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Estonian business association calls for better ties with Russia

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TALLINN, November 17 (RIA Novosti) - The Estonian Business Association (ESEA) is urging the government to take measures to improve strained relations with Russia, the organization said in a statement on Monday.

"We recommend the republic's government seriously think about setting up a single intergovernmental body or find another way of improving relations at the executive level," a memorandum released following an ESEA conference said.

Russian-Estonian relations hit a low-point in April 2007 after Estonian authorities relocated a Soviet-era war monument from central Tallinn and disinterred the remains of soldiers ahead of Victory Day. Over 1,000 people were arrested in protests against the move, and one Russian was killed.

The Estonian Business Association said that Estonia should ratify a border agreement with Russia, by dropping a provision, which had earlier angered Moscow, as well as conclude a treaty to protect military cemeteries.

The organization said the countries could improve bilateral relations through open dialogue, which needs to be launched.

"We are calling for the establishment of neighborly relations, based on mutual respect and focused through opportunities and without offensive rhetoric against others," the document said.

The two countries signed border agreements on May 18, 2005, and the Estonian parliament ratified the documents on June 20, but with additional demands linked to the 1920 peace treaty between Soviet Russia and Estonia.

On September 6, Russia notified Estonia that it was revoking its signature from the treaties because the 1920 document was no longer valid. Moscow said the new provisions in the ratification of the law could be seen as legally entitling Estonia to make some territorial claims on Russia.

Estonian Business Association (ESEA) is non-profit organization, founded in 1997, which aims to develop a favorable economic environment in Estonia.

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