Do you hate Russia?
16.09.2008, 13:42The following is the column written by
Estonian business daily Äripäev’s editor in chief Meelis Mandel.
I hate several things, but Russia is definitely not one of them. Therefore I
cannot understand why Estonian top politicians hate our neighour in the
East.
Perhaps they know something that I don’t know. For instance, what would
justify the exaggerated reaction to the events in Georgia? Especially in the
light of current information that Georgia used very questionable methods in
distributing information. Did they exaggerate deliberately so that they can get
a better reaction from the West? Since you can talk with NATO also outside media
channels.
I don’t know very well all diplomatic nuances. But I can see and I am worried
that the President, Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs and other top
politicians consider Russia public enemy No. 1. Both in public and in private
discussions, I can see how cold and full of hatred our politicians are when I
mention Russia. There is a similar attitude towards Russian politicians and
businessmen. They are all bad and dangerous. And I cannot understand it.
Russo-phobia has reached the level where we cannot sensibly even talk to our
friends who turn out attention to this situation. I am talking about the
reaction of Estonian politicians to the statement made by the President of
Finland which turned Stenbock residence and Presidential Palace in Kadriorg into
a nest of wasps.
What our politicians are actually doing is reflecting the attitude of
Russia’s top leadership towards us and play along with the pace that they force
upon us. But this is not our strength. Hatred and insulting creates a similar
counterreaction.
Estonia does not need this. Or does it? Do we want to keep our very large
Russian-speaking community under constant pressure and anger them every time
when they hear and watch our politicians make their statements?
Unfortunately, also government critics are not helping the situation. When
the Centre Party and its leader Edgar Savisaar turn attention to the right
thing, they are doing so with the label “Putin’s party” in their forehead and
therefore any action that follows their advice would be equal to treason. Even
Tiit Vähi, ex-PM and the main lobbyist of large businesses, who usually talks
sense is using antagonistic tone and demands the government to resign.
What’s worse is that the Prime Minister seems to have taken a very negative
and even antagonistic attitude towards proposals made by businessmen. Mistrust
is always mutual. Dialogue with businessmen is dominated by the attitude that I
have never seen before. Everyone who talks about the government does so in a
negative and critical tone. The government gets the blame for both bloated
public spending and …. Russo-phobia. I don’t think this is because of we are
looking for those to blame. This is mistrust or worry that Toompea is doing
something that is not good for business.
Sometimes the attitude to the Russian media resembles the time before Estonia
joined the European Union when there were opinions that were right and those
that were wrong. Those who express a neutral position with regard to the
activities of Russia are treated as traitors or collaborators. We are quickly
becoming an angry small country preaching only one topic.
Who is bold enough to say that the decision to increase next year’s defence
spending that was made in the aftermath of the Georgian crisis was wrong? But it
needs debate since (a) it is not clear that the Defence Forces / Ministry of
Defence are capable of using these funds efficiently and (b) no-one has told
voters where this additional money will come from. What are we melting into
arms: ploughs, school lunches or child benefits?
Our politicians are too sensitive and feel easily insulted. Moreover, they
make nationally important decisions based on their personal grunts and emotions.
This is not good. This is not making Estonians happier.
Does someone know a Russian (who is not a separatist) and who could unite a
significant part of the Russian community in Estonia and who could convince
Estonian politicians to drop the Russo-phobia from their domestic and foreign
policy agenda? If I had a magic wand that would force people go into
politicians, I would point it at Feodor Berman, CEO and owner of BLRT Grupp.
Yes, he may be actually from Ukraine, but so what?
The author owns Russian stocks through a pension fund, but he is
confident that this column will not affect their price.