Baltic
10-31-2005, 04:15 PM
Edgar Savisaar publishes memoirs of early '90s
Estonia's former Prime Minister Edgar Savisaar (http://www.helsinginsanomat.fi/haku/?haku=Edgar+Savisaar) says that certain Finnish politicians in the early 1990s were more of a hindrance than a help in Estonia's independence process.
In his massive new book recalling the events of 1990 - 1992, Savisaar particularly singles out President Mauno Koivisto (http://www.helsinginsanomat.fi/haku/?haku=Mauno+Koivisto), saying that he was incapable of making any initiatives without Moscow's approval.
Savisaar suspects that ¨contrary to Sweden, leaders in Finland did not believe that Estonia would become independent until the declaration of independence was issued in August 1991.
Savisaar explains in great detail how Moscow said to the Finnish leaders of the time, and especially to President Koivisto, that Estonia does not want to disengage from the Soviet Union.
"However, I would not like to describe Koivisto as a reactionary, or as an opponent of Estonian independence. Naturally it is difficult to compare him with Estonia's old friend [former President] Urho Kaleva Kekkonen (http://www.helsinginsanomat.fi/haku/?haku=Urho+Kaleva+Kekkonen).
Savisaar also sees Paavo Väyrynen (http://www.helsinginsanomat.fi/haku/?haku=Paavo+V%C3%A4yrynen), Finland's Foreign Minister at the time, as an opponent of Estonian independence. He saw Prime Minister Harri Holkeri (http://www.helsinginsanomat.fi/haku/?haku=Harri+Holkeri) as "indifferent and ignorant of the facts". On the other hand, he praises Esko Aho (http://www.helsinginsanomat.fi/haku/?haku=Esko+Aho) and Christoffer Taxell (http://www.helsinginsanomat.fi/haku/?haku=Christoffer+Taxell).
Estonia's former Prime Minister Edgar Savisaar (http://www.helsinginsanomat.fi/haku/?haku=Edgar+Savisaar) says that certain Finnish politicians in the early 1990s were more of a hindrance than a help in Estonia's independence process.
In his massive new book recalling the events of 1990 - 1992, Savisaar particularly singles out President Mauno Koivisto (http://www.helsinginsanomat.fi/haku/?haku=Mauno+Koivisto), saying that he was incapable of making any initiatives without Moscow's approval.
Savisaar suspects that ¨contrary to Sweden, leaders in Finland did not believe that Estonia would become independent until the declaration of independence was issued in August 1991.
Savisaar explains in great detail how Moscow said to the Finnish leaders of the time, and especially to President Koivisto, that Estonia does not want to disengage from the Soviet Union.
"However, I would not like to describe Koivisto as a reactionary, or as an opponent of Estonian independence. Naturally it is difficult to compare him with Estonia's old friend [former President] Urho Kaleva Kekkonen (http://www.helsinginsanomat.fi/haku/?haku=Urho+Kaleva+Kekkonen).
Savisaar also sees Paavo Väyrynen (http://www.helsinginsanomat.fi/haku/?haku=Paavo+V%C3%A4yrynen), Finland's Foreign Minister at the time, as an opponent of Estonian independence. He saw Prime Minister Harri Holkeri (http://www.helsinginsanomat.fi/haku/?haku=Harri+Holkeri) as "indifferent and ignorant of the facts". On the other hand, he praises Esko Aho (http://www.helsinginsanomat.fi/haku/?haku=Esko+Aho) and Christoffer Taxell (http://www.helsinginsanomat.fi/haku/?haku=Christoffer+Taxell).