TALLINN — Estonian President Toomas Hendrik Ilves’ planned attendance of the May 9 Victory Day celebrations in Moscow is proving a divisive decision in the smallest Baltic state.

Ilves announced Wednesday that he accepted Russian President Dmitry Medvedev’s invitation to attend the commemoration of the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany in the Second World War.

While a Postimees poll shows 62 percent of Estonians approve Ilves’ decision while only 30 percent do not, it has [private_supervisor]stirred up controversy in the Estonian media and among rival politicians, with critics calling the move useless and inappropriate when Estonia has been loudly against the Nord Stream gas pipeline and Russia’s purchase helicopter-carrying assault warship Mistral.

“We cannot forget that President Ilves flies to Moscow at time when Russia practically surrounds us with gas pipes and the purchase of Mistrals. It is also possible that Ilves partakes in an event where Stalin’s pictures are displayed,” Mart Helme, a former Estonian ambassador to Russia told the press Thursday.

It’s also a break in precedent. Five years ago when former President Arnold Rüütel was invited, the answer was no. Rüütel was the last representative of all three Baltic states to receive an invitation from Russia shortly before the event taking place, but only Latvia’s former president Vaira Vike-Freiberga chose to take part of it.

Rüütel noted that the Soviet victory initiated the re-occupation of Estonia and all the human rights abuses that came with it, but was diplomatic in an interview this week saying he didn’t feel that Ilves should have refused.

Latvia in, Lithuania out

Russia is welcoming Ilves’ presence along with that of Latvia’s President Valdis Zatlers. Zatlers received an invitation from Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin February and immediately accepted it, causing a furor at home.

Meanwhile Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaitė has not been invited, despite her overtures to Russian and Belarus. Russian President Dmitry Medvedev declined an invitation to  Lithuania’s national celebrations of 20 years of independence in March 11, although he sent his other representative.

Ilves positioned himself well to receive the invitation — in a January interview with the Eesti Päevaleht newspaper he criticized Rüütel for snubbing Russia, saying he would accept. In another interview with the Russian newspaper Nezavisimaya Gazeta earlier this month Ilves said that Estonian-Russian border preamble should be removed.

The decision has its supporters. Edgar Savisaar, leader of Center Party and mayor of Tallinn almost immediately announced his support of Ilves acceptance of the invite. Minister of Foreign Affairs Urmas Paet called it a wise decision.

“This was the only thinkable decision. I do not understand those ruling coalition politicians who doubt in the necessity of this visit in the communication between many countries,” Savisaar told media. “We must hope that this visit will help to improve the relations of two countries.”

Political analyst Toomas Alatalu said Ilves should be supported for trying to improve relations with Russia.

“The difference in communication is big and it would be good if in some way it would be compensated to Estonia in Moscow, “ Alatalu told Baltic Reports. “Obviously the Kremlin considers Ilves’ high rating among Americans.”

Ilves was raised by Estonian refugees from the Soviet regime the United States, being the only leader in Europe to speak flawless American English. [/private_supervisor] [private_subscription 1 month]stirred up controversy in the Estonian media and among rival politicians, with critics calling the move useless and inappropriate when Estonia has been loudly against the Nord Stream gas pipeline and Russia’s purchase helicopter-carrying assault warship Mistral.

“We cannot forget that President Ilves flies to Moscow at time when Russia practically surrounds us with gas pipes and the purchase of Mistrals. It is also possible that Ilves partakes in an event where Stalin’s pictures are displayed,” Mart Helme, a former Estonian ambassador to Russia told the press Thursday.

It’s also a break in precedent. Five years ago when former President Arnold Rüütel was invited, the answer was no. Rüütel was the last representative of all three Baltic states to receive an invitation from Russia shortly before the event taking place, but only Latvia’s former president Vaira Vike-Freiberga chose to take part of it.

Rüütel noted that the Soviet victory initiated the re-occupation of Estonia and all the human rights abuses that came with it, but was diplomatic in an interview this week saying he didn’t feel that Ilves should have refused.

Latvia in, Lithuania out

Russia is welcoming Ilves’ presence along with that of Latvia’s President Valdis Zatlers. Zatlers received an invitation from Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin February and immediately accepted it, causing a furor at home.

Meanwhile Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaitė has not been invited, despite her overtures to Russian and Belarus. Russian President Dmitry Medvedev declined an invitation to  Lithuania’s national celebrations of 20 years of independence in March 11, although he sent his other representative.

Ilves positioned himself well to receive the invitation — in a January interview with the Eesti Päevaleht newspaper he criticized Rüütel for snubbing Russia, saying he would accept. In another interview with the Russian newspaper Nezavisimaya Gazeta earlier this month Ilves said that Estonian-Russian border preamble should be removed.

The decision has its supporters. Edgar Savisaar, leader of Center Party and mayor of Tallinn almost immediately announced his support of Ilves acceptance of the invite. Minister of Foreign Affairs Urmas Paet called it a wise decision.

“This was the only thinkable decision. I do not understand those ruling coalition politicians who doubt in the necessity of this visit in the communication between many countries,” Savisaar told media. “We must hope that this visit will help to improve the relations of two countries.”

Political analyst Toomas Alatalu said Ilves should be supported for trying to improve relations with Russia.

“The difference in communication is big and it would be good if in some way it would be compensated to Estonia in Moscow,” Alatalu told Baltic Reports. “Obviously the Kremlin considers Ilves’ high rating among Americans.”

