Nr. 33
EESTI ELU reedel, 19. augustil 2022 — Friday, August 19, 2022
11
UCC calls for Canada to designate Russia a terrorist state
Olev Träss and Heino Jõe celebrating another successful Metsaülikool. archival photo
Two men who made history Andres Raudsepp Allow me to present a rare photo of two men who have made history. I say this with impunity because we are talking about an institution that has become a highlight in the Estonian global commu nity, particularly during the challenging exile years. Founded in the beautiful Muskoka wilderness on a land the Estonians call Kotkajärve and mainly by these two men, this institution, called “Metsa ülikool” (in English “Forest University”), is considered comparable to other main events in Estonian history. Although founded in Canada, it has spawned worthy versions of itself in other locations. We begin by mentioning Australia, Sweden and the USA, but since the renewal of independence, in the country that was originally the inspiration of it all – Eesti, as the name Estonia is currently getting recognition. Yes, Eesti also created its own version of Metsaülikool and called it as such, an indication of highest respect. The two men that I am high lighting in this article laid the groundwork for the half-century institution that caught the imagination of Estonians worldwide. The aim of Metsaülikool, aka Forest University, was to raise the level of Estonian iden tity and self-awareness among its educated youth at a time when the only free Estonians were those who had escaped deportation and possible death in 1944 and, of course, their youthful and active progeny in countries that had their freedom. The institution also inspired younger leadership in commu nities over the free world. The man on the right might be called a guiding force for exile Estonian youth after the Great Escape of ‘44, both in Sweden and then in Canada. He was the legendary Heino Jõe, an inspiring leader and also a newspaperman. His young friend is called Olev Träss, who, while becoming a university professor at a young age, also took on community leadership responsibilities at the same time. They both shared a simple and concrete aim: educate Estonian youth at a higher level
of awareness. Both Heino and Olev refused to rest on their ideas but re sponded to required practical solutions. It was Heino who in the fall of 1966 called together Estonian youth to an event in Muskoka called “Sügiskulla päevad” (“Golden Days of Autumn”) where the idea for a new summer course was laid out. It was Heino who then called together representatives of Estonian youth organizations to the main meeting in Toronto’s Eesti Maja (Estonian House), a meeting designed to lay the groundwork for pre parations. Then Olev took over. Leading a committee of five youth leaders during the course of a series of meetings, he and his co-workers laid out the plans for a “Rahvaülikool” – a university-level seminar for young people. When the plans were submitted to the larger body, the election for an execu tive took place and the search for lecturers and activity leaders began. The reality of a global “Forest University” was rein forced by the enthusiastic support from Estonians in the United States. This was abso lutely necessary because the initial support from Canada was lukewarm. However, the rela tively moderate representation who came to the first seminar on August 19, 1967, was so inspired that they took their message home to both countries so that at the inception of the second course in 1968 the num ber almost doubled. After that there was no looking back. The success of Metsaülikool over the half-century has been indicated by the response from a free Eesti, from where we have seen an increasing number of participants as well as lecturers coming to the seminar. We have just read three depic tions in Eesti Elu of young scholars from Estonia who are coming to make presentations and take part in the spirit, the flame that was lit by the found ers of Metsaülikool. While older founder, Heino Jõe, has passed away, Olev is still going strong and will be participating at this 55th anni versary of Metsaülikool on the land we call Kotkajärve in beautiful Muskoka.
