A.P. - 01.08.2002

 

The Associated Press

Estonian Prime Minister Resigns

By Michael Tarm

TALLINN, Estonia -- Estonian Prime Minister Mart Laar resigned Tuesday, complaining of coalition infighting that hampered his government and threatened the small Baltic nation's efforts to join the European Union and NATO.

Laar, 41, told Parliament before Christmas he would step down, saying disputes in the three-party coalition - led by his center-right Pro Patria party - "endanger key goals of Estonia."

The entire Cabinet, which includes the center-right Reform Party and centrist Moderates, automatically quits as a result of Laar's resignation. But they stay on as caretakers until President Arnold Ruutel nominates a new prime minister and a new Cabinet is approved by Parliament, which could take several weeks.

Laar blamed the Reform Party for the friction in his administration, saying it betrayed him by joining the opposition Center Party to form a new Tallinn city government. Though the parties in the coalition were agreed on joining the EU and NATO, it was feared the party disputes could hold up policies.

The Reform and Center Parties are thought to have the best chance of forming a new coalition. Reform Party leader and outgoing Finance Minister Siim Kallas appeared most likely to replace Laar as prime minister.

Laar, a supporter of free-market economics, said he achieved his main goals since taking office in 1999 - the longest stint for any prime minister since independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. He also held the job from 1992-94.

"In my first term, the goal was to turn Estonia from the East to the West," he told The Associated Press in an interview. "This time, it was to make that turn irreversible."

The EU has said negotiations with Estonia should be wrapped up next year to allow them to join in 2004.

He said he was confident his successor will stick to pro-Western, pro-market policies. He said one guarantee was the 2002 budget, approved by Parliament on Dec. 19, hours before he announced he would resign.

Abroad, Laar has been credited with solidifying Estonia's image as the most Western-oriented of the 15 ex-Soviet republics, but critics in the nation of 1.4 million say he has been too brash and has ignored the poor.