By Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (November 26, 2011)
In honour of Citizens’ Day, Foreign Minister Urmas Paet is thanking and recognising active promoters of public diplomacy with thank-you letters. The recipients have helped to introduce Estonia and strengthen its ties with other countries.
According to Foreign Minister Urmas Paet, all people can help increase Estonia’s foreign political influence and good reputation abroad through public diplomacy. “Public diplomacy is a good opportunity for small countries, and we wish to encourage public diplomacy activities. Close communication among people plays a vital role in introducing Estonia and in intensifying relations with foreign countries,” stated Paet. “We highly value the contribution of those people who have taken it upon themselves to introduce Estonia and to actively maintain Estonian culture abroad,” emphasised Foreign Minister Urmas Paet.
The Foreign Ministry thanks and recognises the following people:
Toomas Ilves for his dedication to introducing Estonian culture and to initiating and carrying out integration projects that bring together different groups in Ireland.
Ida Lemsalu for her long-time dedication to preserving an active Estonian cultural life through an Estonian committee (Eesti Abistamise Komitee) in London.
Toomas Ojasoo, publisher of the newspaper Eesti Hääl, for his dedication to preserving Estonian culture in England.
Reet Järviku, publisher of the newspaper Eesti Hääl, for her dedication to preserving Estonian culture in England.
Peeter Kiik for his long-time dedication to preserving Estonian culture and introducing Estonia in the state of Maryland in the United States.
Toivo Tagamets, president of the Baltimore Estonian Society, for his long-time dedication to preserving Estonian culture and introducing Estonia in the state of Maryland in the United States.
Ellen Valter for her long-time dedication to preserving Estonian culture and introducing Estonia, as well as for the successful annual organising of the Estdocs film festival in Canada.
Edita Mildažyte for helping those in need – providing help to the Haapsalu care home in the aftermath of the tragic fire that took place.
Külli Sulg for her dedication to preserving Estonian culture in Saint Petersburg.
Gunnar Okk for preserving Estonian culture on an academic level in Finland and for his contribution to promoting Estonia-Finland cultural and economic relations.
Maarja Talgre for her long career of addressing the topic of Estonia and Estonians on Radio Sweden.
Jaak Akker for his dedicated and long-time work to support Estonian culture in Sweden.
Toomas Birk for preserving and promoting Estonian culture in Hungary.
Margit Liivo for her dedication to preserving Estonian culture in Luxembourg.
Linda Pärtel for her long-time dedication to preserving Estonian culture in Germany.
Ingrid Hagel for actively preserving Estonian culture and for organising group music activities for Estonian children in Denmark.
Kaido Höövelson for being the image of a truly ambitious, strong, and good-natured Estonian while carrying on Estonia’s international wrestling tradition and introducing Estonia in Japan.
Mirjam Lindpere, Merike Erm, Triin Olgo, and Maret Kukk for introducing Estonia and for their voluntary and commendable work in Georgian orphanages.
