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The Prime Minister of Russia Viktor Chernomyrdin visited to Finland some days ago. During the visit the following letter was delivered to him. It is very important that the international community has a chance to see the letter.
Honorable Prime Minister Viktor Chernomyrdin
We turn to you, highly esteemed prime minister of Russia, knowing you as a person inclined to listen to your conscience. We also know that you are sensitive towards the feelings of ordinary citizens in Russia as well as abroad. We are a small group of ordinary Finnish citizens. Simultaneously, we are representatives of voices coming from all the provinces of our country. The message we will bring to you is very simple but based on deeply rooted heartfelt feelings of the Finnish nation.
Diplomacy and national strategies follow their own paths and easily entangle the political leaders in a network of routines whose continued maintenance may be questioned. An improvised, courageous and broad-minded utterance by President of Russia Boris Yeltsin two years ago in Moscow showed that a great statesman can be free of such a political jargon.
Boris Yeltsin stated that "Annexing Karelia to the Soviet Union was without doubt a consequence of Stalinistic aggressive and totalitarian policy and does not win the acceptance of myself or President of Finland Ahtisaari".
Returning back to Finland Karelia and the other areas ceded to the Soviet Union in the Paris Peace Treaty in the year 1947 would be a token of real political and military strength of Russia. It would be an act without precedence and would win admiration as well as amazement throughout the world.
Vicinity of an Europan Union member country rather close to St. Petersburg could bring unforeseen profits to both Russia and Finland.
It is possible and even easy to guarantee the rights and benefits of Russia and citizens of Russia after ceding the areas in question back to Finland.
The transfer could be materialized gradually and along lines agreed upon in peaceful negotiations between representatives of two neighbouring states.
The Tartu Peace Treaty Association
Author: Mr Heikki M. Uusilehto
Posted on Tue, 07 May 1996 17:28:24 GMT
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