President Kersti Kaljulaid opens National Archives’ exhibition in Warsaw

On May 3–5, 2021, National Archivist Mr. Priit Pirsko participates in the visit of the President of Estonia Mrs. Kersti Kaljulaid to Poland for celebrating the 230th anniversary of the adoption of the Polish Constitution as well as for developing economic and cultural relations of two states.

On May 5, the exhibition of Polish-Estonian relations in 1918–1939 will be opened in Łazienki Park in Warsaw. On the opening ceremony, welcome speeches will be given by the President Kaljulaid, Polish Ambassador to Estonia Mr. Grzegorz Kozłowski, Estonian Ambassador to Poland Mr. Martin Roger, and Polish Deputy State Secretary of Ministry of Culture and National Heritage Ms. Magdalena Gawin. The exhibit will be guided by the National Archivist Mr. Priit Pirsko.

The exhibition titled „Polish-Estonian relations 1918–1939: in the light of Estonian archival materials“ was compiled in 2018 as part of the Niepodległa celebrations marking the centenary of restoration of Poland’s independence and the centenary of the independence of Estonia. With the opening of the exhibition in the Estonian History Museum in Tallinn on February 4th 2018, both countries inaugurated bilateral celebrations of the centenary of independence in Estonia. It is unprecedentedly significant that during the same year the exhibition was opened firstly in Tartu by the Polish president Mr. Andrzej Duda, and thereafter in Narva by the Estonian president Mrs. Kersti Kaljulaid.

In 2020, two panels were added to the exhibition to mark the centenary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Estonia and Poland. The centenary year allowed us to look at our common past again, while also inspiring us to continue on established avenues of cooperation and discover new ones. At the exhibit, visitors can take a look at the images of the records and photos on 12 stands covering the topics as state visits and receptions, military and state decorations awarded to Poles and Estonians, cooperation on national defence and diplomacy, activity of Estonian-Polish Society as well as several examples on mutual economic contacts and employment opportunities in 1920’s and 1930’s.

The exhibition was curated by the National Archives of Estonia and commissioned by the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Tallinn. Author of the exhibit is archivist Tiit Noormets and graphic design is made by Einike Leppik.