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Location: The Heritage Foundation's Lehrman Auditorium
In 2004
Estonia and six other countries were granted membership to the
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). This historic
accomplishment followed remarkable efforts beginning in the early
1990s by the three newly free and independent Baltic States.
By directing their domestic and foreign policy, as well as
actively engaging in public diplomacy, they achieved this
objective. Estonia's dedication to democracy, rule of law,
respect for human rights and the fundamental freedoms of all people
helped cement its partnership with the United States. Prior
to that, the U.S. support for Estonia and her Baltic neighbors
within the U.S. administration and in Congress was embodied in the
U.S.-Baltic Charter of 1998. Despite sustained opposition
from Moscow, and fears by some on both sides of the Atlantic of
Russia's opposition to the Baltic States joining NATO, they
succeeded. Estonia's public diplomacy efforts to mobilize the
Estonian-American community played an important role in this
effort. Since independence, Estonia has been dedicated to
western values and prosperity. This program is dedicated to
the strong diplomatic ties between Estonia and the United States as
well as the lessons that can be learned today from the successful
campaign of Estonia to join NATO.
More About the Speakers
Ambassador Sven Jürgenson
Foreign Policy Adviser to the President of the Republic of
Estonia,
and Ambassador to the United States from Estonia, 2000-2003
Ambassador Aldona Zofia Wos, M.D.
U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Estonia, 2004-2006
Hosted By
Helle C. Dale
Senior Fellow for Public Diplomacy
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