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Meriisms Photo by Sven Tupits
"The state of mind in my own family was that the existence of a totalitarian state was something very temporary. And in my family everything that happened in the world was analyzed from one and only one point of view: Did it prolong the agony of this Soviet totalitarian system or did it shorten it. In this sense, you could say that, in our family, there was never an Iron Curtain." —Estonian President Lennart Meri in a CITY PAPER interview (No. 34 May/June 1998) arguing that his family never succumbed to thinking in Soviet terms."Some public commentators have limited knowledge of the EU and are scaring people by claiming we are dealing with a monster similar to the USSR. This is not true. Those who say so are only demonstrating their ignorance." —Estonian President Lennart Meri in February, 1998, countering opponents of EU membership. Critics have become fond of likening the EU to the Soviet Union."Democracy, after all, is not something you catch like a disease. " —in 1995, on the slim chances of Russia becoming fully democratic since it lacks a long tradition of democracy."They thought that by feeding a tiger more and more meat, it would eventually turn into a vegetarian." —in 1995, on how the West was too hopeful about changing aggressive Russian policy by offering aid without strict conditions."Security is like virginity: you're either a virgin or you're not. You either have security or you don't." —in 1994, on why any half-way measures, anything short of full NATO membership, would fail to provide the Baltics with adequate security. "Partnership for Peace is like a bottle of used Chanel perfume: nice to look at, but empty." —Meri in 1993 expressing initial skepticsm about NATO's new program, designed to give Eastern Europe a presence in the military alliance. "We understand that all this comes as a big shock to the West and to the 25,000 Sovietologists in the United States, but we have always had few illusions about Russia." —in 1993, on the Russian election results that saw big gains by extreme nationalists. "I won't walk onto Estonian soil under a Soviet flag." —in 1991, Meri ordering authorities to take down a Soviet flag at the harbor upon his arrival from Helsinki, days after a Soviet coup failed and Estonia regained its independence. "I've never met a general yet who could milk a cow." —in 1991 during the August Kremlin coup, predicting that the Moscow conspirators did not have the minimal economic know-how to succeed. "Estonians were the only ones in the Soviet Union who knew Lech Walesa had a moustache." —in 1990, explaining how Estonians always stayed in touch with Western news and developments despite Soviet rule, thanks to their access to Finnish TV. "Our most dangerous enemy sits between our ears." —Estonian President Lennart Meri to CITY PAPER in 1994 on the prevalence of Soviet-style behavior in government and society. "Clinton’s departure reminds me of when the clock strikes midnight at a masquerade party and everyone takes off their masks." —in 1994 after Russian leaders threaten to keep troops in the Baltic States, a threat which came days after the Russian-American summit ended in Moscow. "It is a wonderful map, but I always try to stand in front of it when the Russian ambassador comes to visit." —about a map in his study depicting Swedish dominance in the Baltics during the 17th century, when Estonian borders extended into present-day Russia. "The West is making a fundamental mistake when it keeps Russia’s nomenclature fed in salami." —warning that billions of dollars in aid to Russia could be siphoned off by ex-communists and diverted to Swiss bank accounts.
Also on this site, see related articles about President Meri—Portrait of a President and Renaissance Man.
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