Estemb in Helsinki :: Events

Estonian Embassy in Helsinki to Present Seppo Zetterberg’s New Work “Kulttuuria ja kumouspuuhia”

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 08:02:10 GMT

Estonian Embassy in Helsinki to Present Seppo Zetterberg’s New Work “Kulttuuria ja kumouspuuhia”

On Thursday, 11 April, Finnish historian and acclaimed researcher of Estonian history Seppo Zetterberg’s new book “Kulttuuria ja kumouspuuhia” will be presented at the Estonian Embassy in Helsinki.

The book is about Estonians that were active in Helsinki in the beginning of the 20^th century, several of whom were later part of independent Estonia’s cultural elite or political leadership. Those who studied in Helsinki include Oskar Kallas, who became Estonia’s first ambassador to Finland, Hella Murrik (Wuolijoki), who was later an author and Finnish social figure, and the poet Gustav Suits. Working in Helsinki from time to time were also writer Friedebert Tuglas, journalist and author Eduard Vilde, future heads of state of Estonia Otto Strandman, Konstantin Päts and Jaan Teemant, the founder of social democracy in Estonia Mihkel Martna, violinist Eduard Sõrmus, and painter Konrad Mägi. The book paints an interesting picture of the activities and the various stages of development of the Estonian community in Helsinki at the start of the 20^th century.

Seppo Zetterberg is a historian, professor emeritus of general history at Jyväskylä University, and member of the Academy of Finland. From 1994-1996 he was the director of the Finnish Institute in Estonia. Seppo Zetterberg’s 2007 work “Viron histooria” is an anthology on the history of Estonia from the Ice Age until the present day. The Finnish Friends of History Association selected it the history book of the year and it was a candidate for one of the most recognised non-fiction literature prizes in Finland, Tieto-Finlandia. The work was published in Estonian in September of 2009.

Seppo Zetterberg’s new work “Kulttuuria ja kumousouuhia” will be published in Estonian at the end of this year by the publisher Tänapäev.

Additional information:
Liisa Ojaveer
Cultural counsellor
Estonian Embassy in Helsinki
Liisa.ojaveer@mfa.ee

Estonia Quiz Participants Can Win Free Trip to Estonia

Fri, 01 Mar 2013 10:22:02 GMT

Estonia Quiz Participants Can Win Free Trip to Estonia

Today the Estonian Foreign Ministry is opening its annual Estonia-themed trivia quiz “Estonia Quiz 2013”, which this year is dedicated to the 95^th anniversary of the Republic of Estonia. The grand prize is a trip for two to Estonia. The quiz can be found at the address http://quiz.mfa.ee/.

The goal of the quiz is to introduce Estonia to citizens of other countries by offering participants new and interesting facts and motivating them to do further research into Estonia and even visit the country. To enter, you must go to the quiz page and correctly answer all 12 questions. The quiz can be taken in either English or Russian and will be online until 25 May 2013.

The grand prize – a trip for two to Estonia – includes airfare for a 6-day trip to summertime Estonia, lodging in the best hotels, dinner in best restaurants, and various tours and excursions. In addition to the grand prize there will also be drawings for 5-day tour packages in Estonia. The prize packages are sponsored by Estonian companies and establishments.

This is the eighteenth web-based quiz organised by the Foreign Ministry. Over the years, interest in these quizzes has grown steadily. Last year over 10 000 people from 105 different countries participated in the quiz.

SPOKESPERSON’S OFFICE
+372 637 7654
press@mfa.ee
www.vm.ee

Estonian Embassy in Helsinki to Celebrate 95th Anniversary of Republic of Estonia with Reception and Concert-Performance “Diva”

Mon, 18 Feb 2013 07:40:04 GMT

Estonian Embassy in Helsinki to Celebrate 95th Anniversary of Republic of Estonia with Reception and Concert-Performance “Diva”

On Thursday, 21 February, in honour of the 95^th anniversary of the Republic of Estonia, the Estonian Embassy in Helsinki has organised a formal reception in the embassy and the experimental concert-performance “Diva” at the Alexander Theatre. The project is being supported by Enterprise Estonia and the Estonian Institute in Finland.

