Estonian Press Sees Valentina Matvienko's Visit to Tallinn as 'Thaw' in Russia-Estonia Relations

An official visit from Russian Deputy Prime Minister Valentina Matvienko to Estonia has been interpreted by the local press as a 'step towards closer relations with Russia' after the retirement of the previous Estonian leadership.

This is especially true of Postimes newspaper. As a Rosbalt correspondent reports, this newspaper writes that the retirement of Mart Laar's government and the coming to power of the Reformist and Centrist party both helped to bring this 'thaw' in relations. The registration of the Estonian Orthodox Church under the Moscow patriarchy was also a factor in this process, the newspaper writes.

Valentina Matvienko, who is co-chairperson of the Russia-Estonia commission for economic, scientific, social, humanitarian and cultural cooperation, arrived in Tallinn on Monday evening. She is accompanied by Minister of Employment and Social Development Alexander Pochinok, Deputy Minister of Trade and Economic Development Andrei Sharonov, Russian Ambassador to Estonia Konstantin Provalov and others. Today Mrs Matvienko will meet Estonian President Arnold Ruutel, Chairman of the Estonian Parliament Toomas Savi, Estonian Foreign Minister Kristina Ojuland, and Mayor of Tallinn Edgar Savisaar.

During the visit, an agreement will be signed to protect investments and avoid double taxation as well as documents relating to an agreement on the provision of pensions that was signed in 1993.