ESTONIA: OUTREACH TO DEMOCRACY ACTIVISTS AND DISSIDENTS

UNCLAS TALLINN 000158 SENSITIVE SIPDIS VILNIUS ALSO FOR EMBASSY MINSK FOR DRL/SEA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS:PHUM, PREL, LH, EN SUBJECT: ESTONIA: OUTREACH TO DEMOCRACY ACTIVISTS AND DISSIDENTS REF: A) STATE 44903 B) 07 STATE 108924 C) 07 TALLINN 617 ¶1. (SBU) As requested in reftel A and B, Embassy Tallinn has continued to reach out to democracy and human rights activists in Estonia. On March 2, 2008, Acting DCM joined Vice Speaker of the Estonian Parliament Kristiina Ojuland in a panel discussion at the first Congress of the New Belarusian Diaspora in Tallinn. The conference brought together Belarusians from around the world (including from the United States) who are seeking to form a new international organization that can support democratic processes in Belarus. In her remarks, A/DCM highlighted the ongoing U.S. role in working for change in Belarus and stressed the importance of continued Estonian support for Belarusian democratic reform. Embassy Tallinn provided consular and other administrative support for Belarusian dissidents living in the US who attended the conference. A local Russian- language press outlet reported on the event. ¶2. (SBU) In addition, as previously reported (Ref C),in August 2007 the Ambassador met with Belarusian dissidents in Tallinn, two of whom represented the 'Third Way' pro-democracy group. The Ambassador thanked the Belarusians for their commitment to promoting democracy in their homeland, even at great personal sacrifice and risk. He also committed to share information about Third Way with U.S. embassies in countries where Third Way members are in exile and/or operate. PHILLIPS