Estonian Supreme Soviet, Decree on Relations with the USSR. August 7, 1990
Proceeding from the fact that the USSR law of 6 August 1940, “On Admittance of the Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic as Part of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics,” enacted on the basis of the legally invalid decision of the Estonian State Duma of 22 July 1940 is totally non-binding for the Republic of Estonia:
recognizing that the Estonian SSR Constitution no longer regulates state and public relations in Estonia; and
confirming that, in accordance with the Estonian SSR Supreme Soviet decree of 30 March 1990, “On the Official Status of Estonia,” neither the USSR Constitution nor other subsequent laws of the USSR may serve as a basis for the regulation of relations with the USSR, the Republic of Estonia Supreme Soviet resolves:
1. To take as the basis for negotiations with the USSR the peace treaty concluded between Estonia and Russia on 2 February 1920 and other valid agreements concluded with the USSR up to 16 June 1940, and also the Estonian SSR Supreme Soviet decree of 12 November 1989, “Historical and Legal Evaluation of the 1940 Events in Estonia,” of 23 February 1990, “Preparations for the State Independence of Estonia,” and of 16 May 1990, “Program of Activity of the Republic of Estonia Supreme Soviet in the Period of Transition up to the Restoration of the Independence of the Republic of Estonia and the Interim Procedure of Administration.”
2. To approve the cooperation of the Baltic states in the complete, actual restoration of their state independence, proceeding from the principles expressed in the Statement of the Baltic States of 27 July 1990.
3. To recognize as invalid the resolution of the Estonian SSR Supreme Soviet of 16 November 1988, “The Union Treaty.”
4. To appoint a delegation for negotiations with the USSR and to determine its authority by a decree of the Republic of Estonia Supreme Soviet.
5. To recognize that the presence of the USSR Armed Forces on the territory of the Republic of Estonia violates the sovereignty of the Republic of Estonia and is contrary to international law, inasmuch as their status in Estonia has not been defined by agreements between the Republic of Estonia and the USSR.
Source: Foreign Broadcast Information Service, Daily Report, U.S. Dept. of Commerce; National Technical Information Service, 1990.