Smiles in Sillamäe

They say children are a true gift and I couldn’t agree more after today’s trip to Sillamäe! Embassy staff, interns, and Marines all visited Sillamäe in order to donate food to the “Domashnij Uyut” day center for children. The embassy ran a small food drive and collected baked goods, pasta, and canned goods to donate to the center. We have supported this center since 2007 through programs like Toys for Tots and our friendship today is stronger than ever.


“Domashnij Uyut” day center kids performing a dance 


The center’s talented children welcomed us with heartwarming musical performances and dances. You could feel how overjoyed the kids and teachers were to have us visit. We all got to know each other a little bit over a small lunch and hot cups of tea. The children were really eager to ask questions about life in the United States and the Americans’ experiences in Estonia. It was very nice to see these kids so happy and smiling and I am sure that many smiles are to be shared in the future as well! See you next time little rascals!

Post by Oleg Remizov, Public Affairs Intern

Let's go camping!

Embassy Intern Aalia Udawala at Hiiekivi Turismitalu

It’s always nice to get out of the office, especially with the beautiful summer we are having in Estonia this year! Yesterday, I travelled to Pärnu where embassy colleagues and I met with the teachers who are working with us to get ready for the Teaching Tolerance Through English Camp which will be held this August. Our first stop was a charming campsite called Hiiekivi Turismitalu where the camp will be held. This camp is hidden away in the countryside and had some of the best facilities a summer camp could have, like a treehouse-style cabin, a sauna, a swimming hole, swings, a fire pit, and so much more. The camp will host 25 children from all over the Baltic countries that have been learning English for two years or more. Their Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian teachers will come along as well. Together, along with camp counselors and special guests, they will be learning about valuing diversity and promoting tolerance in their communities while improving their English speaking skills.

No shortage of fresh strawberries!

After touring the idyllic campsite, we sampled some delicious strawberries fresh from the patch that the camp owner planted himself. The venue looked amazing and I can only imagine the great memories that will be made here as well as the important lessons that will be learned. After our campsite visit, we travelled to Pärnu for dinner and met the teachers who are collaborating with us and planning this event. We discussed the activities the kids will do such as scavenger hunts, singing, dancing, making handicrafts, and story-telling as well as camp themes, including friendship, tolerance, and our unique world. The camp will even have an America Day to learn about the U.S.A.’s diversity while enjoying some yummy roasted marshmallows over the campfire. After a delicious meal with highly motivated teachers and excited Embassy representatives in a small Pärnu café, I can’t wait to see all of the great things that will happen at the Teaching Tolerance Through English Camp this August!

Friendship and tolerance are themes at this summer's camp.

Post by Public Affairs Intern Aalia Udawala
Photos by Assistant Public Affairs Officer Alison Davis  

'Arf! 'Arf! Take Your Child/Pet To Work Day a Hit!

The U.S. Embassy in Tallinn put a whole new spin on the traditional Take Your Child to Work Day when even the furriest family members came along so that the whole family could be together! Bring Your Pet to Work Day joined the traditional Bring Your Child to Work Day for double the fun.

"Noostie" takes the prize for best photo!

American and Estonian children had a fun-packed and educational day at the Embassy where they did everything from learning to sort mail at the post office to racing up the stairs with the Ambassador! They had a blast learning about what all the sections at the embassy do. The children rode around in a soap box derby car built by embassy employees, checked out the Ambassador’s car, learned about safety with security staff, were interviewed by our media experts and then went on to have more fun with the Marines, Medical Unit and Consular Section.

The pets joined in on the excitement, too! A Pet Photo Contest was organized and “Noostie” was crowned the most photogenic pet as she took her place at the podium as if she was giving a ‘paw-erful’ speech. The day ended with a delicious hotdogs and hamburgers when the families joined the Marines for a barbecue in the courtyard.

