Estonia and the US

12.03.2008

The bilateral relations between Estonia and the United States of America (US) have been steady and strong ever since the Republic of Estonia restored its independence.

The US recognised the Republic of Estonia on 28 July 1922. The first Estonian diplomatic mission in the United States was opened in the same year. It continued its activities throughout the illegal occupation of Estonia by the Soviet Union from 1940 to 1991. The US government recognised Estonia's diplomatic mission as the legal representative of the Republic of Estonia. The recognition of the legal continuity of the Republic of Estonia has been the cornerstone of Estonian-US relations. The United States has never recognised the Soviet annexation.

The United States reopened its Embassy in Tallinn on 4 September 1991, soon after the restoration of Estonia's de facto independence on 20 August 1991. Since then, the development of relations between the two countries has been constructive and stable.

The Ambassador of the United States during the years 2004-2006 was Aldona Wos. The current Ambassador Stanley Davis Phillips presented his credentials to President Toomas Hendrik Ilves on 31 May 2007.

The Estonian Ambassador to the United States as of September 2007 is Väino Reinart. The previous Estonian Ambassador was Jüri Luik from 2003 to 2007. Estonia has Consulate General in New York, where Consul General is Jaanus Kirikmäe. Estonia in the United States is represented by the following honorary consuls: Jaak Treiman in Los Angeles with the consular district of California, Paul Aarne Raidna in Seattle covering the state of Washington, Eric Harkna in Chicago, Illinois and Irja Cilluffo in Portsmouth with a consular district including New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

As a result of its global political and economic impact, the United States is one of Estonia's most important partners. The bilateral relations are strong, which is corroborated by the dialogue between the countries in several matters of great importance to Estonia as well as to the United States. Beside the political dialogue, the bilateral relations between Estonia and the United States are characterized by efficient practical co-operation in the areas of state defence, international fight against terrorism as well as crime prevention. In regional issues, a close dialogue is taking place in the framework of EPINE.

As of 29 March 2004, Estonia is a member state of NATO, which signifies a strengthened allied relationship between Estonia and other members of the alliance, including the United States.

The decision to accept Estonia as a member of NATO was made at the NATO summit in Prague in 2002. The role of the United States in shaping and approving this decision was decisive. The Senate unanimously ratified Estonia's accession to NATO on 8 May 2003.

In addition to direct security policy aspects, the economic co-operation between the two countries is continuously gaining importance.

The two countries enjoy vibrant bilateral relations, which is evidenced by frequent high-level visits.

Visits and Meetings

Agreements

The range of agreements signed between Estonia and the United States is very broad, comprising agreements in many areas. On the basis of the signed agreements, a steady and efficient co-operation is prevalent.

• Agreement on Extradition of Criminals (came into force 15 Nov 1924);
  
  
• Supplementary Agreement to the Agreement on Extradition of Criminals (came into force 7 May 1935)
  
  
• Bilateral Investment Incentive Agreement (came into force 28 Oct 1991);
  
  
• Agreement on Trade and Investment Relations (came into force 17 Sep 1992);
  
  
• Agreement on Fishing in the Waters of the United States of America (came into force 28 Dec 1992);
  
  
• Agreement on the Promotion and Mutual Protection of Investments (came into force 16 Feb 1997);
  
  
• A Charter of Partnership Between the United States of America, the Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Latvia and the Republic of Lithuania (came into force 16 Jan 1998);
  
  
• Bilateral Convention for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with Respect to Taxes on Income (came into force 30 Dec 1999);
  
  
• Memorandum between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Estonia and the United States Department of State treating the automation of the export licensing system of Estonia (came into force 30 Dec 1999)
  
  
• Bilateral Agreement Concerning Security Measures for the Protection of Classified Military Information (came into force 23 Feb 2000);
  
  
• Bilateral Treaty on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters (came into force 20 Oct 2000);
  
  
• Agreement Regarding Employment of Family Members of Diplomats in the Country of Assignment of the Diplomat (came into force 22 Nov 2000);
  
  
• Co-operation Agreement on the Prevention of Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction and on the Development of Defence Related and Military Relations (came into force 4 Dec 2002);
  
  
• Agreement on Law Enforcement (came into force 26 Jun 2003);
  
  
• Agreement on the Protection and Preservation of Certain Cultural Values (came into force 22 Jul 2003).
  
