Book overrates Finland's role in Estonia's independence

The book "Behind the Fear" has triggered intense debate in Finland. In it authors Imbi Pajun and Sofi Oksanen examine Finland's lack of support for Estonia's struggle for independence 20 years ago. The daily Savon Sanomat can't understand what all the fuss is about: "On the whole the book caused more of an uproar in advance of being published than the problem merits. Estonia has been independent for almost two decades and has been a member of Nato and the European Union for years now. Over four decades of Soviet rule it experienced things that should not be repeated, and this is why this small Baltic republic has turned westwards. Finland's history took a different course; therefore the Finns had different alternatives open to them. … It is good to raise questions in the present, even if they would have had no impact on the course of past events. As far as Estonia is concerned, the country and its heads of government were very well able to achieve independence without major public support from Finland."

» full article (external link, Finnish)
More from the press review on the subject » International Relations, » Estonia, » Finland, » Russia

» To the complete press review of Tuesday, March 24, 2009