Post by Community Liaison Officer Natalia Smith and Public Affairs Intern Aalia Udawala
Photos by Public Affairs Officer Michelle Schohn

Sister Cities via Skype

Viljandi Mayor Kivisik with Ambassador Levine
and Janie Keeler at Sister city signing ceremony in Viljandi 

Forging partnerships from 7000 kilometers away has sure gotten a lot easier! Especially when you can make use of one of Estonia’s most successful home-grown innovations: Skype.

And that’s just what we did when it came time to hold a Sister City Agreement Signing Ceremony between the Estonian city of Viljandi and the American City of Cumberland, Maryland. On June 19th, I joined Ambassador Jeffrey D. Levine and Mayor Loit Kivistik of Viljandi for a “face to face” meeting using Skype’s conference call tool. Our video call at Viljandi’s Town Hall connected with Cumberland’s mayoral offices, as well as the Estonian Embassy in Washington, DC.

I was really excited to take part in this because I’ve been lucky enough to visit both Viljandi and Cumberland in the past. Last year, I attended Viljandi’s amazing folk festival and a few years ago, my husband and I visited Cumberland, Maryland while on a bike tour from Pittsburgh to Washington, DC. Both towns are county seats with beautiful architecture and great people. In my opinion, they couldn’t be better matched as sister cities and have a great deal to offer each other.

So back to our Skype call: Ambassador Levine kicked things off with words of congratulations for both cities, citing how much the U.S. and Estonia have gained from our sustained partnership in so many areas, including of course military and business partnerships but also in the arts and through cultural exchanges. In his view, the new sister cities agreement offers a lot of promise but will require commitment from both sides, including the exchange of visits, to keep it going. Mr. Sepp from the Estonian Embassy seconded these sentiments and encouraged both sides to stay involved. Finally, both Mayor Kivistik and Cumberland’s Mayor Brian Grim, shared a bit about their home towns and talked about potential areas of cooperation.

Krista Kull, Viljandi’s Head of Public Relations and Tourism, let me know that is was the first Skype conference call that Viljandi City has used in its 700+ years of history. And I hope this new sister cities agreement is just as much of a groundbreaker for both towns as they share strategies for growing their economies and continuing to hone their images as cultural destinations. I plan on visiting both destinations myself in the coming year. In addition to going to Viljandi’s folk festival once again I am planning on attending Cumberland’s Delfest festival, one of the largest bluegrass music celebrations in North America.

Good luck and congratulations to both Viljandi and Cumberland on their new partnership!

Post by Alison Davis
Pictures by Laine Lembavere

Cruisin'

Thousands of Americans see Tallinn each year courtesy of the hundreds of cruise ships that stop here each summer.

Yesterday afternoon, thanks to the help of Sergei Turkov, the Cruise Dept. Manager with ESTMA shipping agency, I welcomed some of those U.S. citizen passengers aboard Le Boreal cruise ship. Thanks to Sergei's help, I was able to drive right up to where the ship docked, to meet the captain and some of the staff and then the ship's 200 passengers, the majority of whom were U.S. citizens from various university alumni groups.  I mingled with the passengers in the ship's lobby and lounge while they waited to depart the ship for their respective tours. 

One of the staff members made an announcement in the lounge and introduced me to the passengers before handing the microphone to me.  I welcomed them to Tallinn and wished them a safe and enjoyable visit to the Old Town.  I told them they are well taken care of by the staff of the ship but if anything unexpected were to happen to them, then we are here for them.  I then walked around the room and handed out a little business card with our contact information and a list of some of the services we can provide for them:

If you are a U.S. citizen and need assistance in Estonia, please feel free to contact U.S. Embassy Tallinn.

What We Can Do For You 

· Replace lost/stolen passports

· Find appropriate medical care if you are injured

· Help you contact your family, friends, or employer

· Explain how and where you can report a crime to local law enforcement officials

· Provide you with a list of attorneys practicing in Estonia.

My visit lasted from 12:00-13:30, although, I probably could have left a little earlier.  Everyone was very kind, surprised to see someone from our embassy, but also very happy to see me there.  They asked many questions about Estonia, the Estonian language and the size of our embassy.

