Was adding a preamble to the border treaty necessary and beneficial? Stoicescu said it was neither beneficial nor necessary. He wrote on social media that adding the preamble in 2005 was not a wise decision. He emphasized that he is a defender of Estonia's legal continuity but also a defender of Estonia's future.
Marko Mihkelson and Sven Mikser, who spoke to ERR, did not criticize the addition of the preamble. They believed it would not have changed Russia's actions. Then-Foreign Minister Urmas Paet said that the Reform Party supported adding the preamble due to domestic political pressure.
Stoicescu wrote that Estonia joined the European Union and NATO in 2004. It seemed safe. Today, we are wiser. He believed that adding the preamble did not change Russia's official position or the border treaty. He did not understand what was achieved, except for domestic political points.
Stoicescu was a member of the Estonian-Russian border negotiations delegation in 1995-1996. He signed the Estonia-Russia border treaty. He recalled that Estonia sought to maintain legal continuity based on the Tartu Peace Treaty. He wrote that Estonia had to give up some areas, but it was a pragmatic choice.
The Estonian and Russian foreign ministers signed the border treaty in 2005 and 2014. In 2005, a preamble was added to the treaty, emphasizing Estonia's state continuity. This did not change the border treaty, but Russia took advantage of it and refused to ratify the treaty.
Stoicescu said that in 2014, a clause was added to the border treaty about the absence of mutual territorial claims. However, Russia's attack on Ukraine ended this process.
He emphasized that the decisions made in 2005 affect today's events. Estonia's border treaty with Russia does not mean much because Russia violates international law. He said that the Estonia-Russia border is the only NATO and EU border with Russia that is not legally defined.
Stoicescu wrote that the Saatse Boot is an area belonging to Russia. Estonia must build new roads around it. If the border treaty were in effect, there would be no Saatse Boot problem. The Värska-Saatse road passes through the Saatse Boot, which shortens the route but stopping is not allowed. The border guard closed the road when Russian soldiers were seen.
Stoicescu said that we should not be alarmed when we see soldiers on Russian territory. This is the goal of Russia's psychological warfare.