RUSSIAN THREAT BACKFIRES

On September 5, Latvia and Estonia reacted to Russian deputy foreign minister Sergei Krylov’s September 2 statement to BNS, in which he had suggested that Russia would use military as well as economic and political pressure to prevent the Baltic States’ accession to NATO. Estonian prime minister Tiit Vahi and Latvia’s foreign ministry announced in separate statements that Krylov’s remarks had only reinforced the two countries’ determination to seek admission to NATO, ELTA and LETA reported September 5. Vahi added that if Estonia joins NATO, it will not deploy nuclear weapons on its territory.

All-Caucasus Summit in the Making?