The conference, organised by the Union of Associations of Russian Compatriots in Estonia, gathered about 130 representatives of political parties and public organisations in Estonia.
Discussing results of elections to the European Parliament, conferees noted that the voting returns of Georgi Bystrov, common candidate from public and political organisations of the Russian-speaking population of Estonia, ranking seventh among the 94 claimants, is evidence of society's desire to have organised political forces expressing the interests of the Russian-speaking population of the Baltic republic.
The conference urged the leadership and members of Russian parties to end talk of unification and promptly form a strong and efficient Russian party capable of equal competition with other parties at parliamentary and municipal elections.
Conferees supported the PACE Edinburgh resolution of July 7, 2004 On the Ethnic Minorities. It calls for the Estonian parliament and government to adopt a legislation banning discrimination on reasons of race, colour of skin, language, religion, sex, ethnic origin and other grounds in the spheres of education, employment and social ensurance, as well as ruling out the adoption of resolutions aimed at the assimilation of ethnic minorities.
After the conference Sergei Sergeyev, chairman of the Union of Associations, told RIA Novosti that today's meeting is one of the first steps on the road of consolidation of the isolated Russian community in Estonia. "We should meet, listen to each other, voice opinions and look for ways towards rapprochement so as to restore the influence of Russian political parties", Sergeyev said.
The Union of Associations of Russian Compatriots in Estonia is made up of 49 public organisations. Its collective members are the Union of Slav Educational Societies, uniting over 100 collective members, Union of Great Patriotic War Veterans, and Combat Brotherhood of Veterans of the Afghan War and Local Conflicts.
The Union has branches in Tallinn, Tartu, Narva, Parnu, Haapsalu, Viljandi, Sillamae and Kohtla-Jarve.
