Estonia and Romania celebrate centenary of diplomatic relations
Today 26 February, Estonia and Romania mark a hundred years from the day Romania recognised the Republic of Estonia de jure, which laid the basis for formal diplomatic relations.
Today, Foreign Minister Eva-Maria Liimets met with Carmen Florea, the chargé d’affaires of the Romanian Embassy, to discuss historical and current relations between Estonia and Romania. “Despite the geographical distance between Estonia and Romania, our predecessors established solid relations: they appointed corresponding representatives, and Romania opened its representation in Estonia in 1935. Today we have become good partners in the European Union and Allies in NATO. We are like-minded on many issues, including in security policy, and are cooperating in various formats, such as the Three Seas Initiative,” Liimets said. The minister said she appreciated Romania’s participation in and contribution to the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence, and said the Three Seas Initiative was a great chance to enhance economic cooperation. “Estonia is also ready to cooperate on e-solutions.”
On 26 February 1921, the Special Envoy of Romania to Scandinavian countries Mihail Pâclianu informed the Estonian consul Edmund Kinkmann in Copenhagen of the de jure recognition of Estonia.
The Romanian Embassy in Tallinn was opened in 1935 and it operated until 1939. Romania had previously covered Estonia from Warsaw and Riga.
The secret protocol of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact had an enormous impact on both Romania and Estonia. Between 1989 and 1991, Estonia and Romania became free from communist rule at the same time.
Romania reopened its embassy in Estonia in 2016, while Estonia had opened its first embassy in Bucharest in 2015.
Today, the Romanian Embassy is opening an exhibition at the National Library of Estonia on the diplomatic relations between the two countries.
13 September 2021 also marks the 30th anniversary of the restoration of diplomatic relations between Estonia and Romania.
The timeline of diplomatic relations between Estonia and Romania
Additional information:
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Estonia
Communication Department
[email protected]