any move in Russia aiming to alter status quo of the Russian-speaking community here. Russia’s foreign policy will keep in its weaponry provocative statements regarding the Baltics – the regime, though border-friendly, not being Estonia-friendly.  

These days, it is wise to observe the happenings in Lithuania, for one. Lithuania and Russia have signed a border treaty, in force for ten long years. Still, this in no way hinders Russia from constructing trade obstacles, in attempt to impact EU Eastern Partnership in ways favoured by Kremlin. Adding to our scepticism is the current inspection by Russia into Estonian fish and milk industries. To the background of events in Lithuania, this is nothing remarkable; even so, while waiting for the border treaty to be sighed, it is remarkable – not in a good sense. 

Still, border agreements are important when it comes to international law. This April, it was written by Argo Ideon of Postimees, at the very beginning of the rebirth of border treaty: «We will never lack quarrels and reprimands between us, anyway. Even so, grown-up neighbours will be able to sensibly agree, to keep the common staircase locked and lights on, neither dumping it with their trash.»

Verily, two countries at Baltic Sea shores may have grown up, somewhat.