Estonian-Romanian diplomatic relations 100

On 26 February 1921, Romania recognised the Republic of Estonia de jure, marking the beginning of official diplomatic relations.

For the anniversary year, we have compiled a timeline of Estonian–Romanian relations. It is a chronological gallery of historical photographs, documents, and texts, which provides an overview of the unique and important moments of the relations between the two countries over 100 years.

Thanks to everyone who has contributed to the collection of facts, photos, and documents!

To see the photo titles, move your cursor to the photo. Happy time travelling!

Estonian Embassy in Romania

Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs

24 February 1918

The independence of the Republic of Estonia was declared

Manifesto to the Peoples of Estonia. Photo: www.wikipedia.org

26 February 1921

Romanian Special Envoy to Denmark Mihail Pâcleanu informs Estonian Consul Edmund Kinkmann in Copenhagen of Estonia’s de jure recognition

Letter to the Estonian Consul. Photo: Estonian National Archives

21 June 1921

Aleksander Hellat, Estonian envoy to Latvia, was appointed Chargé d'Affaires ad interim in Romania, and presented his credentials in September 1921

Aleksander Hellat. Photo: Archives of the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs

On 6 October 1922, Aleksander Hellat, Estonian Envoy to Warsaw, was also appointed envoy to Romania. From 28 November 1922, Hellat was the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Credentials of Aleksander Hellat. Photo: Archives of the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs

23 June 1923

The King of Romania appointed Eduard Kuusik Honorary Consul of Romania in Estonia

Eduard Kuusik. Photo: Estonian National Archives

Eduard Kuusik (born 1867) was a lumberman and banker.

In the 1930s, Arthur Hüüs (born 1885), a commercial and economic figure and director of the Estonian Shipping Agency, continued as the honorary consul.

Arthur Hüüs

1 April 1924

Alexandru Florescu, the Romanian envoy to Warsaw, was also appointed envoy to Estonia

Alexandru Florescu. Photo: Archives of the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs; photo 2: appointment of Alexandru Florescu as envoy. Photo: Archives of Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs

The credentials were presented on 1 July 1924.
In January 1925, he was recalled and King Ferdinand I appointed Alexandru Iakovaky as his new envoy.

Appointment of Alexandru Florescu as envoy. Photo: Archives of Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs

23 July 1924

Estonian envoy to Warsaw Johan Leppik was also appointed envoy to Romania, presenting his credentials on 6 October

Johan Leppik. Photo: Archives of the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs

On 9 May 1927, King Ferdinand I of Romania awarded the Order of the Crown of Romania to Johan Leppik.

Order of the Crown of Romania with a diploma awarded to Johan Leppik. Located in the Archives of the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs

20 February 1925

Alexandru Iakovaky, the Romanian envoy to Warsaw, presented his credentials to the head of state

Credentials of the Romanian envoy. Photo: Estonian National Archives

12 October 1927

Estonian envoy to Warsaw Otto Strandman was also appointed envoy to Romania, presenting his credentials in March 1928

Otto Strandman. Photo: Archives of the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs

27 October 1928

Jon Dimitrie Matak was appointed Honorary Consul General of Estonia in Bucharest

Order to appoint the honorary consul. Photo: Estonian National Archives

Jon Dimitrie Matak was appointed Honorary Consul General of Estonia in Bucharest; he received exequatur from the King of Romania on 15 December.

30 August 1930

A trade agreement was signed between Estonia and Romania

Trade agreement between Estonia and Romania. Photo: Estonian National Archives

10 October 1930

Estonian envoy to Warsaw Karl Tofer was also appointed envoy to Romania, presenting his credentials on 15 November

Karl Tofer. Photo: Archives of the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs

17 August 1932

Appointment of Karl Robert Pusta as envoy to Romania. Residing in Warsaw, he presented his credentials on 13 March 1933

Karl Robert Pusta. Photo: Archives of the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs

7 October 1932

The envoy of Romania to Latvia, Prince Mihail Sturdza, presented his credentials as an envoy to Estonia as well

Romanian envoy Prince Mihail Sturdza presents his credentials to Estonian Head of State Karl Einbund. Seated, from the left: Member of the Romanian Embassy, envoy Mikhail Sturdza, State Elder Karl Einbund, and Minister of Foreign Affairs Mihkel Pung. Standing: Ludvig Jakobsen, Senior Adjutant of the State Elder, Artur Tuldava, Chief of Protocol, and Leonhard Teder, Junior Adjutant of the State Elder. Photo: Estonian National Archives

From 1929, he was a chargé d'affaires.