The concert-performance “Diva” is a moving but also ridiculous duet-duel between an opera diva blinded by the lights of success and her long-suffering piano player, set to famous operatic arias. Playwright and director Paavo Piik of the Tallinn City Theatre wrote and directed this amusing concert performance with the help of singer Annaliisa Pillak’s observations from the music world. The role of the diva is being played by Annaliisa Pillak (Estonia-Finland) and the piano player is played by Marko Hilpo (Finland).

The anniversary of the Republic of Estonia will also be celebrated formally in Helsinki on 24 February. Wreaths will be placed on the graves of Finnish volunteers that fell during the Estonian War of Independence in Vanhankirkko Park and in the evening there will be a gathering at the Estonian House and a concert in Alppila Church.

In connection with the 95^th anniversary of the Republic of Estonia and to celebrate the Estonian Year of Cultural Heritage, the embassy has organised for candles to be brought to the graves of folklorist and the first Estonian ambassador to Finland Oskar Kallas and his wife author Aino Kallas in Hietaniemi Cemetery in Helsinki on 25 February.

Additional information on the concert-performance:

Liisa Ojaveer
Cultural counsellor, Estonian Embassy in Helsinki
E-mail: Liisa.Ojaveer@mfa.ee

Additional information on events being held on 24 February: http://www.facebook.com/events/565612533467678/.

President Ilves to give an opening address at the high-level CyberStrat conference in Helsinki

Thu, 10 Jan 2013 07:10:44 GMT

President Ilves to give an opening address at the high-level CyberStrat conference in Helsinki

President Toomas Hendrik Ilves is on a one-day working visit in Helsinki on Thursday, 10^th of January, where he introduces Estonia's e-solutions in his opening address at the CyberStrat international cyber security conference and share Estonia's experiences in the sphere of cyber security.

At the conference, top Finnish experts from the digital sphere will share their ideas about the possibilities of reversing cyber world threats to competitive advantage and the strategic reserves of companies.

Among others, a Professor of the University of Columbia and popular writer, Misha Glenny, Editor in Chief of the Helsingin Sanomat newspaper, Mikael Pentikäinen, a specialist in digital forensic expertise, Tomi Tuominen, and a Doctor in Military Sciences, Jarno Limnéll, will share their experiences and views.

For additional information, see: http://www.cyberstrat2013.fi/

75th Anniversary of Intellectual Co-operation Convention Between Estonia and Finland to Be Celebrated With Performance of Aleksis Kivi’s “Seven Brothers” in Helsinki

Tue, 27 Nov 2012 12:55:46 GMT

27 November 2012

75th Anniversary of Intellectual Co-operation Convention Between Estonia and Finland to Be Celebrated With Performance of Aleksis Kivi’s “Seven Brothers” in Helsinki

The first of December this year will mark 75 years since the conclusion of an intellectual co-operation convention between Estonia and Finland. The occasion will be celebrated with a performance based on Aleksis Kivi’s novel “Seven Brothers”, which will be performed just one time in the Elsa studio of the Helsinki City Theatre on Wednesday, 28 November at 19.00. The performance is taking place through the co-operation of the Helsinki City Theatre and the Estonian Embassy.

“Seven Brothers” is the final project of the 25^th graduating class of the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre and was completed in 2012. The director of the production is Priit Pedajas. Aleksis Kivi’s immortal novel was translated by Friedebert Tuglas and dramatised by Voldemar Panso. The artwork for the production was done by scenography students of the Estonian Academy of Art Maret Tamme, Illimar Vihmar, and Lina Nguyen.

The actors participating in the production are Pääru Oja, Priit Pius, Kaspar Velberg, Henrik Kalmet, Märt Pius, Karl-Andreas Kalmet, Priit Strandberg, and Priit Pedajas. It should be noted that in this play about brothers there are also two sets of brothers in the cast – Henrik and Karl-Andreas Kalmet and Priit and Märt Pius.

Prior to the performance the Estonian Embassy in Helsinki is organising a reception at the embassy, which will be attended by the secretaries general of the Estonian and Finnish ministries of culture Siim Sukles and Jarmo Linden as well as representatives of the Finnish theatre-going public.

