(Vatican Radio) Estonia is facing economic difficulties as neighbouring Russia, one
of its biggest trading partners, has banned the import of Estonian fish and dairy
products.
The ban is the latest stand-off in a turbulent relationship between
the countries. Moscow claims the import ban follows several quality problems with
Estonian food products. While Russia has in the past denied these kind of measures
are politically motivated, the latest import ban comes amid tensions with Baltic nations
and other European Union member states over Ukraine.
In a recent interview
on British television, Estonian President Toomas Hendrik Ilves made clear that despite
Russian pressure to join a Russian-led Customs Union, many demonstrating Ukrainians
want to have closer ties with the EU. "Their problems are not going away simply by
saying no and giving in to the kinds of pressure they have been under. And the other
side of this is that it has become quite clear from the demonstrations that a substantial
percentage of the Ukrainians really would like to develop the kind of relationship
with the EU that the others will be getting", he said. "And they want to have visa-free
travel to the European Union. People are far more upset in fact than I and many of
us thought they would be", the president added.
These aren't the only
disputes between the two neighbors. In 2008, Estonians accused Russia of using trade
sanctions to punish its former Soviet satellite state, after the capital Tallinn faced
demonstrations following the relocation of a Soviet war memorial. Estonian officials
alleged that Moscow influenced the riots and a later cyber war which temporarily shut
down Estonian government and business websites. Russia denied any involvement.