Estonia Opens Embassy in Virtual World
Estonia opened an embassy in the internet-based virtual world Second Life on Tuesday, 4 December, 2007. Esto nia is the third country to open an embassy in Second Life.
According to Foreign Minister Urmas Paet, more and more of communication goes on internet, and Estonia must keep up with the trend. "Second Life's popularity as an alternative environment for interaction has grown rapidly, which is why we decided to establish an embassy there," Paet added.
Art exhibits, concerts, lectures and other event s will be organised in the embassy. The first lecture, entitled "Back to the future," will be given in January by Estonian A mbas s ador to Great Britain Margus Laidre .
According to Secretary General of the Foreign Ministry Matti Maasikas, several other countries are planning to open virtual embassies in Second Life, which means that the prominence of Second Life is growing in diplomatic circles. "We expect people interested in Estonia, as well as people interested in foreign relations and foreign policy, to participate in events at the embassy," said Maasikas.
The virtual embassy has a conference room, exhibition room , reception hall and a technology room, where Estonia as an e-nation is introduced. Visitors to the Estonian embassy will hear current news read by an Estonian hound.
In honour of the 90th anniversary of the Republic of Estonia, the embassy will display the exhibit "Blue-black-white in Estonian painting". There will also be other materials dedicated to the anniversary on display.
The virtual representation was born under the leadership of the Foreign Ministry. The State Chancellery and the Estonian Informatics Centre made significant contributions, and there were many volunteer helpers as well. The project is being implemented by consultation firm Hill & Knowlton.
Source: Spokesman’s Office
Submitted by Helgi Leesment
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Schengen Visa Space
The land and maritime borders of nine countries- Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia opened on 21 December, 2007, as they acceded to the Schengen visa space.
The events to mark the Schengen enlargement took place at Port of Tallinn’s D-Terminal with the presence of Finnish Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen and other representatives of the Finnish, Swedish, Norwegian and Icelandic governments.
Estonian Review
December 21, 2007
