Baltic States - Russia issues.

[uss]

With this post, I'm trying to let you know how the situation with Russia in the Baltic States is. If any Moderator thinks that this should be locked, feel free to do so.

A little history beforehand: After World War II, the Germans living in Estonia were called back by Germany. Russia reoccupied Estonia. The Russians started a Russianization policy, making the official language Russian, and banning the Estonian language entirely. A total of hundreds of thousands of Russians came to Estonia during that time. On September 6, 1991, the Soviet Union recognized the independence of all three Baltic States, and Estonian language was used once again.

In Estonia, even though about 20-30% of the population is Russian, a person *has* to speak Estonian fluently in order to become a citizen. Non-citizens must pass a language test. Unfortunately, because of that, not many of the Russians have citizenship. There is some sort of similar thing going on in Latvia, but it's not as harsh there. In both of our countries, the governments are leaning towards making everybody speak the local language.


I wasn't able to find this article in English from anywhere, but it's the top article in an Estonian news site called Delfi.ee. The article is only in Estonian and Russian, so I'll translate it myself:

Source: http://www.delfi.ee/news/paevauudise...php?id=8112190

Originally posted by DELFI: Zhirinovsky threats Estonia with war. Vladimir Zhirinovsky, Russian politic with a scandalistic reputation, threatened the Baltic states with war if they didn't stop provoking the "big neigbour." "We protect our fellow Russians in the Baltic States. And what can NATO do? Nothing. Because we protect our fellow countrymen and then we will divide Latvia to pieces, so that only a small country with the capital city being in Liepaya* will remain," Promised Russian State Duma vice speaker at Monday in a meeting with Baltic reporters. At the same time, Zhirinovsky assured that he doesn't actually want such a turn of events, but Latvia "makes it's own life difficult by not solving the Russian issue." "It isn't good to live by a large country and make fun of it: closing Russian schools, allowing SS-soldiers to march**," explained the Russian Liberaldemocratic Party leader. "The Baltic States' future is very sad. If needed, we will sit in Brussels and Brussels will side with us. As time passes, the situation will turn for the advantage of Russia. Even now, the wish to support Russia is present. We don't need even an inch of your country, we'll give it to Germany," Zhirinovsky promised. At worst, a new war arises and the Baltics States are destroyed. Why would NATO need Baltic States? So that there would be a place to position their military army, and if war comes, your country will be wiped from the face of the Earth. We do not wish for war, but understand, how fragile peace is," Spouted the head of the Liberals. The vice speaker of the Duma thinks that every person deserves citizenship for the country he was born in. "What kind of a definition is it - non-civilian? There's no such thing in the world - There's either civilians or outlanders." Zhirinovsky states that Latvia keeps explaining about human rights "while they keep violating them." "It is the complex of a small people - Now we'll pay back, NATO and the European Union are with us. But they won't protect you, don't even count on it," Zhirinovsky believes. He promised Russian support to fellow countrymen living in Baltic States - "with exercise books among other things." "We will enforce this plan with diplomatic as well as economic methods," The head of the Libeals warned. "While at south, we use militaristic methods, then in the Baltic States, we will use economic methods. We'll stop Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia shipyard usage and product prices will fall 20-30 percents," threatened the vice speaker.

* - Small county close to the western shore of Latvia.

** - Reference to facsism.


The title is slightly BS, since Zhirinovsky mentions Latvia and the whole Baltic States, but never does he mention only Estonia.

Upon searching for information about Zhirinovsky, I found this site: http://www.balticsww.com/quotes/zhirinovskyisms.htm . This convinced me that he's an ultra nationalist. [img]graemlins/uhoh1.gif[/img]


Personally, I don't think that our language policy is unfair, since the Russian language is compulsory in schools from grades 5 to 12, so everybody is supposed to be able to speak Russian also.


This doesn't really concern you guys, but it could concern me a lot. So, I'd like an outsider's opinion on this. What do you think?


Thanks! [img]smile.gif[/img]

[ 06-29-2004, 10:43 AM: Message edited by: uss ]

[johnny]

I wouldn't take anything Zhyrinovski says too serious, he's what you can call the local town idiot. He also threatened to invade Germany and erase Turkey of the worldmap. The thing is, making threats is all he can do, since he has no power whatsoever.

Personally i'm surprised the press still quotes that moron, they must be lacking serious news in Russia.

[uss]

Hehe, thanks, Johnny - That's reassuring.

But still - The Russian government has said that they aren't happy with the policy, even in recent times. As I think that the policy is very good for preserving Estonian culture and language, I really hope the government won't start making any demands to us to change it.

[ 06-29-2004, 11:23 AM: Message edited by: uss ]

[John D Harris]

Originally posted by uss: Hehe, thanks, Johnny - That's reassuring. But still - The Russian government has said that they aren't happy with the policy, even in recent times. As I think that the policy is very good for preserving Estonian culture and language, I really hope the government won't start making any demands to us to change it.

As long as they are still talking and saying they are unhappy, all is well. When they start moving divisions to the boarder then comes the time to worry.
Russia is still dealing with the fact they are no longer a super power where countries bow and bend to their every word. It would be a grave mistake for Russia to to anything more then talk, with their stance against the war in Iraq, where hundreds of thousands of people were Tortured and murdered, a country that blantantly gave the UN the finger. Russia can not justify making more then loud noises at a country that say you have to know our native language. The economic and other reporcussions would be devestating to Russia.

[Aerich]

I think it's just talk. First, as already pointed out, Zhirinovsky is Russia's resident Imperialist crackpot. He's got very little sense of international politics, despite his apparent high position in government. He's got some power right now because of the insecurity of much of the Russian population. Second, it's a fact of life in Europe that individuals will need to know more than one language; any country (particularly a small country) that tries to ignore that will be hurting their population (kind of off-topic, I know). Third, (and it's a big one!) Putin has enough of an international public relations nightmare in Chechnya already; he won't want the furor that would arise if he made those contemplated demands. Fourth, Zhirinovsky makes big noises about how the U.N. etc won't do anything, but economic repercussions on Russia by unimpressed foreigners would truly hurt them.

I just don't think that Putin will risk his uneasy relationship with the international community over this. It might be advisable to make a tiny concession here and there with your language policy, but still make it clear that it will not be removed. Besides, if Russia takes a strong economic stand, they will be shooting themselves in the foot.

On a different note..I wish the USA would do the same thing with the English Language...make it the official language and if you want to become a citizen...learn the language....it would save billions in printing costs alone if the government could limit printing of forms to just one language.


[ 06-29-2004, 01:19 PM: Message edited by: MagiK ]

[johnny]

But it's so easy to get away with things with a simple "No habla".