Estonian Foreign Minister Reveals Revolutionary Discovery: Helping Your Neighbor is Good Business

A sensation has occurred in Tallinn - Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna revealed in a public speech that helping Ukraine is actually helping ourselves. This revolutionary discovery, which has been called common sense in Liepāja for years, is apparently a surprise to Tallinn politicians.

"We do it mainly for Estonia's sake," said Tsahkna, as if he had discovered the American continent. Marija, a vendor at Liepāja Central Market, commented: "Well, of course! When your neighbor's house is on fire, you don't give him a bucket of water because you're a good Samaritan, but so the fire doesn't spread to your house. What have they been studying there in Tallinn?"

Particularly amusing is the minister's warning that "today's criminals" must not become "tomorrow's tourists." In Liepāja we know this principle as "don't let those who burn neighbors' houses into your home." But of course, in Tallinn everything must be explained with beautiful words and complex formulas.

Tsahkna also emphasized how important it is to "tell your story." In Liepāja we call this ordinary café conversations, but in Estonia it seems to be the foundation of foreign policy. As one Liepāja sailor said: "When you don't know what to say, it's better to stay quiet and work. But politicians can't stay quiet."

Although Tsahkna talks about "the end of an era," in Liepāja we know that eras end and begin every day - that's life. Maybe Estonians need more time by the sea to understand these simple truths.