All in all, this was a very positive experience with all parties involved (the shipping agent, the cruise ship staff and the US citizen passengers).  I look forward to doing more work like this. In fact, the Captain invited Ambassador Levine to visit the ship on one of its future trips to Tallinn. So the next Americans in Tallinn may be in store for a big treat!  

Post by Consular Associate Aaron Davis

Did I Really Just Get to Fly in a KC135 for work?

Imagine it’s June in Estonia, and it’s Friday morning. The sun is up, the sky is clear with puffed clouds here and there, the air is full of lilac scent, it’s warm and mild and you are dutifully in the office, tapping away on the keyboard, sending an occasional longing glance toward your window and the summer skies just outside. “There’s a chance we both might get to go,” a colleague of mine says as she makes an appearance on my doorstep and I light up right there. “Really? Like, really-really?” I can barely contain myself from jumping up and down. “Sure,” she says. “Let’s meet in my office in ten, I should know more by then.”

She is talking about an opportunity to fly on board a U.S. Air Force KC135, an aerial refueling tanker, which is at Ämari airbase for the Saber Strike 2013 event. As someone in the Embassy working mostly with cultural and educational affairs, it isn’t often that I get a glimpse of military affairs, much less to fly in an aircraft. I’ve always loved flying, having spent decent amount of time in Ridali glider airfield in South Estonia as a kid and harboring keen interest in planes of all sorts as a dorky teenager. So, naturally, I’m getting more and more excited as I walk towards my colleague’s office to get a confirmation from our military colleague that yes, both of us are welcome on the 2:30 flight from the Ämari airfield. And soon we’re on our way. She is driving and I’m chattering happily away as we approach, tapping my feet and checking the skies every so often. She laughs, as I struggle with trying to figure out how to take pictures with the camera and my iPhone at the same time.

We are accompanying U.S. Ambassador Jeff Levine and DCM Robert Gilchrist as they are greeted at the airfield by Estonian and U.S. military officials and walked through the terminal. As we emerge from the other side, the view is spectacular. The airfield is filled with planes – I can recognize the A-10’s and from the distance I spot the KC-135, which looks even more impressive in real life than in the numerous press pictures that have been floating around in the media these days. Men and women in uniforms are to be seen everywhere and I spot someone wearing a Saber Strike t-shirt. We still have about 45 minutes until the flight and I get to see the planes close up as the pilots explain more about the complicated machinery they are operating on daily basis. 

Ambassador Levine checking out a cockpit. Seems the pilot is a Ravens fan!

In attempt to record as much as possible, I snap pictures and simply cannot resist the temptation to immediately share them with closest friends (thanks, smartphones!) with, I suspect, a slightly annoying caption like “look at me posing nonchalantly with a USAF plane.” But, being loyal friends, they dutifully cheer. Two A-10’s are whizzing past for the take-off.

A few more minutes and the boarding is announced. We climb the stairs and are welcomed on board by the friendly crew, who invites us to walk around and check out the cockpit and the plane before we get ready to be seated and given a security briefing. We’re asked to take seats as the aircraft is taxiing towards the runway. The friendly and cheery crew pilot Major Hilary O. Ayanru explains the history of the aircraft and delivers statistics with impressive data. Suddenly the engines roar, force pulls us deeper into the seats and we are airborne. After climbing to 16,000 feet, we are allowed to roam around, check the view from the windows and snap pictures from cockpit, including of ourselves posing happily with pilots flying the aircraft in background. 

Ambassador Levine in the cockpit of the KC 135

Flight deck and instrument panels are a dizzying mix of controls for someone used to the modest instrument panel of the Blanik L-13 glider. The massive wings, seen from the small side windows, carry the aircraft and its fuel load through the enormous cumulus clouds and occasionally we are asked to return to our seats while passing the turbulent air. The view from the cockpit as well as from the boom operator view is awesome. I spot the coastline and Haapsalu. We keep snapping photos and Major Ayanru shows us some amazing pics of his own taken on a flight over Tallinn.