  
• Protocol to the Treaty for the Encouragement and Reciprocal Protection of Investment (came into force 10 Aug 2004)
  
  
• Amendment to the Letter of Agreement on Law Enforcement concluded on 26 June 2003 (came into force 24 Sep 2004)



• Extradition Treaty between the Government of the Republic of Estonia and the Government of the United States of America (signed 08.02.2006)



• Treaty between the Government of the Republic of Estonia and the Government of the United States of America on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters (signed 08.02.2006)
A full-text database of international agreements is located at: http://kala.mfa.ee/Zope/Vlepingud

Regional co-operation

EPINE (Enhanced Partnership in Northern Europe), the framework for cooperation between the USA and the Nordic and Baltic states, was created in 2003. It essentially replaced the previous cooperation frameworks of the NEI (Northern European Initiative) and USA-Baltic charter after the Baltic states were accepted into NATO and the EU. The main goal of cooperation between nations with similar values (NB8+USA) is increasing the successfulness of freedom, security and economy in the region and in its surrounding neighbourhoods (in Moldova, Ukraine, Southern Caucasia and Belarus). EPINE cooperation focuses on the following areas:

• Security issues, which involves cooperation in counterterrorism and the fight against weapons of mass destruction, but also in NATO, PfP programs, and the OSCE.
• Questions of economic policy, primarily in strengthening investments, goods exchange and business connections, and also coordinating development cooperation.

Within the framework of EPINE, meetings of NB8+USA political leaders and development cooperation experts generally take place twice a year. For all parties involved, EPINE has become a highly valued meeting format with an open and honest atmosphere.

Defence co-operation

In defence policy and military matters, the United States is at the forefront of Estonia's most important partners. The principal framework of co-operation between the two countries in the field of state defense is their joint membership in NATO and bilateral agreements. The legal basis for bilateral defence co-operation between Estonia and the United States was laid down in the memorandum on co-operation in defence and military relations between the Defence Ministries signed in 1995. In 2000, the intergovernmental agreement for the protection of classified military intelligence was signed. In 2002, the intergovernmental agreement on the prevention of the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and on the development of defence and military relations was signed.

The main consultative organ for bilateral defence related co-operation is the bilateral working group (BWG) at the level of the Defence Ministries, where the development directions and the needs of the co-operation are laid down. The working group has since 1997 met every year or every other year.

The bilateral military co-operation with the United States covers many different areas from joint participation in peacekeeping operations in Iraq to military environmental related projects in Estonia. The USA is one of Estonia's most important partners in international operations, especially in Iraq.

In recent years, the United States has supported the development of Estonia's Defence Forces within the Security Assistance framework with approximately 8 million dollars annually. The most extensive assistance programmes are the Foreign Military Financing (FMF) and the International Military Education and Training (IMET) programmes. By means of FMF, Estonia has obtained means of communication, marine radars, serviceman's equipment etc. In 2002, four Robinson-44 type helicopters were purchased via FMF arrived in Estonia. Part of the Estonian FMF funds has been channelled to the financing of Baltic defence projects. Since 1995, FMF resources have been allotted to Estonia valuing over 40 million dollars. In 2006, in the framework of FMF 4.45 million USD were allocated to Estonia, the allocation for the coming years will be approximately 4 million USD. That money will mainly be used for purchasing means of communication and night observation devices.

Within the framework of IMET, various types of schooling and training are offered to the representatives of defence structures both in US educational institutions and in Estonia. Until now, Estonia has focused on the professional and technical training of junior officers and on the training of mid to high-ranking officers. Support for English language studies has been of great importance. The monetary value of support rendered by IMET to Estonia slightly surpasses around a million dollars annually. In 2006, the amount was about 1.2 million USD.

The Joint Contact Team Programme, a military cooperation initiative, has been operating in Estonia since 1993. The objective of the JCTP is to bring together members of the US and Estonian military, in order to introduce the US military structure and working methods to help Estonia meet its security related goals.

The United States and Estonia have together participated in a great number of PfP and ISO military trainings in Estonia, in the Baltic region as well as in the United States. Estonia has taken part in trainings arranged in the United States: Cooperative Nugget, Cooperative Osprey, Eloquent Nugget, Partner Challenge etc. In April 2006, the joint anti-terrorist co-operation training exercise Shamrock Key was conducted, in which also Americans participated. With the US participation and support several projects in the field of military environment protection have been conducted. From 2001-2002, research related to the central artillery range was conducted: in 2001, expertise of exercise fields, in 2002, a noise survey and the program for environmental management of the central artillery range. The principal environmental co-operation with the United States comprises training.

The United States is an active participant in Baltic regional defence co-operation. At the moment, the main project in which the USA is participating is BALTDEFCOL (Baltic Defence College).

