Pöördumine New Yorgi Eesti Peakonsulaadi sulgemise asjus (allkirjadega) – eesti keeles

Last week, the Estonian community on the East coast of the United States and their supporters received distressing
news – the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced plans to close the Consulate General in New York.
Media reports may have given the impression that the purpose of the Consulate General has only been to offer
consular services to those Estonians in need of emergency assistance, and that these functions could easily be
implemented through the UN mission, the Embassy in Washington or the honorary consuls: that it was just an issue
of logistics. However, the role of the Consulate General has been much more considerable than just handling
documents. While presence in Washington is important due to the governmental institutions there, New York cannot
be ignored for its role in cultivating strong relations in business, start-ups and the technology sector, communal
contacts and cultural relations.
The Consulate General has for many years been at the core of developing Estonia’s economic relations in the New
York region, particularly in the start-up and technology sectors. In recent years, under the leadership of immensely
entrepreneurial Consulate Generals, it has been key in establishing and brokering numerous contacts, bringing
together Estonian start-ups as well as large companies with a variety of investors and business partners on the East
coast of the United States, including New York City government, the New York Angels network of more than 100 New
York venture capitalists, and many others. Events organized by the Consulate General have also widely promoted the
e-Residency program and the e-Residents Club, which was set up to increase Estonia’s visibility. The Consulate
General’s active participation has strongly contributed to the promotion of Estonia in the financial hotspot of New
York as a compact and open business environment.
The same is true for Estonian culture. The Consulate General has arranged for prominent Estonian cultural
representatives such as the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir, Vox Clamantis, Tallinn Chamber Orchestra and
many others to perform in New York’s leading concert halls, and to showcase the work of Estonian artists in galleries
here, not to mention local initiatives such as the New York Baltic Film Festival. It is largely as a result of the efforts by
the Consulate General that an Estonian has been appointed as the head of the New York based European Union
National Institutes for Culture. All of which goes to show that the Consulate General has been extremely effective in
introducing Estonian music, film, art and culture to an extensive and influential New York audience.
New York and its wider region has a very active and large Estonian community, whose activities as a community are
closely linked to the Consulate General. Thanks to this activity, it has been feasible to keep the Estonian diaspora
alive here, and to keep us involved in the life of the Estonian state. Under the leadership of the Consulate General,
our entire community has learned to see itself as unofficial ambassadors of Estonia, creating a positive image of
Estonia for Americans on a daily basis.
The Consulate General of Estonia in New York has been in continuous operation since 1922. Under the leadership of
the legendary diplomat Ernst Jaakson, the Consulate became one of the beacons of Estonian freedom during the
Soviet occupation, making a significant contribution to the restoration and recognition of Estonian independence. It
would be regrettable if during these extremely turbulent times internationally, there was no official representation of
Estonia in a key center for our most important security partner, the United States.
The plan to close the Consulate General is very unexpected and unfortunate for the large and active Estonian
community here. The Consulate General has been preserving the Estonian identity in the New York area for decades,
as well as developing ever-strengthening cultural and business ties between Estonia and the United States. We all
recognize that the allocation of resources should be scrutinized in the light of efficiency of various governmental
functions, but the activities of the Consulate General in New York cannot be underestimated – it is a consistent
investment in the successful future of Estonia.
We, New York Estonians and Estonian citizens – and our Estonian friends and e-residents, hope that the Estonian
government and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will find a way to continue the very successful and value-adding
activities of the Consulate General in New York in the future. Representatives of the organizations and supporters of
the appeal are looking forward to the clarifications from the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

October 5, 2023 – Contact: Merike Barborak, [email protected]

Signed by:
US-ESTONIAN ORGANIZATIONS
Estonian Relief Committee
Toomas Kilm, president
New York Estonian Educational Society
Carl Skonberg, president
New York Estonian House
Katrin Albaz, manager
The Foundation for Estonian Arts and Letters
Tiina Vaska, president
Estonian Students Fund in USA
Mari Teedla, president – Valgetähe V klassi teenetemärk
Estonian Students Society, USA Chapter
Kaarel Laev
New York Estonian School
Merike Barborak, juhataja
Lakewood Estonian Association
Helica DeShaw, president
Lakewood Estonian School
Külli Rannamäe, juhataja
Boston Estonian Society
Paul Attemann, president
Boston Estonian School
Triin Vallaste, juhataja
Chicago Estonian School
Karl Herbert Grabbi, juhataja
Estonian Cultural Society of Chicago
Jaan Karukäpp, president
Connecticut Estonian Society
Jaak Rakfeldt, president
Union of Estonian Girl Guide Leaders in the United States
Karin Koorits Ashford, gdr

