Danish PM calls for Russia to apologize to Baltics

[chequita guevara]

Originally posted by Saras
Good for US.

Just one more reason why we're better than you.

[The Vagabond]

Issueing an apology should be practical in a given overall context of politics. It should fall on a fertile soil. Otherwise, it would be just plain stupid politics with disastrous consequences. The present political context makes the apologetic way impossible. Nothing personal, it's just a matter of good politics.

[The Vagabond]

So, in a word, this so-called PM Rasmussen should be squashed like an insect for his stupid chatter.

[St Leo]

Originally posted by Combat Ingrid
Do the governments provide the Russians with free language courses? Or do they just tell them to "learn our language or go **** yourself"?

Not, but Latvia does have public education in both Latvian and Russian. Russian kids aren't being forced to assimilate by any means.

[Pekka]

44% of people in Latvia are russians? Wow.. that's a lot I guess.

[Saras]

ludzu, petrazickis will explain it all.

[lord of the mark]

Originally posted by Spiffor

Yes, when it comes to the outposts in the Gaza strip and the west bank, because I consider the adults there to be willing agents of a dream of Grand Israel.
I'm against removing the established suburbs of Jerusalem.

If we had discussed the issue 30 years ago, I'd have been supportive of anti-Russophone policies. Because the Russophones would be recent immigrants, and not their children. Today, those who are punished did not choose their situation (mind you, maybe the original Russians were forced to migrate too)

Spiff, some of the Gaza settlements are quite as old as settlements like Maaleh Adumim on the West Bank (suburbs of Jerusalem) and are equally multigenerational. The distinction that I and others have drawn between both Gaza and isolated west bank settlements and places like Maaleh Adumim, is NOT their multigenerational status, but their geography, proximat either to Jerusalem or to the narrow waist of Israel, so that they need to be retained in Israel for Israel to be secure. (among other reasons) AFAIK no part of the Baltics is close to Moscow, and even St Petersburg is not in the precarious strategic position of Israeli cities (and to the extent it is, its cause of the evil finns, not the Estonians)

In any case, AFAIK the russian language and people were born in the forests of central Russia, and, arguably, in the steppes of Ukraine. Theres no real analogy between their presence in the Baltics and that of Israeli Jews in Israel or in the territories.

[lord of the mark]

Originally posted by Spiffor

There's much worse in France than the scarf ban. We and Turkey are the only countries that the EU court for human rights found guilty of torture (in jails). Our record with local languages is horrendous by EU standards. Our transit zones for illegal or borderline immigrants are a shame. Our recent laws leave people wholly in the hands of the police without lawyer's protection for four days.

There's much to clean here too. Just because I speak of Baltic countries in this Baltic thread (and a bit of Hungary, for comnparison purposes), doens't mean that all is good and nice elsewhere.

Ok, supposing Latvia says you dont have to learn Latvian to become a citizen, you can learn Latvian or Breton But i bet there sense of humor aint that good.

[Saras]

Originally posted by Lancer
Saras, when we first discussed this topic some years back you defended the Rooskies among you etc. Do you recall? We joked about them throwing hockey games or football or something...

Can't recall that.

[VetLegion]

EU

Citizenship rights for the minorities

Minority special representatives in parliament (such as exist in Croatia)

[BeBMan]

"Minority special representatives in parliament"

What's wrong with them?

[VetLegion]

Do you have them in Germany for Turks?

[Vince278]

I'm looking forward to Serb's comments.

[Saras]

I have him on ignore

[MarkG]

Originally posted by Qilue
Turkey demands an apology from Greece for the destruction of Troy?

turks didnt exist at the time