The newest focuses in defence cooperation with the USA are research and development cooperation and cyber defence.

Economic relations

The United States is a important economic partner for Estonia. The global operating of enterprises with the US origin and increasingly internationalizing supply chains often mean that the end consumer of an electronics component or device meant for some European country may well be in the United States.

Estonia and the US have co-operated in the field of oil shale since 2001.

All major economic agreements have been concluded between Estonia and the US:

• Bilateral Investment Incentive Agreement (came into force 28 Oct 1991);
• Agreement on Trade and Investment Relations (came into force 17 Sep 1992);
• Agreement on Fishing in the Waters of the United States of America (came into force 28 Dec 1992);
• Agreement on the Promotion and Mutual Protection of Investments (came into force 16 Feb 1997);
• Bilateral Convention for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with Respect to Taxes on Income (came into force 30 Dec 1999);
• Agreement between the United States Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) and the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications of the Republic of Estonia on the funding of the Tallinn Port security assistance project. (signed on 21 September 2006)

In the areas in the European Union's competence, Estonia's economic relations with the US are also regulated by agreements concluded between the EU and the US, the list of which is available at http://ue.eu.int/cms3_Applications/applications/Accords/searchp.asp?cmsid=297&party=US&pname=USA&lang=EN&doclang=EN

According to Statistics Estonia, the USA was Estonia's 7th trade partner in 2006 (with 3.5% of Estonia's total trade turnover). The total value of goods exchanged was over 633 million EUR, which counts for 3.49% of Estonia's total foreign trade. In the first half of 2007, goods exchange with the USA slowed a bit. Exports decreased by 30%, which is primarily explained by a third less fuel being exported. At the same time, imports increased by 28%. The rapid growth of imports was attributed to mineral products, metals, and transport vehicles. Total trade turnover was 275 million EUR, of which exports attributed 211 million EUR and imports 64 million EUR.

In accordance with the method of data collection used since 1 May 2004, imports are represented according to the shipping nation, not the nation of origin, so the import statistics shown here do not actually reflect Estonia's imports from the USA.

Estonia's primary exports to the USA are:

• Mineral products
• Chemical products

Estonia's primary imports from the USA are:

• Machinery and equipment
• Transport vehicles
• Photographic, medical and measurement apparatuses

INVESTMENTS

As of the end of 2006, the US direct investment position in Estonia was 147 million EUR, accounting for 1.2 per cent of total foreign investments and placing the US 10th among the source countries of foreign investments. According to the Bank of Estonia, as of 30 June 2007 1.7% of foreign investments in Estonia came from the USA (total value of 166 million EUR). About a third of these were made in the manufacturing industry, close to a fifth in real estate and the service industry, and a tenth in finance brokerage. According to the Estonian Enterprise Register, as of 30 May 2007 there were 398 enterprises with US participation registered in Estonia, of which 252 are based entirely on US capital. Companies in Estonia with the largest USA involvement are McDonald´s Eesti, Horizon Cellulose and Paper AS, Fiesta Real Estate, and Velsicol Eesti (benzoic acid production).

As of 30 June 2007, Estonia's direct investments in the USA totalled 1.4 million EUR. Approximately 60% of investments are in real estate and business, and a tenth in the manufacturing industry.

TOURISM

The number of America tourists staying overnight in Estonian accommodation establishments grew by leaps and bounds in 2004, after Estonia joined the European Union. Since 2005, the number of Americans spending the night in Estonian accommodations has consistently remained around 20,000. A summary of the first 9 months of 2007 shows that 19,000 US citizens have spent the night in Estonian establishments. The year 2006 saw significant growth (about 40%) in the number of one-day visitors from the United States, which was connected to the increased number of cruise tours. Travel companies estimate that altogether about 80,000 American tourists visited Estonia in 2006, with 90% of those being one-day visitors. This is 5% of all the tourists that came into the country via travel companies. In 2007, more American cruise tourists visited Estonia than even British or German.

Cultural relations

Estonian culture has been presented by many actors, artists and musicians in the United States. The current Chief Conductor of the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra Neeme Järvi for more than twenty years was chief conductor and music director of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra and has participated in the work of the New York Philharmonic and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. For the last few years, Neeme Järvi's son Paavo Järvi has been conducting the Cincinnati and Chicago symphony orchestras. In the fall of 2007, Eri Klas also conducted the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. Performances of Erkki-Sven Tüür's music are becoming increasingly more frequent in the USA. The last performance was in March 2007 in New York. The works of composer Arvo Pärt are also popular in the United States. Arvo Pärt's work Da Pacem performed by the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir in February 2007 won the Best Choral Performance Award at the 49th annual Grammy Awards presentation in Los Angeles.