Additional information:
Liisa Ojaveer
Cultural counsellor, Estonian Embassy in Helsinki
e-mail: liisa.ojaveer@mfa.ee
+358 9 622 0260

President Ilves on a working visit in Finland

Sun, 04 Nov 2012 09:32:49 GMT

President Ilves on a working visit in Finland

President Toomas Hendrik Ilves will meet with the Finnish Head of State, Sauli Niinistö in Helsinki and participate in the Trilateral Commission´s 36^th European Regional Meeting.

The crisis in Europe and the future of the European Union, together with the relations of Finland and the Baltic states with the European Union, will be the focus of both the bilateral meeting of the presidents of Estonia and Finland and the European Regional Meeting of the Trilateral Commission.

The Trilateral Commission was formed in 1973 by private citizens from Japan, Europe (European Union countries) and North America (United States and Canada) to foster closer cooperation among these core industrialised areas of the world with shared leadership responsibilities in the wider international system and to promote democratic values. The members of the organisation include well-known people from economic, political and research spheres. Toomas Hendrik Ilves has also been a member of the Commission.

While in Helsinki, President Ilves will also visit the head office of F-Secure Corporation, one of the largest information security software producers in the Nordic countries.

Estonian and Finnish Foreign Ministers Agree to Closer Co-operation Between Ministries

Tue, 11 Sep 2012 08:30:05 GMT

Estonian and Finnish Foreign Ministers Agree to Closer Co-operation Between Ministries

10.09.2012

No 317-E

Today in Tallinn Foreign Minister Urmas Paet and Finnish Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja agreed to send a Finnish exchange diplomat to the Estonian Embassy in Georgia. “The agreement we concluded is a good example of the effective and practical co-operation between the foreign ministries of Estonia and Finland. An Estonian diplomat has earlier worked in the Finnish Embassy in Lusaka, Zambia in a similar exchange,” said Foreign Minister Paet.

At their meeting, the foreign ministers expressed their satisfaction over the ongoing growth in Estonia-Finland trade. “Finland remains Estonia’s greatest trade partner and we are pleased to see that Finnish entrepreneurs’ interest in the Estonian market continues to grow,” said Paet. Trade with Finland makes up 14% of Estonia’s total trade turnover.

Foreign Minister Paet said that both countries share common interests in the region, the European Union, and in various international forums. “We are happy to see closer co-operation and overlapping interests in regional transport and energy issues,” Paet added. Finnish has announced that it will participate in the Rail Baltic task force.

Paet and Tuomioja noted that the legal assistance agreement that came into force this summer has significantly simplified the bureaucracy and lowered costs for both Estonian and Finnish citizens. In accordance with the agreement, documents from the population registries are reciprocally recognised without an apostille.

In talking about the conflict in Syria, Paet and Tuomioja condemned the continuation of violence and emphasised that the international community must do everything possible to end the violence in Syria. “The continuing violence in Syria is unacceptable; all armed activity in Syria must stop. Investigations should also begin into possible crimes against humanity and violations of human rights committed during the conflict,“ said Paet. Last weekend the European Union foreign ministers enforced stricter sanctions against the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and increased aid for alleviating the humanitarian crisis. Paet stated that Estonia participated in the Syria supervision mission UNSMIS and if necessary is prepared to support the UN’s ongoing presence in Syria, which will help facilitate a peaceful transition in the country.

According to Paet, Estonia would also like to develop co-operation with Finland within the UN, for example in the areas of humanitarian co-operation, peacekeeping, sustainable development, human rights, international law, and the work of the International Criminal Court. “Co-operation with Finland and the other Nordic and Baltic countries is essential, especially in light of the Nordic region’s UN philosophy and the understanding that small countries working together within an international organisation can bring significant added value,” Paet said. He added that Estonia values Finland’s support for Estonia’s candidature to be a member of the UN Human Rights Council from 2013-2015. The elections will take place on 12 November 2012.

SPOKESPERSON’S OFFICE
+372 637 7653
pressitalitus@mfa.ee
www.vm.ee

President Ilves to participate in the Finnish-Estonian Dance Festival

Thu, 14 Jun 2012 09:04:39 GMT

President Ilves to participate in the Finnish-Estonian Dance Festival

On Sunday President Toomas Hendrik Ilves and Mrs. Evelin Ilves will participate at the 3rd Finnish-Estonian Dance Festival in Tampere alongwith the Finnish presidential couple.

