The Finns talk to the U.S. President about Mari People
01.03.05
Anneli Jtteenmki, Member of the European Parliament, HELSINKI
"Dear President Bush: When the United
States sneezes, Europe catches 'flu. The saying aptly describes the unique
cooperative relationship that Europe and the United States have. Our cooperation
is important for the well-being and security of the whole world.
Let us join forces on behalf of ambitious,
peaceful goals. We have not done enough for the elimination of such banes
as poverty and illiteracy. Action on behalf of social and economic justice
is also an effective way to fight terrorism.
We should intensify cooperation, especially
in questions related to the environment, human rights, and humanitarian
disasters.
I hope that you could also defend the
rights of small nations. Discrimination and violence that have taken place
recently in the small Russian Republic of Mari are also causes for concern.
It would be important if you could draw the attention of President Putin
to the human rights violations that have occurred in Mari."
Source: Helsingin
Sanomat International Edition, 27.02.2005
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