Russia warns Estonia to refrain from provocations

Moscow, May 3 (UNI) Russia today warned the former Soviet Baltic republic of Estonia to refrain from provocative steps over the removal and relocation of a Soviet-era WWII memorial ''Bronze Soldier'' statue and the excavation of Soviet soldiers in Tallinn, the Estonian capital.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov today said, during a telephonic conversation with his Estonian counterpart Urmas Paet, that such steps could lead to further worsening of relations between the two countries.

''He also emphasised the demand for immediate access to the detained Russian citizens,'' Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Meanwhile, Interfax news agency reported that the Estonian Consulate building on Moscow's Kalashny Pereulok was stoned today.

Two or three young men climbed on the roof of a two-storeyed building in front of the Estonian Consulate and pelted the Consulate building with stones, the press secretary of the Young Russia youth movement Alexander Kalugin said.

Estonia has closed its Consulate here following the incident.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Mikhail Kamynin said authorities had mounted a police presence near the embassy.

''What is happening there is within legal frameworks, offenders have been brought to justice,'' Mr Kamynin said.

Estonian President Toomas Hendrik Ilves yesterday said ''the Bronze Soldier statue story was over.'' ''The statue and the remains of Soviet soldiers buried near it will be laid to rest at a cemetery. We have to stop the exploitation of the memory of war victims to political and other disgraceful ends,'' he said.

Estonian Defense Ministry said earlier the remains exhumed from the memorial in the Tynismyagi square would be identified and reburied in June, while the ''Bronze Soldier'' statue would be officially unveiled at a military cemetery on the Tallinn's outskirts on May 8.

UNI