The Finnish-Estonian Dance Festival is a folk dance and music event that takes place in Tampere from 13 to 17 June. 5,000 dancers, singers and players of various instruments from Finland, Estonia and other European countries will take part in the event. The Dance Festival is called "Velisinfonia/Vennassümfoonia" (Brotherhood Symphony) and will be directed by Petri Kauppinen from Finland and Kalev Järvela from Estonia.

The organisers of Dance Festival 2012 are Folklore Suomi Finland and the Estonian Association of Folk Dance and Music. The Estonian Song and Dance Celebration Foundation, Estonian National Folklore Council and Finnish Association of Youth Societies are also participating. The first joint Finnish-Estonian Dance Festival took place in 2000 in Helsinki and the 2nd in 2005 in Tartu.

The Dance Festival forms an important part of cultural co-operation and folklore exchange between the two countries. The presidents of both countries are the patrons of the festival.

President Niinistö to official visit to Estonia on 25 April

Fri, 20 Apr 2012 07:13:58 GMT

President Niinistö to official visit to Estonia on 25 April

President of the Republic Sauli Niinistö and his spouse will be travelling to Estonia on an official visit on Wednesday 25 April. President Niinistö will be having bilateral discussions with the President of Estonia, Toomas Hendrik Ilves, at the Presidential Palace in Kadriorg. He will also be meeting Ene Ergma, Speaker of the Estonian Parliament, and Prime Minister Andrus Ansip.

During the visit, President Niinistö will inaugurate a plant where the Finnish company Lappset will be manufacturing playground equipment in the municipality of Saku near Tallinn. The visit will conclude with a reception at the Finnish Embassy in Tallinn.

Prime Minister Katainen visits Estonia on 23 April

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 09:04:02 GMT

Prime Minister Katainen visits Estonia on 23 April

Prime Minister Jyrki Katainen is travelling to Estonia with a working visit on Monday, 23 of April. The Finnish premier is to meet with his Estonian counterpart, Andrus Ansip, as well as with President Toomas Hendrik Ilves in Tallinn.

Issues such as the strength of the euro currency and the EU’s financial framework for 2014-2020 feature on the two premiers’ discussion agenda. In addition, Katainen and Ansip are to talk about the future of the EU, transport and energy issues and bilateral relations.

The world premiere of the opera based on the international hit novel by Sofi Oksanen

Fri, 20 Apr 2012 06:49:40 GMT

The world premiere of the opera based on the international hit novel by Sofi Oksanen

On April 20, the Finnish National Opera will be giving the world premiere of the opera The Purge, based on the international hit novel by Sofi Oksanen. Composed by Jüri Reinvere, it is an exploration of recent Estonian history.

Sofi Oksanen’s Purge is one of the most widely read Finnish novels of all time. It has been or is being translated into 43 languages. The novel has also won several prizes, beginning with the Finlandia Prize and including the Nordic Council Literature Prize and the Prix Femina Étranger in France.

Purge traces the stories of individuals in parallel with the fate of a nation. Aliide, a young woman, meets Zara, a young woman who has escaped from pimps. This encounter leads to an unveiling of Aliide’s past and also the history of Estonia from the 1930s onwards. Aliide and her sister were in love with the same man, and this led to a tragedy. On the national level, the tragedy was the Soviet occupation and the disappearances of people purged from society.

“Purge has been received with shock in Estonia on many levels, because people there are accustomed to talk about the past in a certain way,” says composer Jüri Reinvere, who was born in Tallinn in 1971. He adapted the libretto for the opera himself, changing the focus somewhat from that of the novel. “I emphasise Estonians coming to terms with the past. I claim that the past can only become the past when we have faced it eye to eye.”

Jüri Reinvere graduated as a composer from the Sibelius Academy. His output contains many settings of his own poems. He frequently makes use of tape effects and natural sounds in his works. Purge is Reinvere’s first opera. It is modern in style, yet he himself considers it a traditional opera. “I was not trying to break any records in experimentation,” he says. “The libretto is merciless, exposing the weaknesses and pettiness of the human individual,” says Tiina Puumalainen, director of the opera production. “On the other hand, it also highlights how difficult it is to make the right choices.”

