Lobbying Russia's Interests Should be Made Advantageous to Baltics

While speaking at a conference on security in the Baltic Sea region, Toomas Ilves, former Estonian Foreign Minister, said a situation must be created to make lobbying Russia's interests in the European Union advantageous to the Baltic republics.

Mr. Ilves said Russia should pay more attention to the expansion of the European Union and continued to the effect that 'Very soon, the European Union will be joined by countries whose experiences associating with Russia are negative. So far, no one can tell what the effects of it on the Baltic Sea region will be'.

He said further that it was up to Russia to create a situation to make Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia interested in promoting the interests of Russia. While Lobbying the interests of Russia, the three republics may obtain financing for the whole region, which will benefit everyone.

Mr. Ilves said Russia was paying exaggerated attention to the expansion of NATO while that expansion could hardly affect relationships within the Baltic region in any way.