TALLINN. Nov 14 (Interfax-AVN) - The Estonian parliament has passed the War Graves Protection Bill in the first reading on Tuesday.
The bill allows regulation "of the protection of remains of people killed in combat actions in line with Estonia's international obligations," an explanatory note to the document says.
If the bill is passed it will provide for reburying remains "if military tombs are situated in places in which it is difficult to take care of them and which cannot be considered as a dignified final resting place."
The adoption of the document together with a bill on removing unneeded structures, which was passed in the first reading on November 9, is seen as the legal basis for transferring the remains of Soviet soldiers from the fraternal grave on the Tonismagi hill in downtown Tallinn and dismantling the Soviet Soldier Monument.
Commenting on the Russian Sate Duma's intention to pass a statement on the Estonian bills, the chairman of the Constitutional Committee of the Riigikogu Urmas Reinsalu said that "Estonia's foreign policy is based on clear foundations and the parliament will not allow an alien opinion to be imposed." He urged the ruling Center Party to break a framework agreement with Russia's ruling United Russia signed in 2004, should the State Duma pass a statement.
Estonian Prime Minister Andrus Ansip said on November 9 that if the bills are passed in spring 2007, reburial work will begin. The monument will be moved together with the reburial of remains of Soviet soldiers.
The government did not approve the draft bills, because ministers from two coalition parties refused to back them.
The bills were sent to parliament at the initiative of Ansip and on behalf of the Estonian Reform Party, the Estonian Social Democratic Party, the Union for the Republic and the Pro Patria Union. These parties hold 59 out of 101 seats in the parliament and they will be able to pass the bills.
Estonian MPs must submit any amendments to the bills by November 28. The authorities of the Riigikogu will set the date for the second reading then. Three readings are required to pass them. Estonian President Toomas Hendrik Ilves must approve the bills as well.
The Soviet Soldier Monument issue has broadened the gap in Estonian society. Russian-speaking population of the country wants it preserved, while Estonian nationalists advocate dismantling or moving the monument, which they view as a symbol of the Soviet occupation.