Ilves was raised by Estonian refugees from the Soviet regime the United States, being the only leader in Europe to speak flawless American English. [/private_subscription 1 month] [private_subscription 4 months]stirred up controversy in the Estonian media and among rival politicians, with critics calling the move useless and inappropriate when Estonia has been loudly against the Nord Stream gas pipeline and Russia’s purchase helicopter-carrying assault warship Mistral.

“We cannot forget that President Ilves flies to Moscow at time when Russia practically surrounds us with gas pipes and the purchase of Mistrals. It is also possible that Ilves partakes in an event where Stalin’s pictures are displayed,” Mart Helme, a former Estonian ambassador to Russia told the press Thursday.

It’s also a break in precedent. Five years ago when former President Arnold Rüütel was invited, the answer was no. Rüütel was the last representative of all three Baltic states to receive an invitation from Russia shortly before the event taking place, but only Latvia’s former president Vaira Vike-Freiberga chose to take part of it.

Rüütel noted that the Soviet victory initiated the re-occupation of Estonia and all the human rights abuses that came with it, but was diplomatic in an interview this week saying he didn’t feel that Ilves should have refused.

Latvia in, Lithuania out

Russia is welcoming Ilves’ presence along with that of Latvia’s President Valdis Zatlers. Zatlers received an invitation from Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin February and immediately accepted it, causing a furor at home.

Meanwhile Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaitė has not been invited, despite her overtures to Russian and Belarus. Russian President Dmitry Medvedev declined an invitation to  Lithuania’s national celebrations of 20 years of independence in March 11, although he sent his other representative.

Ilves positioned himself well to receive the invitation — in a January interview with the Eesti Päevaleht newspaper he criticized Rüütel for snubbing Russia, saying he would accept. In another interview with the Russian newspaper Nezavisimaya Gazeta earlier this month Ilves said that Estonian-Russian border preamble should be removed.

The decision has its supporters. Edgar Savisaar, leader of Center Party and mayor of Tallinn almost immediately announced his support of Ilves acceptance of the invite. Minister of Foreign Affairs Urmas Paet called it a wise decision.

“This was the only thinkable decision. I do not understand those ruling coalition politicians who doubt in the necessity of this visit in the communication between many countries,” Savisaar told media. “We must hope that this visit will help to improve the relations of two countries.”

Political analyst Toomas Alatalu said Ilves should be supported for trying to improve relations with Russia.

“The difference in communication is big and it would be good if in some way it would be compensated to Estonia in Moscow,” Alatalu told Baltic Reports. “Obviously the Kremlin considers Ilves’ high rating among Americans.”

Ilves was raised by Estonian refugees from the Soviet regime the United States, being the only leader in Europe to speak flawless American English. [/private_subscription 4 months] [private_subscription 1 year]stirred up controversy in the Estonian media and among rival politicians, with critics calling the move useless and inappropriate when Estonia has been loudly against the Nord Stream gas pipeline and Russia’s purchase helicopter-carrying assault warship Mistral.

“We cannot forget that President Ilves flies to Moscow at time when Russia practically surrounds us with gas pipes and the purchase of Mistrals. It is also possible that Ilves partakes in an event where Stalin’s pictures are displayed,” Mart Helme, a former Estonian ambassador to Russia told the press Thursday.

It’s also a break in precedent. Five years ago when former President Arnold Rüütel was invited, the answer was no. Rüütel was the last representative of all three Baltic states to receive an invitation from Russia shortly before the event taking place, but only Latvia’s former president Vaira Vike-Freiberga chose to take part of it.

Rüütel noted that the Soviet victory initiated the re-occupation of Estonia and all the human rights abuses that came with it, but was diplomatic in an interview this week saying he didn’t feel that Ilves should have refused.

Latvia in, Lithuania out

Russia is welcoming Ilves’ presence along with that of Latvia’s President Valdis Zatlers. Zatlers received an invitation from Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin February and immediately accepted it, causing a furor at home.

Meanwhile Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaitė has not been invited, despite her overtures to Russian and Belarus. Russian President Dmitry Medvedev declined an invitation to  Lithuania’s national celebrations of 20 years of independence in March 11, although he sent his other representative.

Ilves positioned himself well to receive the invitation — in a January interview with the Eesti Päevaleht newspaper he criticized Rüütel for snubbing Russia, saying he would accept. In another interview with the Russian newspaper Nezavisimaya Gazeta earlier this month Ilves said that Estonian-Russian border preamble should be removed.

The decision has its supporters. Edgar Savisaar, leader of Center Party and mayor of Tallinn almost immediately announced his support of Ilves acceptance of the invite. Minister of Foreign Affairs Urmas Paet called it a wise decision.

“This was the only thinkable decision. I do not understand those ruling coalition politicians who doubt in the necessity of this visit in the communication between many countries,” Savisaar told media. “We must hope that this visit will help to improve the relations of two countries.”

Political analyst Toomas Alatalu said Ilves should be supported for trying to improve relations with Russia.

“The difference in communication is big and it would be good if in some way it would be compensated to Estonia in Moscow,” Alatalu told Baltic Reports. “Obviously the Kremlin considers Ilves’ high rating among Americans.”

Ilves was raised by Estonian refugees from the Soviet regime the United States, being the only leader in Europe to speak flawless American English. [/private_subscription 1 year]

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