The story moves back and forth in time, covering a period from the 1930s to the present day. The set, designed by Teppo Järvinen, draws on Soviet propaganda and modern popular movements. The opera offers both grand events that fill the stage and intimate moments. The main character in the opera is such a demanding role that is divided between two singers: young Aliide will be played by Helena Juntunen / Tove Åman, while old Aliide will be played by Johanna Rusanen-Kartano / Heli Veskus. The third major female role is Zara, the young woman escaping a life of prostitution. This role will be played by Niina Keitel / Melis Jaatinen.

The performances will be conducted by Estonian conductor Paul Mägi. The world premiere will take place on 20 April 2012. There will be ten performances in all, the last one being on 25 May 2012.

Jüri Reinvere

Purge

Conductor Paul Mägi

Director Tiina Puumalainen

Set designer Teppo Järvinen

Costume designer Marjaana Mutanen

Lighting designer Timo Alhanen

Choreographer Osku Heiskanen

Young Aliide Helena Juntunen / Tove Åman

Old Aliide Johanna Rusanen-Kartano / Heli Veskus

Zara Niina Keitel / Melis Jaatinen

Martin Jaakko Kortekangas / Arto Hosio

Hans Tuomas Katajala / Andres Köster

Pavel Juha Riihimäki / Jyrki Anttila

Lavrent Koit Soasepp / Hannu Forsberg

Ingel Hanna Rantala / Eeva-Maria Kopp

World premiere 20 April 2012

Other performances 24 April, 3, 5, 8, 12, 15, 19, 23 and 25 May 2012

Estonia to Bring Number of Honorary Consuls in Finland to Eight, Also Prepared to Welcome Finnish Diplomat at Embassy in Georgia

Fri, 30 Mar 2012 13:24:22 GMT

At his meeting in Helsinki today with Finnish Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja, Foreign Minister Urmas Paet said that by working together, Estonia and Finland can increase their countries’ representation and also cut costs. “A good example of this is the exchange programme for Estonian and Finnish diplomats. Next we will be welcoming a Finnish diplomat to our embassy in Georgia; last year an Estonian diplomat worked at the Finnish Embassy in Zambia,” said Paet. “In addition, joint Estonian-Finnish visits with business delegations provide good opportunities for introducing the region and developing trade relations. One good example is the recent joint visit to Indonesia,” he added.

Paet stated that two new Estonian honorary consuls will begin working in Finland in 2012 – in Rovaniemi and Kuopio – which will bring the total number of honorary consuls to eight. “Addressing the needs of Estonian and Finnish citizens is made much easier by the legal aid agreement concluded last year, which allows for documents from both countries’ population registers to be recognised without an apostille,” he added.

Foreign Minister Paet said that Estonia is also interested in carrying out joint development co-operation projects with Finland, for example in Afghanistan. “Estonia will continue to help with the construction of Afghanistan using development co-operation and humanitarian aid resources, and joint projects with Finland would make this aid even more effective,” said Paet. “Potential co-operation projects could be related to increasing women’s rights or business training for young people,” he added.

Paet said that co-operation with Finland could also be intensified in the cyber defence field.

During their meeting, Paet gave Tuomioja an overview of developments in connection with the construction of Rail Baltic. “Decisions have been made regarding the route and administrative structure, now Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania must co-ordinate starting the thematic plan, which will provide the basis for technical projects,” said Paet. “Intense preparatory work will help us to use the European Union funds as efficiently as possible,” he added.

Foreign ministers Paet and Tuomioja also spoke about the situations in Iran and Syria as well as developments in Russia.

SOPKESPERSON’S OFFICE
+372 637 76543
pressitalitus@mfa.ee
www.vm.ee

Estonian Minister of Foreign Affairs Urmas Paet to visit Finland on 30 March

Tue, 27 Mar 2012 06:36:16 GMT

Estonian Minister of Foreign Affairs Urmas Paet to visit Finland on 30 March

Estonian Minister of Foreign Affairs Urmas Paet will pay a working visit to Finland on 30 March. Minister Urmas Paet will meet with Finnish Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja in Helsinki. They will discuss Estonia and Finland’s bilateral relations and opportunities to develop regional co-operation. The ministers will also address current EU topics, such as Eastern Partnership. They will also discuss recent developments in Russia, Iran and Syria.
During his visit Foreign Minister Urmas Paet also has meetings scheduled with Finland’s new president Sauli Niinistö and Finnish Minister for European Affairs and Foreign Trade Alexander Stubb.

