Eesti Ringvaade

INTERNET EDITION

A Weekly Review of Estonian News

ISSN 1023-1951

Volume 5 Number 50

December 10-16, 1995




ORTHODOX CHURCH ROW IS BECOMING A POLITICAL ISSUE

December 11. According to the Estonian Foreign Ministry, a recent

statement by the Russian Foreign Ministry concerning the Orthodox church

in Estonia is not conducive to a peaceful solution of the conflict and

is viewed with regret. The Estonian Foreign Ministry added that Russian

politicians are trying to introduce political overtones into the row

between the two Orthodox churches in Estonia.

    The Russian Foreign Ministry said in a strongly worded December 9

statement that the dispute over property rights among Orthodox

Christians in Estonia may have an adverse impact on Estonian-Russian

relations in the future. The Estonian Government's position is that the

conflict between the churches must be solved in court.

    The only orthodox church legally registered in Estonia is the

Estonian Apostolic Orthodox Church which wants to return the church to

the governance of the Ecumenical Patriarch in Constantinople (Istanbul).

The Stockholm-based governing body of the church, the synod, is

recognised as the legal successor of the independent Estonian Orthodox

Church active before occupation.

    The Russian Orthodox Church is led by Archbishop Cornelius under

the Moscow Patriarchate. The Moscow-oriented church is seeking to

register under the same name and refuses to adopt another name in order

to maintain its alleged title to church-owned lands and buildings.

    On December 8, the Tallinn City Court turned down a suit brought

by Archbishop Cornelius seeking recognition of the Russian Orthodox

Church as a subject of property reform.



FOREIGN MINISTER'S VISIT TO FINLAND

December 13. During his one day visit to Finland, Foreign Minister Siim

Kallas met with his Finnish counterpart, Tarja Halonen and discussed

visa-free travel between the two countries.

    Mr Kallas also met with Finnish President Martti Ahtisaari and

Prime Minister Paavo Lipponen. They discussed European integration and

security problems. President Ahtisaari and Mr Lipponen affirmed

Finland's support for EU enlargement, which they said would open up new

prospects for economic co-operation and make a significant contribution

to European stabililty.

    Later in the day, Mr Kallas opened the recently renovated Estonian

embassy in Helsinki. The ceremony was also attended by President

Ahtisaari.