A book series in the Seto language, close to the Estonian language, is one of the winners of the annual book design competition "Best Book Design from all over the World," held in Leipzig by Stiftung Buch-kunst since 1963.

This year's main prize, the "Goldene Letter," went to "Untitled (September Magazine) Paul Elliman, 2013" from Belgium, while the Seto Library (Seto Kirävara) series, designed by Agnes Ratas, received an honorary appreciation.

The book series is published by the Seto Institute, which is dedicated to the cultivation and documentation of the distinctive Seto language in South-Eastern Estonia, which today is spoken by a mere few thousand people.

The series aims to publish the full library of Seto books, including poetry, songs, biographies, gospels and folklore.

The minimalist design makes use of the traditional patterns from the national costumes, including embroidery and geometric textile ornaments.

The covers of the books are printed in white with red lettering and the said geometric ornaments on the spines, the hue varying from volume to volume.

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Published: March 10 2015

In a combined effort to muster support to enact the Ukraine Freedom Support Act of 2014 (House Resolution 5782 and Senate version 2828), the Estonian American National Council organized a focused effort to communicate a strong message to Congress that these bills were an important step toward ensuring military and security assistance to Ukraine, and putting Russia on notice that it cannot impose its will on Ukraine or any other country. Provisions of the legislation also provide for support to the Baltic countries.  

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Published: March 03 2015

On behalf of President Obama and the people of the United States, I congratulate the people of Estonia as you celebrate 97 years since the founding of your republic.

President Obama’s historic visit to your country last year was a visible demonstration of the ties between our two countries.

As he said then, the energy and optimism of today’s Estonians is a model for those yearning for freedom.

Estonia is a global leader in e-governance, Internet freedom, cybersecurity, and free-market economics.

Most recently, Foreign Minister Pentus-Rosimannus and I had the opportunity to discuss issues of mutual importance at the NATO Ministerial in December 2014.

As you raise the blue, black, and white flag of Estonia over Toompea Hill, I wish all Estonians peace and prosperity in the year ahead.

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Published: March 03 2015

The Estonian American National Council (EANC) is pleased to announce that it will award financial support to selected young adults interested in attending the 11th Joint Baltic American National Committee (JBANC) Baltic Conference on April 17-18, 2015.

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Published: March 03 2015

Lt. Col. Adkins speaking with Fred Ise at the 1996 “Partnership Celebration” at the Baltimore Estonian House. Between them is Franek Persidski, an Estonian cadet at the US Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. Franek was later Consul General of Estonia in St. Petersburg, Russia, but was expelled in 2013 by the Russian government, which claimed that he was an officer in the Estonian “security police.”

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Published: March 03 2015

The first full orchestral composition by Estonian-American Jonas Tarm will have its world premiere Sunday, March 8, at Carnegie Hall in New York City.

The piece is entitled "Marsh u Nebuttya" – which means "March to Oblivion" in Ukrainian – and it will be played by the New York Youth Symphony under the direction of conductor Joshua Gersen.

On the same program with Tarm, who is 21 and a third year composition student at the New England Conservatory in Boston, will be American violinist Elena Urioste, performing Beethoven's Violin Concerto.

Rimsky-Korsakov's Scheherazade is the third work on the program.

Tarm's chance to have a piece played at the 124-year-old Carnegie Hall came with his selection as one of three orchestral composers to win the New York Youth Symphony's First Music competition.

Each winner was commissioned to write a new piece for a Carnegie Hall concert.

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Published: March 02 2015

Elli Riismandel was a lawyer educated both in her native country Estonia and the United States.

She held a law degree from University of Tartu and a Master of Comparative Law (MCL) degree from the George Washington University Law School in the District of Columbia.

She was the first woman with a European law degree to be awarded the MCL degree.

This legal background served her well while being employed at the Copyright Office of the Library of Congress from which she retired in 1982 as a Senior Copyright Examiner after 15 years of service.

Elli had worked in the private sector as an office manager before moving to the Copyright Office.

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Published: February 24 2015

Marju Rink-Abel, president of the Estonian American National Council, provided an overview of Estonia to the Maryland Air National Guard, stationed at Warfield Air National Guard Base, Middle River, MD, on February 8.  Many members are going to Estonia in June to participate in training and exercises, and were interested in learning more about the country before they left.

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Published: February 24 2015