15 August

On 20 August 2011 Estonia will be celebrating 20 years since the independence of its country was restored with a number of fascinating events.

The Foreign Ministry and the Estonian Foreign Policy Institute have organised a conference on 20 August entitled “20.08.1991 – Twenty Years On”. At the conference the former and current government leaders and foreign ministers of the Nordic countries, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, and Russia will focus on the experiences gained over the last 20 years as well as new challenges. Participants in the conference will include Icelandic Foreign Minister Össur Skarphéðinsson, Finnish Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja, Latvian Foreign Minister Audronius Ažubalis, and Lithuanian Foreign Minister Ģirts Valdis Kristovskis. On Saturday, 20 August at 12.45 the foreign ministers of Estonia, Iceland, Lithuania, Latvia, Sweden, Denmark and Finland will give a joint press conference in the Teachers’ House in Tallinn.

On the evening of 20 August the massive free music event “Song of Freedom” will be held at the Tallinn Song Festival Grounds. The concert will include performances by Estonian artists as well as Finnish, Norwegian, Latvian, and Irish performers. Midnight will officially mark the beginning of Iceland Day, a special day of Icelandic culture that is Estonia’s way of thanking Iceland and celebrating the special relationship between Estonia and Iceland. Icelandic President Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson will be there to kick off the Iceland Day event. More information: http://www.tallinn2011.ee/_song_of_freedom__to_mark_20th_anniversary_of_...

Throughout the day on Sunday, 21 August, over ten musical acts from the island nation will appear in Tallinn’s courtyards, venues, and on Iceland Square, Iceland-themed exhibits will be unveiled, and a Nordic-inspired food market will take place. Many of the scheduled events are free of charge. Foreign Minister Urmas Paet will participate in various cultural events taking place within the framework of Iceland Day. “The fact that Estonia has decided to dedicate the 20th anniversary of the restoration of its independence to another country, calling it Iceland Day, is a great honour for our country,” commented Icelandic Ambassador to Estonia Elín Flygenring.

Read more about the schedule of Iceland Day: http://20.ee/iceland-day .