The pilots announce some bad weather ahead of us and it’s time to return to the base. The descent is surprisingly fast and soon we’re touching the runway. Only then do I glance my watch and realize that we actually enjoyed quite a lengthy flight of almost an hour and a half. We take some more group pictures with the excellent crew and it’s time to leave the military airfield to return to our daily routines. On our way back we constantly keep wondering what it would be like to be a pilot. Daydreaming like kids, really, but now with an actual experience to share.

Post by Cultural Assistant Jane Susi

Photos by Jane Susi and Media Assistant Mairis Tuisk

Energy Issues Under a Big Tent

Political parties talk about seeing themselves as a big tent, one where people of different backgrounds and with varying ideas can come together to solve mutual problems.

If ever there was a problem that could use a big tent to come up with big solutions, it is the issue of energy security, one of our highest foreign policy priorities. And last night, we definitely had the "big tent" part covered!

Last night, Ambassador Jeff Levine, a self-described "green guy" who dreams of owning his own wind mill, co-hosted with Chairman of the Board of Eesti Energia AS and Enefit Sandor Liive, a reception for attendees of the 2013 Oil Shale Symposium, including Estonian Economic Minister Juhan Parts and Canadian Ambassador John Morrison as well as a large group visiting from the State of Utah, U.S. Congressional staffers, and representatives from private industry.

In a time when our tradition sources of energy are diminishing, it is essential to find new energy sources to power economies and manage our environment in the 21st century. This is why Estonia’s global leadership in oil shale is playing a key role in the U.S. energy sector. Estonia brings a wealth of expertise about this “new” energy source to the table. [In fact, Estonia has been developing and perfecting oil shale technology for more than 100 years!] So it makes a lot of sense that new partnerships between Estonia and the U.S. (home to 75 percent of all known oil shale reserves) are in the offing. Hence, the Ambassador held a reception for symposium attendees not only to highlight many of these new partnerships but to share his ideas about the future of oil shale, energy, and sustainability.

We know that petroleum will likely be a part of the world energy mix for many years to come, and oil shale holds considerable promise for boosting both world petroleum supply as well as growing the U.S. and Estonian economies. But we also know that oil shale (which is not to be confused with shale gas and the debate over fracking) is widely criticized for environmental downsides. And so Ambassador Levine concluded his message with a challenge: that we keep cooperating, sharing best practices and focusing on making oil shale greener and more sustainable. If the fruitful cooperation between U.S. and Estonian IT companies is any indicator, these new oil shale partnerships may very well meet this challenge.

Post by APAO Alison Davis

Secretary Kerry Celebrates LGBT Pride Month

Full Transcript:

Hello! I wanted to take a moment to join people around the world in celebrating Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride month. This month is about the assertion of equality and dignity. It is about the affirmation of fundamental freedoms and human rights. It is about people taking pride in who they are, no matter their sexual orientation or gender identity. Protecting universal human rights is at the very heart of our diplomacy, and we remain committed to advancing human rights for all, including LGBT individuals. We are committed to advancing these rights not just in the month of June, but year-round.

As Secretary, I join with my colleagues at our embassies, consulates, and USAID missions around the world in saying, no matter where you are, and no matter who you love, we stand with you.

Across the globe – in Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Americas – our diplomats are assisting local LGBT organizations and supporting local human rights advocates working to promote equality, create dialogue, and ensure protections for LGBT individuals.

Through the Global Equality Fund, the State Department has already provided critical emergency and long-term assistance to promote and protect the human rights of LGBT persons in over twenty-five countries. And our support will continue to grow, in cooperation with other equality-minded governments, foundations and corporations. Forty-four years after Stonewall, we see incredible progress in the fight to advance the human rights and fundamental freedoms of LGBT people, both here in the United States and globally. Unfortunately, our work is not done. Recent events underscore that despite progress, we still have a long way to go. There are LGBT people of all ages, all races, and all faiths – citizens of every country on Earth. And in too many places, LGBT people and their supporters are being attacked and harassed for simply being who they are and for standing up for their rights. The United States condemns all such violence, harassment, and discrimination. As President Obama said, “the struggle to end discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender persons is a global challenge, and one that is central to the United States’ commitment to promoting human rights.” LGBT persons must be free to exercise their human rights – including freedom of expression, freedom of religion, and freedom of assembly and association – without fear of reprisal.