Exhibit by Kristi Kongi Opening Today in Estonian Embassy in Helsinki

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 10:45:53 GMT

Exhibit by Kristi Kongi Opening Today in Estonian Embassy in Helsinki

Today, 9 February, an exhibit of paintings by Kristi Kongi entitled “You are my meow” is being opened at the Estonian Embassy in Helsinki.

The subject of the exhibit is women and being a woman. For the figures in the paintings - often for the author herself - various different roles have been created, most of which are fictional. These roles are born from strange and sometimes negative experiences that undergo a transformation towards positivity.

In Kristi Kongi's works the viewer finds the irony of beauty, honesty, love, sexuality, hope, dream, sadness, insecurity, betrayal, and deception. Although this is fiction, the project is still autobiographical because the main character is the artist herself, as a little girl and as a young woman. The artist thinks there's nothing more beautiful than when somebody says to you, "You are my meow."

Kristi Kongi was born in 1985 in Tallinn, Estonia. She graduated from the Tartu Art School in 2008 and from the Estonian Academy of Art in 2011 with a master's degree in painting. In 2007 the artist studied in Finland for a year (at the Lahti University of Applied Sciences). In addition to numerous solo and group exhibits in Estonia, Kongi's works have also been exhibited in Lithuania and Finland.

In 2011 Kristi Kongi earned the Young Artist Award, presented annually by the Young Art Union.

Her exhibit at the Estonian Embassy in Helsinki will remain open until 31 March and guests are welcome to come view it by registering ahead of time with the embassy secretary by calling +358 9 622 02 60.

Additional information on the artist: www.kristikongi.com

Additional information:Liisa Ojaveer, Estonian Embassy, cultural counsellor
Email: Liisa.Ojaveer@mfa.ee; Tel: +358 9 622 02 60

Finnish President Tarja Halonen to Come to Estonia for Working Visit

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 15:08:19 GMT

Finnish President Tarja Halonen to Come to Estonia for Working Visit

Finnish President Tarja Halonen will be in Estonia on Monday, 30 January. Tarja Halonen, who is nearing the end of her term as head of state, will meet with President Toomas Hendrik Ilves, who will host a lunch in her honour. The Finnish president also has plans to meet with Riigikogu Speaker Ene Ergma.

Topics to be discussed at the meetings are Estonia-Finland bilateral relations and European Union subjects such as the situation in the euro zone, matters related to economic and financial policy, and the EU’s next financial perspective. Regional co-operation, including co-operation in the energy and transport sectors and in the Baltic Sea region in general, will also be discussed. International topics will include developments in the Middle East and Northern Africa.

Foreign Minister Urmas Paet and Finnish Minister of European Affairs and Foreign Trade Alexander Stubb Going to Indonesia on a Joint Visit

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 09:20:39 GMT

Foreign Minister Urmas Paet and Finnish Minister of European Affairs and Foreign Trade Alexander Stubb Going to Indonesia on a Joint Visit

23.01.2012

From 24-26 January, Foreign Minister Urmas Paet will be on a joint visit to Indonesia with Finnish Minister of European Affairs and Foreign Trade Alexander Stubb. The ministers will be accompanied by a 36-member delegation of Estonian and Finnish entrepreneurs.

Foreign Minister Paet stated that this is Estonia’s first high-level visit to Indonesia. “The goal of the visit is to promote the business opportunities of Estonian entrepreneurs, create ties with Indonesia, which has the biggest economy in south-eastern Asia and is a member of the G-20, and also enliven Estonia’s foreign policy towards South-East Asia,” he said. “The joint visit will also definitely help to strengthen the unified image of the European Union countries of the Baltic Sea region,” he added.

