Remembering the Tartu Peace Treaty

February 2, 2012

Estonian flags (Photo: Scanpix)

Today, we join Estonia in marking the 92^nd anniversary of the signing of the Tartu Rahu Leping, the peace treaty between Estonia and the Russian SFSR which was signed on February 2, 1920 and ended the Estonian War of Independence. This treaty resolving the hostilities between the two counties and delineating the countries’ borders. The treaty was signed by Jaan Poska on Estonian side and Adolf Joffe for Soviet Russia, and in it, Russia “unreservedly” recognized Estonian independence and renounced all claims to Estonian territory. The Tartu Peace Treaty continues to be regarded as the birth certificate of the Republic of Estonia because it was the very first de jure recognition of the state. Events today honoring the anniversary include a concert at the Estonia Hall featuring performances by the Defense Forces Orchestra, vocal sextet Chillinn, the National Opera Boys' Choir and the Revalia Chamber Choir, as well as the Guard Battalion servicemen's choir.