It is my honor to reaffirm the State Department’s commitment to promoting the human rights of LGBT persons, and indeed all human beings, worldwide.

To those celebrating Pride in the United States and around the world, I wish you all a Happy Pride month.

LGBT Pride Month

Press Statement
John Kerry
Secretary of State
Washington, DC
June 4, 2013

The Department of State joins people around the world in celebrating Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Pride Month. Forty-four years after Stonewall, we see incredible progress in the fight to advance the human rights and fundamental freedoms of LGBT people, both here in the United States and globally. Protecting universal human rights is at the very heart of our diplomacy, and we remain committed to advancing human rights for all, including LGBT individuals.

Unfortunately, recent events underscore that we can’t be content with the progress we’ve made. We still have a long way to go. All over the world, people continue to be killed, arrested, and harassed simply because of who they are, or who they love. There are LGBT people of all ages, all races and all faiths, citizens of every country on Earth. In too many places, LGBT people and their supporters are still attacked if they just attempt to stand up for their rights and participate in peaceful rallies or marches, or simply for being who they are.

The United States condemns this violence and harassment. LGBT persons must be free to exercise their human rights—including freedom of expression, freedom of religion and freedom of assembly and association—without fear of reprisal. Human rights and fundamental freedoms belong to all individuals, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity.

The United States will continue to stand up for the human rights of all people, during this month and every month throughout the year, and we are proud to do so.

Lots of Planes and Stars!

If you have noticed a lot of military planes in the skies over Tallinn this week, there is a good reason for it! The annual "Saber Strike" exercise is going on in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania through tomorrow, and has brought with it a number of generals as well as aircraft from the Maryland National Guard.

The stars...er...generals visiting Estonia are General Keith Alexander, Commander of the U.S. Cyber Command, and Major General James Adkins of the U.S. Army along with Brigadier General Scott Kelly of the U.S. Air Force. They have been visiting Estonia this week as the busy military exercise and conference season gets underway in the Baltic region. General Alexander was in Estonia to give a keynote address to the 5th International Conference on Cyber Conflict held here in Tallinn from June 4-7.  Major General Adkins, the lead military official of the Maryland National Guard, is in Tallinn to mark the 20th anniversary of the partnership between the Maryland National Guard and the Estonian Defense Forces. He was actually assigned to Tallinn as a young army officer, and continues to hold a special place for Estonia in his heart.  

Joint military exercises are a great way to demonstrate our cooperation

While he is here, Major General Adkins will visit Maryland National Guard personnel deployed to Estonia’s Ämari Air Base as a part of the “Saber Strike” exercise. Many of those Maryland personnel will be under the command of Brigadier General Scott Kelly, who commands the 175th Wing of the Maryland Air National Guard.  The 175th Wing will have KC-135 tanker aircraft, C-130 transporters, and A-10 “Thunderbolt” aircraft flying from Ämari Air Base in support of Saber Strike activities in Latvia and Lithuania focused on building cooperation between regional countries.

“The presence of these and other senior U.S. leaders in Estonia recognizes the importance of Estonia to the U.S. military, its  contributions to NATO and partner efforts in Afghanistan, Iraq, and elsewhere, and Estonia’s  emergence as a leader in cyber security issues,” said U.S. Ambassador to Estonia Jeffrey Levine.

Tallinn's Old City from the air

Welcome to U.S. Embassy Tallinn's official blog!

Welcome to the official blog for the United States Embassy in Tallinn, Estonia! We are glad you stopped by for a visit.

We have lots of exciting events and news to share with you, and this will be the place for you to find it!

From our trips to all the regions in Estonia to events right here in Tallinn, from the thoughts of Fulbrighters coming to Estonia to the adventures of high schoolers headed to the United States, you will find it all here!

So thanks for joining us!