Within the framework of the visit there are meetings scheduled with Foreign Minister of Indonesia Marty Natalegawa, Minister of Economic Affairs Hatta Rajasa, Minister of Trade Gita Wirjawani, Minister of Communication and Informatics Tifatul Sembiring, Minister of Health Endang Rahayu Sedyaningsih, and Minister of Defence Purnomo Yusgiantoro.

The delegation of Estonian entrepreneurs includes representatives of companies that work in logistics, chemical production, information technology, software development, security services, and paper and wood panel production.

Both ministers will also participate in an Estonia-Finland-Indonesia business seminar.

SPOKESPERSON’S OFFICE
+372 637 7654
pressitalitus@mfa.ee

Estonia and Finland sign agreement simplifying state procedures for citizens

Tue, 13 Dec 2011 09:39:51 GMT

Estonia and Finland sign agreement simplifying state procedures for citizens

Turku, 12 December 2011 – Estonian prime minister Andrus Ansip and his Finnish counterpart Jyrki Katainen signed an agreement today nullifying the requirement to get documents issued by the two countries’ population registers legalised.

This will simplify everyday procedures for citizens of both nations in their dealings with the state, making it both quicker and cheaper. Based on the agreement, extracts from the population registers of Estonia and Finland that are issued in English will now be recognised without an accompanying apostille and translation. Until now, all documents sought to be used in the other country have had to be translated and certified in accordance with the Hague convention – i.e. with an apostille. Such certification costs €11 in Finland and €26.80 in Estonia, with the additional costs of translation.

The agreement means that this formality has been waived for population register extracts, which set out a person’s birth, death, marriage and family status and which to date have accounted for as much as 90% of all document turnover. Since 1 January 2011, apostilles in Estonia have been issued by notaries. 2176 were issued for use in Finland in 2010, with a further 1660 issued so far this year. As such, the requirement being dropped will save Estonians around €35,000.

The agreement also establishes the principles of applying for the document, according to which the competent agencies (in this case the Estonian Population Register and the central agency of the Finnish Population Register) must submit applications through a diplomatic or consular representation. The documents will be issued free of charge. Individuals applying for the document are subject to the ordinary procedure, which requires them to pay a state fee in order to do so.

7462 separate instances of consular services being extended to Estonian citizens were recorded at the Estonian embassy in Helsinki in 2009; the same figure for 2010 was 8653, while for the first 10 months of 2011 alone it had risen to 11,116. Such services include applying for passports, registering births and certifying marital and family status. Legal assistance memoranda containing similar agreements have been signed by Estonia with Latvia, Lithuania and Russia.

Photos from the signing of the agreement are available online at

http://valitsus.ee/UserFiles/valitsus/et/uudised/pildi-ja-video-album/peaminister/Ansip_Katainen_12.12.2011_1.jpg

President of Estonia to visit Finland

Wed, 12 Oct 2011 09:23:48 GMT

President of Estonia to visit Finland

President of Estonia Toomas Hendrik Ilves will make a working visit to Finland on 17 October 2011.

President of the Republic of Finland Tarja Halonen will hold bilateral discussions with President Ilves and host a luncheon at the Presidential Palace. President Ilves will also visit the Finnish Parliament and meet Prime Minister Jyrki Katainen and Minister for Foreign Affairs Erkki Tuomioja.

President Ilves commenced his second term as the President of Estonia on 10 October 2011. During his first term he made a state visit to Finland in spring 2007 as well as several working visits.

Opera gala of the international music day 1 October in Estonian House, Kattilahalli, Suvilahti in Helsinki

Fri, 09 Sep 2011 11:40:49 GMT

Opera gala of the international music day 1 October in Estonian House, Kattilahalli, Suvilahti in Helsinki

The Estonian House in Finland in cooperation with the Estonian National Opera celebrates the international music day with a grand opera gala on 1 October in the Estonian House in Helsinki, in Kattilahalli in Suvilahti that seats one thousand spectators. The gala concert is also the anniversary concert of the Estonian House which marks its first year this autumn. In addition to the Estonian boys’ choir, young talented singers perform whose successful studies and career have taken them far from home.

Katrin Targo, Elina Volkmane (Latvia), Alexander Schulz (Germany) and Valmar Saar perform extracts from the work of Bizet, Puccini, Mozart, Wagner, Händel, Saint-Saens, Gounod, Leoncavallo, Strauss. The conductor is Jüri Alperten and the host of the evening Mart Mikk. The symphony orchestra of the National Opera performs as well. Altogether 120 performers will step up to the stage in Kattilahalli.

