Estonia Chairing UN Security Council in June

President Kersti Kaljulaid's meeting with the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Riigikogu on June 1 began ceremoniously when the United Nations flag was raised in front of the President's Office at Kadriorg Palace in Tallinn.

This marked the fact that Estonia will chair the UN Security Council during the month of June.

U.S. Chargé d'Affaires Visits Welles Declaration Exhibit at Vabamu

On June 2, Brian Roraff, Chargé d'Affaires of the American Embassy in Estonia, and Jonatan Vseviov, former Estonian Ambassador to the United States, visited the VABAMU Museum of Occupations and Freedom's new exhibition about the Welles Declaration.

On July 23, 1940, the U.S. Department of State issued a press release condemning the occupation of the Baltic States by a foreign aggressor.

That statement came to be known as the Welles Declaration after the then U.S. Secretary of State, Sumner Welles.

The temporary exhibition "U.S. Declaration in Support of Estonian Independence" can be seen from May 27 to October 23, 2021.

Tõnu Kaljuste Named Chief Conductor of Philharmonic Chamber Choir

Tõnu Kaljuste will become chief conductor and artistic director of the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir on August 1, twenty one years after he last held the position.

Kaljuste worked as the chief conductor and artistic director of the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir from the time it was founded in 1981 until 2001.

From 2001 to 2007, Paul Hillier from the UK continued his work and from 2008 to 2013, the position was held by Daniel Reuss. Since September 2014, the artistic director has been Kaspars Putninš.

Estonia Bans Fur Farms

On June 2, the Riigikogu banned fur farming, becoming the first Baltic nation to do so. 56 MPs voted in favor and 19 MPs against.

The Riigikogu passed a bill of amendments to the Animal Protection Act and Nature Conservation Act, which prohibits the breeding and keeping of animals in Estonia solely or mainly for the purpose of obtaining fur.