1935

Establishment of the Romanian Legation in Tallinn

Seated (from the left) Romanian envoy Gheorghe Davidescu, State Elder Konstantin Päts, Minister of Foreign Affairs Julius Seljamaa; standing (from the left) State Secretary Karl Terras, Major General Gustav Jonson, Commander-in-Chief of the State Elder, Chief of Protocol of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs August Koern, Senior Commanding Officer of the State Elder Lieutenant Colonel Herbert Grabbi, and Junior Commanding Officer of the State Elder Junior Lieutenant Oskar Põder. Photo: Estonian National Archives

‘At the beginning of this year, the Romanian government decided to establish an independent legation in Estonia in order to establish closer relations with the northern Baltic state. Mr. Davidescu, a former adviser to the legation in Warsaw, was appointed envoy to Estonia and arrived in Tallinn with his wife this morning (November 24).’ (Newspaper Esmaspäev, 24 November 1935)
Gheorghe Davidescu presented his credentials to the State Elder on 2 December. The Romanian legation was located at Raua tänav 48, in a private house.

Interior of the Romanian Legation in Tallinn. Photo: Estonian National Archives

1 May 1935

Estonian envoy to Warsaw Johannes Markus was also appointed envoy to Romania

Johannes Markus. Photo: Archives of the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Johannes Markus presented his credentials on 28 June. From October 1939, Markus resided in Budapest and was an envoy to Romania until 12 July 1940.

19 June 1936

Decision to register the statutes of the Estonian–Romanian Association

Association registration document. Photo: Estonian National Archives

Karl Selter became the chairman of the association. In May of the following years, the association organised celebrations of Romania Day in Tallinn.

4 May 1939

Gheorghe Lecca, the Romanian envoy to Helsinki, was also appointed envoy to Estonia

Seated, from the left: envoy of Romania, President Konstantin Päts, and Minister of Foreign Affairs Karl Selter. Standing: Herbert Grabbi, Adjutant to the President, Artur Tuldava, Chief of Protocol, Elmar Tambek, Head of the Office, an employee of the Romanian Legation, and Leonhard Teder, Junior Adjunct to the President. Photo: Estonian National Archives

He presented his credentials on 20 June 1939 and remained an envoy until August 1940.

23 August 1939

Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact

Photo: MRP map

The Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact was signed in Moscow, and its secret supplementary protocol divided Eastern Europe between Germany and the USSR. This paved the way for the imminent occupation and annexation of the Republic of Estonia. The secret protocol of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact had a major impact on the fate of both Estonia and Romania.

June 1940

A coup d'état was carried out in Estonia with the support of the Red Army. The incorporation of the Republic of Estonia into the Soviet Union began

A telegram sent on 21 July to Bucharest, announces the establishment of the Estonian SSR. Photo: Archives of the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs

The first document, a telegram sent on 21 July to Bucharest, announces the establishment of the Estonian SSR and the other, an ESSR diplomatic correspondence, was sent on 12 August to the legations in Tallinn that they must be closed by 25 August in connection with Estonia’s ‘accession’ to the Soviet Union. Photo: Archives of the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs

1989-1991

Estonia and Romania were liberated from the communist regime at the same time

Taking down the statue of Lenin in front of the building of the Central Committee of the Estonian Communist Party (now the Ministry of Foreign Affairs). Photo: Archives of the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs / Peeter Langovits

It was somewhat easier for Estonia because the people could unite against the dictates of Moscow. In Romania, the events were bloodier. Nicolae Ceaușescu’s communist regime was rather Chinese-, not Moscow-minded. At the same time, the dictator also had relatively good relations with Western countries. Formally, Romania’s national continuity was not as threatened as Estonia’s.

