Russia Will Not Ratify Estonia Treaty

22 June 2005 (RFE/RL) -- The Russian Foreign Ministry said today it would be impossible to submit border treaties with Estonia for ratification by the Russian parliament following changes Estonia made to the preamble.

The amended text includes an indirect reference to the Soviet occupation of the Baltic nation. The ministry says it contains unacceptable statements that create what it calls a falsified context for the treaties. Russia maintains that all three Baltic nations voluntarily joined the Soviet Union.

Soviet troops occupied the three Baltic states in 1940. Nazi troops took them over in 1941. The Soviets returned in 1944.

Russia balked at signing a planned border treaty with Latvia last month because Latvia insisted on attaching a statement similar to the one approved by Estonia.

(AP)