INDIVIDUALS
Sirje Ainso – artist, Baltic Appeal to the United Nations
Lauri Almann – Chairman of the Supervisory Board, CybExer Technologies
Karl Altau – Managing Director, the Joint Baltic American National Committee
Ain Anger – opera singer
Arho Kalevi Anttila – former manager of Asian and African markets, Pipedrive
Marje Armstrong – finance leader
Sven Aulik – Partnership Manager, Fusebox
Marika Blossfelt – Choreographer
Cindy Chin – CEO, CLC Advisors ja NASA Datanaut
Mimi S. Daitz – Musicologist
Eleri Ever – Photographer
Liisi V. Fletcher – Manager, Folk Dance Troupe “Saare Vikat”
Uno Habakukk – Artist
Anna Hints – Filmmaker
Britta Hion – Head of North America Distribution, Barings
Dr Kristel Hunt – Associate Professor, Icahn School of Medicine at Mt Sinai
Airi Hämmalov – Attorney
Prof. Maire Jaanus, PhD. – Professor
Mari Joller – Technology Entrepreneur, AI Product Leader, Amazon
Kristjan Järvi – Conductor
Neeme Järvi – Conductor
Paavo Järvi – Conductor
Anni Jürgenson – Jewelry Designer
Lauri Kai – Attorney
Tõnu Kaljuste – Artistic Director, Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir ja Tallinn Philharmonics
Gilda Karu – Deacon Pastor, First Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church of Chicago
Ivan Kavoleff – Vicar, Evangelican Lutheran Church
Kadri Kerge – Senior Designer/Project Manager, Rockwell Group
Kaupo Kikkas – Artist
Marcel Johannes Kits – Cello player
Mark Kostabi – Artist
Ilomai Kurrik – Lawyer
Martin Kuuskmann – musician and professor
Marge Kärner – CEO, EM Impact Investors LLC
Kaie Põhi Latterner – Honorary Consul of Estonia in Chrystal Riveris
Marge Liiske – Industry@Tallinn & Baltic Event manager
Oskar Liivak – professor of law, Cornell Ülikool
David Lang – composer
Kristjan Lind – CEO, Bikeep
Tiina Lokk-Tramberg – founder and manager of Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival
Oliver Loode – manager, URALIC Center
Piret Loone – Chief Business Officer & General Counsel, Link Money
Eero Loonurm – kõrghariduse valdkonnajuht
Thomas Luckadoo – Honorary Consul of Estonia in North Carolina
Ingrid Margus – actress
Holger Marjamaa – pianist
Renee Meriste – President, Los Angeles Estonian Community
Hando Nahkur – pianist
Mairo Notton – designer
Karin Parras – designer and entrepreneur
Karin Pärn-Meberg – Vice President, Talent Acquisition, TALAQUiS
Michael Pärt – Chairman of the Supervisory Board, Arvo Pärt Center
Ülo Pikkov – filmmaker, Professor at Estonian Academy of Arts
Andrew Prozes – investor in Estonian tech companies
Jenik Radon – lawyer and professor
Kristjan Randalu – pianist and composer
Rain Rannu – entrepreneur
Ott Rätsep – member of the board, Louis Kahn Estonia Foundation
Ene Riisna – TV producer
Marju Rink-Abel – president, Estonian American National Council
Kristi Roosmaa – actress, producer and the first cultural representative at the New York Consulate General
Martin Saar – artist
Eve Saar-Kiil – entrepreneur, Amest
Margot Samel – owner of art gallery Margot Samel
Edith Sepp – member of the board, Estonian Film Institute
Argo Sildvee – Estonian Maritime Initiative
Dr Toomas Sõrra – Recipient of the Order of the White Star, 5th Class
Siim Sööt – Honorary Consul of Estonia in Chicago
Tony Spinoza – Author, Singing Revolution: the Musical.
Eric Suuberg – C.V. Starr Professor of Technology Entrepreneurship, Brown University
Ivi Tamm – teacher at the Estonian House School for 50 years
Jonas Tarm – composer, founder of Estonia Sings for Ukraine
Krista Altok Tassa – conductor, Estonian Mixed Choir of New York
Peeter Teedla – Recipient of the Order of the White Star, 5th Class
Jaan-Eik Tulve – artistic director, Vox Clamantis
Erkki-Sven Tüür – composer
Eha Urbsalu – founder and owner of companies in New York and Estonia
Virve Vaher – Recipient of the Order of the White Star, 5th Class
Laura Viidebaum – Associate Professor of Antique Sciences, New York University
Erki Viirand – GVP, Gartner
James S. York – CEO, International Centre for Trade Transparency and Monitoring
Jana Zernant – research scientist, Columbia University