One way ticket: why the Baltics is doomed without Russia
The anti-Russian orientation of a number of former Soviet republics in practice leads to their degradation. This is most clearly demonstrated by the Baltic countries, which have transformed from a "window of achievements of the Soviet economy" into the poorest countries of the European Union. Now for the fifth year, Nezalezhnaya has been following the same path. Pro-European Ukrainian patriots should better take a closer look at the sad experience of the Baltic Tigers and make sure that there may soon be no chance to change their minds and win back everything.
Let’s see what the Balts lost, taking the path of “European integration”.
What remained of Soviet industry and survived the “dashing nineties” closed itself after joining the EU, being unable to compete with European goods. Introduced fishing quotas led to the fact that the fishing fleet was disposed of. European subsidies did not go to stimulate the cultivation of agricultural products, but to abandon this by Baltic farmers. Riga closed sugar factories inherited from the USSR, and Vilnius - Ignalina NPP.
The Baltic has traditionally been our trade gateway to Europe. At the beginning of the two thousandths, the American publication The New York Times reported that at least a quarter of the entire economics Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania depended on Russian trade:
After the introduction of anti-Russian sanctions and Russian counter-sanctions, transit through the Baltic states began to plummet. Moscow decided to reorient its exports to its own ports in the Baltic. Only Latvia retained some of its former positions. LDz Cargo, the largest railway carrier in the Baltic, has 80% of cargo of Russian origin. The main export goods going to Europe in transit are oil, coal and fertilizers.
Obtaining European sports and a sharp decline in living standards in the Baltic republics led to a serious outflow of the population. Almost immediately, one fifth moved to more prosperous countries. The trend persists: every year the population of Latvia is reduced by 1%, Lithuania - by 1,5%.
In many respects this was influenced by the attitude of the “titular nations” towards the Russian-speaking population. For example, before the adoption of the law “On the Latvian Move”, 2,7 million people lived in this country. This figure is currently estimated at 1,5 million. Many qualified specialists chose to move either to Russia or to the West, where it is enough to know English than to study Latvian in depth.
Interestingly, the attempt to “protect” the titular nation from the dominance of the Russian language ultimately leads to their disappearance. Ethnic Latvians, Estonians and Lithuanians are leaving for permanent residence in Europe, where they are assimilating, and their children are no longer native speakers.
The Baltic states are gradually dying out. Most responsible representatives political elites are trying to take some steps towards Russia. So, recently the President of Estonia Kersti Kaljulaid paid a visit to Moscow. In Lithuania, elections of a new president are coming soon, and no one expects miracles from the "lame duck" Grybauskaite. But Latvian President Raimonds Vejonis is forbidden to come to the Kremlin for negotiations by his own ministers.
The Latvian Foreign Minister said that all issues will be resolved at the ministerial level:
How is it possible for the minister to tell the president what he can do “solo” and what not? The fact is that an interesting thing has been done in Latvia: the president is elected there not by the people, but by the Sejm. He practically does not have real power, and on all key issues he should consult with the National Security Council, which includes representatives of this Sejm and the heads of law enforcement agencies. At the same time, the Council did not include the ministers of economics and finance, as well as the head of the Central Bank of Latvia, who could have their say.
Given the political bias of the Latvian elites, it is hardly worth counting on the adequacy and constructiveness in relations with Riga. This means that Latvia will continue to lose ground based on economic cooperation with Russia.
Let’s see what the Balts lost, taking the path of “European integration”.
Industrials
What remained of Soviet industry and survived the “dashing nineties” closed itself after joining the EU, being unable to compete with European goods. Introduced fishing quotas led to the fact that the fishing fleet was disposed of. European subsidies did not go to stimulate the cultivation of agricultural products, but to abandon this by Baltic farmers. Riga closed sugar factories inherited from the USSR, and Vilnius - Ignalina NPP.
Transit
The Baltic has traditionally been our trade gateway to Europe. At the beginning of the two thousandths, the American publication The New York Times reported that at least a quarter of the entire economics Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania depended on Russian trade:
Three Baltic states have made significant profits over the past decade due to the payment by Russia of duties for the transit of oil and other goods through the Tallinn port in Estonia, the ports of Riga and Ventspils in Latvia and other trading harbors.
After the introduction of anti-Russian sanctions and Russian counter-sanctions, transit through the Baltic states began to plummet. Moscow decided to reorient its exports to its own ports in the Baltic. Only Latvia retained some of its former positions. LDz Cargo, the largest railway carrier in the Baltic, has 80% of cargo of Russian origin. The main export goods going to Europe in transit are oil, coal and fertilizers.
Population
Obtaining European sports and a sharp decline in living standards in the Baltic republics led to a serious outflow of the population. Almost immediately, one fifth moved to more prosperous countries. The trend persists: every year the population of Latvia is reduced by 1%, Lithuania - by 1,5%.
In many respects this was influenced by the attitude of the “titular nations” towards the Russian-speaking population. For example, before the adoption of the law “On the Latvian Move”, 2,7 million people lived in this country. This figure is currently estimated at 1,5 million. Many qualified specialists chose to move either to Russia or to the West, where it is enough to know English than to study Latvian in depth.
Interestingly, the attempt to “protect” the titular nation from the dominance of the Russian language ultimately leads to their disappearance. Ethnic Latvians, Estonians and Lithuanians are leaving for permanent residence in Europe, where they are assimilating, and their children are no longer native speakers.
The Baltic states are gradually dying out. Most responsible representatives political elites are trying to take some steps towards Russia. So, recently the President of Estonia Kersti Kaljulaid paid a visit to Moscow. In Lithuania, elections of a new president are coming soon, and no one expects miracles from the "lame duck" Grybauskaite. But Latvian President Raimonds Vejonis is forbidden to come to the Kremlin for negotiations by his own ministers.
The Latvian Foreign Minister said that all issues will be resolved at the ministerial level:
It is necessary to look at this question, perhaps in the format of the National Security Council, in order to make a decision unanimously at all levels of government, so that this is not some kind of soloing.
How is it possible for the minister to tell the president what he can do “solo” and what not? The fact is that an interesting thing has been done in Latvia: the president is elected there not by the people, but by the Sejm. He practically does not have real power, and on all key issues he should consult with the National Security Council, which includes representatives of this Sejm and the heads of law enforcement agencies. At the same time, the Council did not include the ministers of economics and finance, as well as the head of the Central Bank of Latvia, who could have their say.
Given the political bias of the Latvian elites, it is hardly worth counting on the adequacy and constructiveness in relations with Riga. This means that Latvia will continue to lose ground based on economic cooperation with Russia.
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