OTTAWA, ON. The Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC) calls on the Government of Canada to designate the Russian Federation as a state supporter of terrorism, expel the Russian ambassador and diplomats from Canada, and suspend the issuance of travel visas to citizens of the Russian Federation. “Russia is a terrorist state waging a genocidal war on Ukraine. Russia threatens the world with nuclear disaster – shelling the largest nuclear power plant in Europe near Zaporizhzhia,” stated Alexandra Chyczij, National President of the UCC. “In its war against Ukraine, Russia is committing war crimes and crimes against humanity on a scale not seen in Europe since WWII. Russia is a criminal, terrorist state that must be isolated completely from the international commu nity and Canada’s government should follow the example of our European allies.” The UCC wrote to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in May 2022, urging the Government to designate the Russian Fe deration as a state supporter of terrorism. On August 11, the Saeima, Latvia’s Parliament, declared the Russian Federation a state sponsor of terror and called on like-minded countries to take the same view. At the end of July, the US Senate adopted a unanimous resolution calling on the Secretary of State to designate the Russian Federation a state supporter of terrorism. Ameri can legislators have made clear that should the Executive branch fail to act, Congress will designate Russia a terrorist state through legislation. Russia’s threat to Canada’s national security has only in creased since February 24, 2022, and the UCC calls upon the Government of Canada to take steps to mitigate that risk. The UCC calls on our Government to act to expel Russian diplomats from Canada. Since February 24, over 25 EU and NATO member states have expelled Russian diplo matic staff from their countries. Poland, Germany, and France have expelled over 40 personnel each. The security and espio nage threat posed to Canada by the presence of Russian diplo mats in Canada is well known. This threat increases as Russia’s aggression against the Free World and Russia’s contempt for democratic values increase. Canada should also accede to the Ukrainian govern ment’s request that Western countries prohibit the entry of citizens into the Russian Federation. On August 8, President
Zelenskyy told the Washington Post that “the most important sanctions are to close the borders – because the Russians are taking away someone else’s land.” Several states of the Euro pean Union – Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania Finland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Poland – have suspended, restricted, limited, or otherwise tightened the issuance of travel visas to citizens of the Russian Federation and are seeking to implement Schengen-wide mea sures. Estonia, for example, will no longer issue temporary resi dence permits or study visas to Russians. The Foreign Minister of Estonia, Urmas Reinsalu,
stated recently, “We cannot act as if there is no genocidal war in some areas of life. They are citizens of a country fighting a genocidal war. In this situation, Estonia plans to also encourage the European Union to impose such restrictions. The sanctions should affect the whole of Russian society.” Send your Member of Parliament an email or call their constituency office and urge Canada to designate the Russian Federation a state supporter of terrorism! MPs emails are Firstname. Lastname@parl.gc.ca You can find your MP by postal code here: https://www. ourcommons.ca/members/en
Government limits issuing of visas to and entry into Estonia of Russian citizens STENBOCK HOUSE, August 2022 – The government has approved a sanction restrict ing the issuing of visas to citizens of the Russian Federation and their entry into the country at external borders with Schengen visas issued by Estonia. As an exception, the residence per mits of students in Estonia who are due to complete their studies at an Estonian institu tion of higher education will be extended for one year. “We have seen an enormous rise in the number of Russian citizens coming into or passing through Estonia,” said Minister of Foreign Affairs Urmas Reinsalu. “The possibility they have to visit Estonia, or other parts of Europe via Estonia, en masse is not in line with the principles of the sanctions we have imposed. In implementing them, Estonia sought to restrict the ability of the aggressor state to carry on with ordinary inter national life at the levels of both the state and its citizens.” Minster Reinsalu added that Estonia will also cease issuing to citizens of the aggressor state exceptional visas for working, studying and doing business in the country. Minister of the Interior Lauri
Läänemets explained that Russian students who have not managed to complete their studies in the nominal time have been left in an awkward position due to the sanctions imposed in spring. “For many of them, given the situation at present, returning home may be dangerous if they have spoken out in support of Ukraine and criticised the Russian regime and its aggression,” he said. “People there are facing prison sentences for doing so, which is why it was necessary, as an exception, to extend those students’ residence permits by one year, so that they can complete their studies.” Citizens of the Russian Federation may continue to en ter Estonia if they have a longterm residence permit for the country, if they are coming to the country to visit close rela tives, if they are diplomats serv ing in the country or family members thereof, if they are employed in the field of inter national goods and passenger transport, if they have the right to do so based on European Union law or if they are enter ing the country on humanitarian grounds. The sanction will come into effect on 18 August.
