NEWS RELEASE
June 21, 2013
Officials from the City of Cumberland met with officials from Viljandi, Estonia plus the Estonian Embassy in Washington, DC and the US Embassy in Tallinn, Estonia via Skype exchange on Wednesday, June 19, 2013 to finalize a Memorandum of Cooperation between the two cities that commits each to mutually explore opportunities to raise cross-cultural awareness and seek areas of collaboration that will be beneficial to both citizenry.
Relations between the two cities had been initiated through the official Sister State program, an alliance operating on the foundations of nearly twenty years of cordial relations forged by the Maryland National Guard with the Estonian Home Guard through an initiative known as the State Partnership Program. Due to the success of that military-based association, the program was enlarged to include civilian-to-civilian relationships designed to enhance partnerships that explore issues related to education, economic development, cultural/social activities, the twinning of cities and counties, and areas of police and medical matters. That initiative generated an official friendship agreement that was signed between the State of Maryland and Estonia in April of 2006, and in May, 2009, Maryland and Estonia became official Sister States, forming the Maryland Estonia Exchange Council (MEEC).
In November, 2012, Estonian officials from Estonia and from the Estonian Embassy traveled to Maryland as part of the Sister State program to explore issues concerning IT development and local government subjects. During this tour they visited the Maryland Information Technology Corridor, the University of Maryland, the Port of Baltimore, Annapolis, Bel Air, Salisbury University, and the City of Cumberland, where they met with representatives from Cumberland, Oakland, Frostburg State University, the City of Frostburg, and several local IT companies.
As a result of that visit, Viljandi City and the City of Cumberland agreed to develop a Sister City relationship through which they would work together to share information and expertise between their two cities, as well as Allegany County and Viljandi County. Both Viljandi and Cumberland are County seats with strong cultural heritages that each city works to promote through venues such as the world-famous Viljandi Annual Folk Music Festival and, in Cumberland, the Delfest, one of America’s largest and fastest growing bluegrass music festivals. In addition to Cumberland, there are presently over a half a dozen Maryland cities currently fostering Sister City relationships with their designated “twin cities” throughout Estonia, including Annapolis, Oakland, and Salisbury.
Through the use of Skype, a technology created by Estonian developers, the international link-up visually connected Viljandi City in Estonia with the Estonian Embassy in Washington, D.C. and City Hall in Cumberland, Maryland across a 7-hour time difference. The Mayors of each city were able to directly exchange greetings and discuss ideas for future collaboration. At the end of the discussions, Mayor Grim and Mayor Kivistik each signed the respective Memorandum of Cooperations in recognition of their city’s commitment to advance the Sister City relationship.
“We are very excited about the opportunities presented by this relationship and are looking forward to future discussions on not only the similarities between our two cities that will serve to enhance our relationship, but also on the differences that will provide us new avenues for growth through collaboration and interaction,” said Mayor Brian K. Grim.
Participating with Mayor Kivistik from Viljandi City, US Ambassador to Estonia Jeffrey D. Levine extended words of congratulations to both cities, citing how much the United States and Estonia have gained from their sustained partnership. He stated that the Sister City agreement between Viljandi and Cumberland held much promise for future collaboration, but would require commitment from both sides to fully develop.
Representing the Secretary of State of Maryland and the Sister Cities International Organization of Washington, DC, Coordinator Bob Agee stated, “The Sister State program that exists between Maryland and Estonia is unique in the USA with maybe only two other states having something slightly similar. Other states should learn from the Maryland-Estonia model.”
Participating in the Skype exchange on behalf of the City of Cumberland were Mayor Brian Grim, City Administrator Jeff Rhodes, and Economic Development Coordinator Shawn Hershberger. Among those participating on behalf of Viljandi from the Estonia location were Mayor Loit Kivisik and Krista Kull, Head of the Department of Public Relations and Tourism. Among those participating on behalf of Viljandi from the location of the Estonian Embassy in the United States were Deputy Chief of Mission Tanel Sepp of the Estonian Embassy, Karl Altau, MEEC representative, Anna Yankova, Director of International Affairs for the MD Secretary of State, Bob Agee, Coordinator of the Sister Cities Program for Maryland, and COL (Ret) Milton Davis, Executive Director of MEEC.
For additional information, please contact the Cumberland City Clerk’s Office at 301-759-6447 or [email protected].
