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Article: ESTONIA TAKES TURN FOR THE BEST AFTER BREAKUP, COUNTRY FLOURISHING WHILE RUSSIA DECLINES
- Article from:
- The Boston Globe (Boston, MA)
- Article date:
- November 7, 1999
- Author:
CopyrightCopyright 1999 The Boston Globe. Provided by ProQuest LLC. (Hide copyright information)
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NARVA, Estonia - Russians live on both sides of the Narva River,
but on one side there is hope, and on the other despair.
More than a border between two countries, the river divides two
worlds. To the east is Russia where financial crises, rampant crime,
and pervasive corruption are the norm. And nestled to the west is
tiny, prosperous Estonia with its booming economy, vibrant democracy,
and easygoing well-to-do population.
When Estonia won its independence following the 1991 Soviet
collapse, the 500,000 Russians living here feared discrimination by
their new government. Today, however, there are few complaints. While
Russia's attempts at reform have floundered, Estonia's have succeeded
and ...