Ambassador Joseph M. DeThomas' Speech at the
Opening of the American Corner at Viljandi Town Library
Tuesday, March 30, 2004

Minister Maimets, Governor Küttis, Mayor Vahtra, Director Murdla, Mr. Barkalaja, ladies and gentlemen:

It is a great pleasure for me to celebrate the opening of our American Corner in Viljandi. At their heart, American Corners are partnerships between U.S. embassies and local institutions, and they are meant to reach out to people who do not reside in capital cities. There are currently 100 American Corners located around the globe, and nearly 200 more are scheduled to open this year.

This American Corner will provide the residents of Viljandi and southern Estonia with access to a wide range of information about many aspects of life in the United States - our government, educational system, culture, history, society, and literature. We at the American Embassy stand ready to help Viljandi's American Corner fulfill this goal.

As I mentioned last week in Narva, where our other American Corner in Estonia was opened, since my first day in Estonia I have emphasized that the American Embassy in Tallinn is not the Embassy to Tallinn but to all of Estonia. Our decision to open an America Corner here in Viljandi arose from our desire to demonstrate, in a very tangible manner, our interest in all regions of Estonia.

Why did we choose Viljandi as the site for an American Corner? One of the main reasons we did so is because Viljandi is a town with a vibrant cultural life. The work of the Cultural Academy and the Ugala Theater are just two examples of the influence that Viljandi's cultural life has on all of Estonia.

For the last two summers, I have had the privilege of attending Viljandi's folk music festival. While its international reputation and line-up of performers is certainly noteworthy, what impressed me most of all was the role that this festival plays in maintaining and advancing Estonian culture. I witnessed Estonian culture being passed on from one generation to another, as I saw young mothers teaching their children Estonian folk songs. I saw a culture that was alive and transforming, as young people shared with each other their knowledge and contagious enthusiasm about traditional dances, or drew inspiration from folk music to develop new and innovative musical forms.

But I am learning that Viljandi is an exciting place that is full of activity not just for a few days in July but all year round. And Viljandi Town Library clearly plays an important part in this. The numerous exhibits, lectures, and performances you have already had here in this new building indicate your dedication to sharing knowledge about Estonia and the world with the people of Viljandi. As you are located in a new building right in the heart of Viljandi and across from the Cultural Academy, your library struck us as a place that was brimming with potential and whose staff was eager to harness this potential. That made it an ideal location for an American Corner, a place where we could share our culture, history, and society with you as well.

A lot of hard work on the part of many people has gone into opening Viljandi's American Corner. I would like to express my thanks in particular to Viljandi Town Library's Director Evi Murdla for your work with our Embassy. Let me emphasize that today's events, however, represent only the beginning of our partnership. We look forward to working with the people of Viljandi and getting to know each other better.

Thank you very much.