Politics & Society

In an interview on French TV, China’s ambassador to France said that former Soviet (occupied, ed.) countries have no effective status in international law. European governments reacted swiftly, condemning the remarks. Numerous EU politicians called on France to expel Lu Shaye, the author of the “unacceptable and outrageous” statement. In...

Karl Altau, JBANC Finland has good reason to be the Happiest Country in the World. On April 4, 2023, the Republic of Finland formally became a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), joining 30 other members in what was the fastest accession process in the alliance's history. Without...

The Consul from the Consulate General of Estonia in San Francisco will be in Seattle on Saturday, May 20th to provide consular services (e.g. passport and ID card application submissions, fingerprinting, issuing of e-residency cards). The appointments will take place at 950 N. 72nd Street, Suite 100. Please pre-register for...

Ambassador Kristjan Prikk joined other Baltic ambassadors at a lively panel discussion at the WorldBoston special event, "The State of the State Department & Baltic Security, " held at the Boston Public Library on Monday evening, April 3. The event was open to the public and nearly 300 people filled...

Karl Altau, JBANC The backdrop was a snowy couple of days in early March in Tartu, on the eve of Estonia’s parliamentary election. The venue was the V Spa Hotel and Conference Center. The topic was Russia and its continuing full-scale invasion of Ukraine. On March 2-3, 2023, the Baltic...

Laas Leivat, Eesti Elu The 24th of February is a milestone in the history of both Estonia and Ukraine. On this date Estonians mark the birth of a nation. Volodymyr Zelensky named the same day a “rebirth” of his nation. “A new nation was born at four in the morning....

Dear fellow Estonians and friends! We are right to wonder if the meaning of February 24 has changed forever. While waiting for this day last year, we thought about the birthday of the Republic of Estonia and the history associated with it. It was a day when we thought about...

Karl Altau, JBANC For Estonians, February 24 marks a day of celebration on the anniversary of the 1918 declaration of independence (Manifest Eestimaa rahvastele). This year, Estonia marks its 105th birthday. Freedom can never be taken for granted. Particularly during this time. This is especially tangible considering it being the...

The Russian Federation has reduced the staff in its embassy in Tallinn to the required level. Both countries' ambassadors left on Tuesday, February 7. "The embassy of the Russian Federation has complied with the conditions in the Estonian Foreign Ministry's note," the latter's press representative Anna Tisler-Lavrentjev told ERR. She...

The Tartu Peace Treaty marked the end of the Estonian War of Independence and established the country as an independent republic. The main solemnities took place in Tartu, starting at 9.00 a.m. with the laying of commemorative wreaths on the War of Independence memorial at Paulus cemetery. Wreaths were also...