The concert offers an overview of the repertoire of next seasons at the Estonian National Opera. Opera galas always present the best pieces in the field within a short period of time. This year’s gala is especially exciting for the viewers and performers, as it enables to hear young talented singers who are not yet members of the National Opera. This is thus a unique opportunity to witness the start of their successful career.

Director of the National Opera Mart Mikk takes people along to an exciting adventure into the magic world of opera, and introduces the next season. As not all Finnish opera friends are able to visit the theatre as often as they would like, we bring Estonian high culture to them.

More information:
Grete Ahtola
Head of the Estonian Institute in Finland
Viro-instituutti Suomessa
www.viro-instituutti.fi/oopperagaala
www.facebook.com/viroinstituutti
Estonian House – Viro-keskus,
Sörnäisten rantatie 22, 00540 Helsinki
Tel. +358 9 669805
Tel. +358 50 4385331

info@viro-instituutti.fi

Exhibition by Ivi and Jüri Arrak at the Estonian Embassy in Helsinki

Tue, 06 Sep 2011 08:30:15 GMT

Exhibition by Ivi and Jüri Arrak at the Estonian Embassy in Helsinki

On Wednesday, 7 September at 3pm, a joint exhibition of graphic art and paintings by Ivi and Jüri Arrak will open at the Estonian Embassy in Helsinki. The exhibition features works by the husband and wife artists from 1973-2010.

Highlights include the vanguard of Jüri Arrak’s graphic art, including his most famous print, ”Mängud puu ümber” (Games Around the Tree, 1976) and his latest, the lithograph, ”Mängud inimestega” (Games with People). Ivi Arrak will exhibit a triptych consisting of horizontal and vertical landscapes the artist herself terms a “sensual terrain journey”.

Jüri Arrak (born on 24 October 1936 in Tallinn) is an Estonian artist known for his paintings, graphic art, metal art and films. He is a 1966 graduate of the metal and jewellery art department of what is now the Estonian Academy of Arts. He made his first foray into painting and graphic art already as a student. He has been an independent artist and member of the Artists Union since 1969.

Jüri Arrak’s narrative world involves the use of paradox, and his paintings witness the recurring use of a cipher-like main character who is given a new meaning each time. Arrak makes use of archetypes, and alters and parodies mythic interpretations that are considered sacrosanct, offering up new visions ("Europe lahkumine",1975;"Jüri’s battle with the dragon”, 1979; "Bearers", 1980; "People with objects", 1985, Estonian Art Investment Fund). The imaginative powers of this artist conjure up unexpected visions imbued with suggestive powers (Circus, 1977, Art Museum of Estonia; City of Towers, “Hornblower, 1980; “On the Steps of the Wall, 1981, Art Museum of Estonia, Wolf with Golden Staff, 1983; Piper, 1985, private collection Tallinn. Jüri Arrak is a winner of the Kristjan Raud prize for art (1990) and the Republic of Estonia’s Order of the White Star second class (2000).

Ivi Arrak has studied art since 1992 under the tutelage of husband Jüri Arrak. She has had numerous solo exhibitions along with, in 2009, a joint exhibition with Jüri Arrak, entitled “Woman and Man” at Viinistu Art Museum, which was also on display at the Pärnu Contemporary Art Museum and, in 2010, the exhibition “Paintings and Books” in St. John’s Church in Tallinn in conjunction with Ruth Alas.

In July 2011, Ivi and Jüri Arrak co-exhibited in Bulgaria with Finnish ceramic artist Elina Sorainen and Hungarian painter Andras Szögi.

Ivi and Jüri Arrak’s exhibition at the Estonian Embassy in Helsinki will run through 30 November. It can be visited by registering in advance with the Embassy secretary at +358 9 622 02 60 or by arrangement with cultural attaché Liisa Ojaveer.

For more information about the exhibition, contact Liisa Ojaveer
Cultural Councellor of the Estonian Embassy
Liisa.Ojaveer@mfa.ee
Telephone: +358 9 622 02 60