The transition to a democratic state was difficult in both countries. The Estonian Communist Party relinquished executive power without much resistance and the party members merged into the new society. In Romania, the processes were more tense, but the countries soon reached the same level in their relations with the European Union and NATO. It was important for both countries to become members of these organisations. In doing this, it was sensible to coordinate efforts.

26 August 1991

Romania re-recognised the Republic of Estonia

Romania acknowledging the restoration of the independence of the Baltic States. Photo: Archives of the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs

13 September 1991

Diplomatic relations between Estonia and Romania were restored

Agreement between Estonia and Romania on the restoration of diplomatic relations. Photo: Archives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

11–12 July 1992

State visit of the President of Romania Ion Iliescu to Tallinn

Treaty on Friendship and Cooperation between Romania and Estonia. Photo: Archives of Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs

A Treaty on Friendship and Cooperation between Romania and Estonia was also signed.

President of Romania Ion Iliescu and President of Estonia Arnold Rüütel. Photo: Estonian National Archives

22 June 1995

The First Romanian Ambassador Gheorghe Savuica, residing in Helsinki, presented his credentials

Gheorghe Savuica. Photo: Archives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs / Voldemar Maask

3 March 2000

The first Estonian Ambassador Peeter Reštšinski, who resided in Warsaw, presented his credentials

2004

Estonia and Romania became members of NATO

Photo: https://vm.ee/et/ajalugu-eesti-liitumine-natoga Formal ceremony for the seven new NATO members in Washington 29 March 2004. Photo: Archives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

As early as 2003, seven future NATO members, including Estonia and Romania, signed the Accession Protocol and ratified the NATO Treaty.

1 May 2004

Estonia became a member of the European Union

Hoisting of the flag of the European Union in Tallinn Kadriorg in front of the Office of the President of the Republic of Estonia. Photo: the Office of the President of the Republic of Estonia

Romania became a member of the European Union a few years later, 1 January 2007.

12 April 2011

President of Romania Traian Băsescu on a state visit to Tallinn

Press conference of the President of Romania Traian Băsescu and the President of Estonia Toomas Hendrik Ilves in Kadriorg Castle. Photo: Archives of the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs / Erik Peinar

2 October 2013

President Toomas Hendrik Ilves on a state visit to Bucharest

President of Estonia Toomas Hendrik Ilves; President of Romania Traian Băsescu. Photo: www.presidency.ro

7 November 2016

The Romanian and Estonian Ministers of Foreign Affairs opened the Estonian Embassy in Bucharest

Minister of Foreign Affairs Lazăr Comănescu, First Romanian Ambassador to Estonia Daniela Mihaela Cămărășan, First Estonian Ambassador to Romania Ants Frosch, and Minister of Foreign Affairs Jürgen Ligi. Photo: Archives of the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs

10 April 2017

The Romanian and Estonian Ministers of Foreign Affairs opened the Romanian Embassy in Tallinn

From left: Minister of Foreign Affairs Sven Mikser, First Romanian Ambassador to Estonia Daniela Mihaela Cămărășan, and Minister of Foreign Affairs Teodor Meleșcanu. Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Romania

2017-2019

In 2017, Estonia and in 2019, Romania held the Presidency of the Council of the European Union

Photo: Logo of the Estonian Presidency of the Council of the European Union

This was the first time for both countries to hold the Presidency of the Council of the European Union. Estonia became a member of the European Union in 2004, Romania in 2007.

Photo: Logo of the Romanian Presidency of the Council of the European Union

26 February 2021

Romania recognised the Republic of Estonia de jure exactly 100 years ago, marking the start of official diplomatic relations between the two countries

Photo: Logo of 100 years of diplomatic relations Estonia-Romania