Стр. 19 - V

Author : V. Olenchenko
Senior research associate, Center for European Studies, Ye.M. Primakov Institute of World Economy
and International Relations, Russian Academy of Sciences, Candidate of Science (Law)
A FEW POINTS need to be clarified before pursuing any study
of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania from the Russian perspective.
One should avoid extremes such as looking down on the three
Baltic countries or exaggerating their international role as a group.
Secondly, for much of their history, those nations not only had
close ties with Russia, but were parts of it - which means that all
they possess today is based on resources granted by Russia. In
view of all this, the Baltic states are a permanent and integral part
of Russia's foreign policy agenda.
Today, Russian and international public opinion mainly perceives
Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania as permanent anti-Russian irritants.
Their governments and propaganda machines aggressively por-
tray Russia as the main source of threats to regional and global
stability and propagate the thesis that the former Soviet Union is
to blame for the Baltic nations' current development problems.
IT IS A POPULAR THESIS in Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania that their acquisition of inde-
pendence in 1991 was solely the result of their internal development. This disregards the fact
that the independence drive in the three countries was just one of public movements triggered
by the renewal policy in the Soviet Union that is known as perestroika.
As newly independent countries in the early nineties, the Baltic states vacillated between two op-
tions - retaining and prioritizing their historical ties with their neighbors Russia and Belarus and
building closer relations with Western Europe. Eventually, they opted for Western Europe, and
this, in fact, became their exclusive choice.
Today, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania have their own joint role in both the EU and NATO. In
the North Atlantic alliance, they represent themselves as "frontline" states in reference to their
borders with Russia. This position is inspired by NATO's leadership, which has plans to deploy
U.S., British, and German armed forces in the Baltic countries.
The foreign threat factor is also actively exploited in the domestic politics of the Baltic states,
for example in struggles between political parties. In the EU, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania ally
with Britain and Poland on two key issues - the migration problem and the anti-Russian sanctions.
The Baltic countries are also deeply involved in the Eastern Partnership program by generating
initiatives for its promotion. As for other EU activities, the Baltic nations chiefly contribute to
the Union's policy toward Russia and by and large take a coordinated line in this capacity.
Russia is naturally concerned about Russian speakers in the Baltic countries and helps them de-
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Russia and the Baltic Countries: Contours of a Concept of Bilat-
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