The folk, spiritual and awakening era songs of Estonian composers (G. Ernesaks, R. Tobias, A. Pärt, V. Tormis, E. Tubin) have been presented to US audiences by both Estonia's and America's best mixed choirs. The Mixed Choir of the Estonia Society (Estonia Seltsi Segakoor) did a tour of some American East Coast cities in October 2007. The James River Singers, a chamber choir and member of Chorus America, staged the concert series „From the Baltc Sea” in November 2007 in Richmond, the capital of Virginia.

Famous American musicians and ensembles like Kenny Garret and the Victor Bailey Group, Chicago Beau, Brian Melvin, Mike Stern, Joey DeFrancesco Trio and Terry Lyne Carrington Group have performed in Estonia's largest annual jazz festival Jazzkaar. In August 2007, 92-year-old blues legend David „Honeyboy” Edwards performed in Tallinn. Estonian performers in the US also have busy concert schedules. Indrek Laul's piano concerts and the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir's tour in February-March 2007 drew many classical music lovers. Opera soloists Kersti Ala-Murri and Triin Maran, accompanied by composer and pianist Kristjan Randalu, performed on the East Coast of the USA in March 2006. The young soloists of the Estonian National Opera introduced Estonian operas and operettas to the public in Washington in late fall-early winter of 2006: On 13 November, opera duo Annika Põder and Silver Lumi gave a performence in the Estonian Embassy, and on 14 December opera duo Andres Köster and Juuli Lill gave a Christmas concert in the Corcoran Art Gallery. There are plans to make the Christmas concert an annual event, so hopefully it will find its place within the cultural life of America's capital. This year in December, Aile Asszonyi and Mati Turi will be performing opera songs.

The first North American tour by Estonian chamber musicians took place in February 2007. They performed the programme „A century of Estonian violin music”. Urmas Vulp (violinist) and Heiki Mätlik (guitar), both instructors at the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre, performed at Saint Mark's Lutheran Church in Baltimore on 17 February, First Church in Boston on 18 February, the Estonian Embassy in Washington on 22 February, Community Church in New York on 24 February, and the Chicago Estonian House on 25 February.

In March 2005, the Orthodox Singers had their concert tour, which gave listeners the opportunity to appreciate spiritual music. In October 2006, the ensemble Heinavanker presented Estonian pre-Christian and Medieval ecclesiastic music on their concert tour, which mostly stopped at American universities. Each concert had over 300 listeners. While on tour, Heinavanker received an offer for a record deal from Harmonica Mundi (USA), and they recorded an album in September 2007. In connection with the CD's release, Heinavanker has scheduled a tour of universities in Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Illinois, Massachusetts, and Connecticut in October 2008.

The folk ensemble Vägilased performed in New York in October of 2006 as port of the EU Cultural Festival Eurodream. On 17 May 2007, the folk ensemble Vägilased gave a concert in the main building of the UN within the framework of events following the 6th session of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII). The performance by the Estonian ensemble at the annual gathering of this authoritative institution demonstrated Estonia's dedication to developing and protecting the rights of indigenous populations. The embassy in Washington and the Permanent Representation of Estonia to the UN collaborated to organize a Vägilaste spring concert tour in the state of Maryland. The four concerts were attended by about 700 people.

Also in the past year, jazz composer and pianist Kristjan Randalu has performed along with his Czech colleague Bodek Janke's duo for concerts in Washington and New York. Jazz musicians Helin Mari Arder, Ain Agan, Mihkel Mälgand and Siim Aimla performed at the 2007 Estonian Culture Days in New York. In the summer of 2007, the Arsis Handbell Ensemble took a concert trip through the United States, giving 19 concerts in 16 states.

US-born Estonian artist and writer Mark Kalev Kostabi has established an enormous studio in the heart of New York City, where annually about 1,500 works of art come into being. Works by Kostabi are housed to the permanent collections of the Museum of Modern Art, Metropolitan Museum, Guggenheim Museum and Brooklyn Museum and his music has also been performed in the United States. Exhibits by Estonian painter Monica del Nortel (Deivi Org) and sculptor Anne Rudanovski have been shown at the Agora Gallery in New York.

