THE HAGUE, 07/06/06 - The Netherlands' ambassador to Estonia is resigning due to hostile treatment of his partner. The diplomat is gay and his lover a black man from Cuba.

Ambassador Hans Glaubitz said his Cuban husband could no longer cope with gay hatred and racism on the Estonian streets, evening newspaper NRC Handelsblad reported yesterday. After only one year in office, he will now be moving to Canada to lead the Dutch consulate in Montreal.

Trouble for Glaubitz' partner started after a local weekly had reported shortly after his arrival that his appointment should be regarded as a provocation by the Netherlands. Glaubitz stressed in a personal statement yesterday that the Estonian authorities cannot be blamed. However, its "society is far from ready for two gentlemen, especially when one of them is black."