Editorial: border treaty pain

Photo: AFP / ITAR-Tass / Scanpix

Quite clearly, people are not delighted at border treaty being signed.

We’ve got no publicly available, trustworthy and fresh regarding what people in Estonia think about the border treaty with Russia. Does the current text – allowing for both sides to «save face» – have more supporters than opponents? For how many, giving up the Tartu Peace Treaty borders isn’t acceptable at all? How many find that the factual borders cannot be changed, but the current compromise-wording is so humiliating that a treaty like this ought never to be signed? How many think that the treaty might have included these very concessions, while demanding much more in return? Regrettably, we have no clearer knowledge than that the opponents to the treaty are loud; meanwhile, to yesterday’s postimees.ee reader poll, close to a half answered that entering the treaty is … intelligent.

Quite clearly, people are not too delighted at the border treaty being signed. Naturally, we have to do with acceptance of Soviet Estonia’s borderline arbitrarily drawn as ordered by Stalin, even with the occasional correction for highly practical reasons – and always at a bargain.

Who would be satisfied with Russia till this very day neglecting clauses included in Tartu Peace Treaty, like the return or University of Tartu assets; or that the Kremlin has not complied with such a small matter as handing over official insignia of Estonia’s President, robbed by Stalinists? Clearly, this is intentional insult; or at least an attempt to use every little issue as a bargaining chip. It would be utterly stupid to think that, through the ages, Estonian politicians haven’t understood it all. Sure they have! But, on the average, Estonian politicians have been quite good at assessing what can and cannot be achieved; what is and isn’t important.

Highly unjust to accuse our Estonian-time politicians and diplomats in that, at the order of Stalin, an arbitrary border was drawn between Estonian SSR and the neighbouring Russian oblasts, differently than was agreed in Tartu Peace Treaty. We all share the feelings of pain and of defeat. 

Of course, all that was written by Riigikogu, into the preamble was correct. Even so, Putin’s Russia thereat pulled the brakes. The new wording, as repeatedly stated, lets both sides save faces.

Let’s not be under illusions that having the treaty signed would hand Estonia any tangible advantages in relations with Russia. Still, there’s reason to believe that, having gotten one issue off the agenda, we may move on with some other issues with our now totalitarian-minded neighbour.

Visa freedom, for instance – easier for the nice Russians to behold life of freedom – may prove much more beneficial to us all, in the end, than tussling over selfish pride (the border having long ceased to be talked about).