Many Estonian films have been included in reputable USA film festivals. In 2005, the Estonian short film „Circle” („Ring”) was chosen for the Seattle International Film Festival. In February of 2007, Imbi Paju showed her documentary film „Rejected Memories” („Tõrjutud Mälestused”) in Maryland and Washington, DC. Now even „Autumn Ball” („Sügisball”) has been premiered in North America-The American Film Institute (AFI) chose to include the new film in its respected Los Angeles AFI Fest 2007 (1-11.11.2007) and Washington's 20th European Union Film Festival (1-20.11.2007). The American documentary film „The Singing Revolution” is also gaining popularity in the United States.

Within the framework of the 2007 Estonian Culture Days in New York, actors Veiko Tubin and Alo Kõrve (of Tallinn City Theatre), along with Robert Annus and Uku Uusberg from the graduating class of Estonia's Higher Theatre School, introduced Estonian theatre with their dramatic programme. The „Varius” theatre, celebrating its 20th anniversary, presented the play „A Ringing Melody” („Helisev Viis”) in October 2007. Participants were Diana Dikson Soom and Rene Soom from the Estonian National Opera, Lii Teder from the Endla Theatre, Peeter Kaljumäe, Hain Hõlpus, and Raivo Mets.

Estonian poetry is being introduced to residents of America's capital and the surrounding areas through the pilot project „EU Poetry in Motion,” within which the poetry of poets from EU member states (including 5 Estonian poets) was presented in Washington's metro system (May 2007). The internet portal (http://www.europeanpoetryinmotion.eu/) will be up until May of 2008.

Close co-operation between Estonia and the United States is taking place also in the field of education. The United States has offered an opportunity to participate in different (academic) training programs, among them also in Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program and the Fulbright Program. It is delightful to acknowledge that there are more and more Estonians, who have graduated from reputable US universities and completed their Master's programs.

Estonians in the US

The formation of an Estonian-speaking and culturally active community in America began in the beginning of the 20th century. The community saw its largest expansion in the mid-20th century, after the tragic events of World War II. Refugees were often helped by those who were already there. They constituted a new wave of Estonians, larger than any in the past. Their stand for Estonia's freedom and the way they constantly had to explain their origins and situation stengthened the community and helped them to preserve their heritage. The third wave of Estonians of the 20th century hit the USA in the 1990s.

According to the 2000 United States Census, 25,034 persons of Estonian ancestry live in the United States. Due to the methodology of the survey, this number reflects the number of people who chose to indicate their Estonian origins in the population registry. To that number 1,461 (as of January 2006) Estonian citizens living in the United States either permanently or temporarily can be added. The traditional centers of residence and culture for Estonians are situated on the East Coast (New York, New Jersey), in Mid-West, Chicago, around Lake Michigan and on the West Coast.

There are 22 Estonian Societies functioning in the United States currently, along with choirs, church congregations, alliances and Estonian Houses. Altogether there are over 100 organisations. The oldest Estonian Educational Society is the Detroit Estonian Educational Society „Kodu”, which was created on 17 October 1926 by 25 enterprising Estonians and still functions today. A few years later, on 7 December 1929, the New York Estonian Educational Society was established, and it continues its activities in the New York Estonian House. Most of the Estonian Houses were purchased in the 50s and 60s by the regional organisations. Other than New York, these centres of Estonian language and culture also exist in Baltimore, Chicago, Lakewood and Los Angeles. Estonian newpapers or other periodicals are published in many states. The largest Estonian-language newspaper is Vaba Eesti Sõna (Free Estonian Word), published in New York. The Estonian language is taught in Indiana University (since 1970), where it is also possible to study Baltic history (beginning in 1918) and Estonian culture and civilization. The Estonian language is also taught at Washington University. The most famous Estonian choir is the New York Estonian Men's Choir, which was established in 1950. Estonian literature that has been published in the United States is covered in the series „Estonian Literature in Exile in the 20th Century” (Eesti Kirjandus Paguluses XX Sajandil).

On 19 July 1952, the regional Estonian organisations came together under the Estonian American National Council (Eesti Rahvuskomitee Ühendriikides-ERKÜ). Until 1991, the goal of the organisation was to restore Estonia's freedom. In recent years, its activities have focused on strengthening the vitality of the Estonian language and culture in America by supporting student and cultural exchanges and youth camps. Estonians in the USA often celebrate traditional Estonian holidays together and organise fun and relaxing summertime gatherings or cultural events. A good example of a multifaceted Estonian event in America is the program from this year's 28th West Coast Estonian Days.

In 1961, the national organisations of the Baltic States in America formed the Joint Baltic American National Council (JBANC) in order to increase the efficiency of their efforts for restoring independence and to bring more attention to the lack of human rights and democracy in the Balic states. Today the organisation helps to support national interests of the Baltic states by exchanging information and by organising economic and security policy conferences and seminars.