Historic Tartu Peace Treaty table moves to Estonia’s Foreign Ministry

ERR reports that the historic table used for negotiations leading to the Tartu Peace Treaty has been moved to the main building of Estonia’s Foreign Ministry in Tallinn.

The negotiations around the table led to the treaty’s signing on February 2, 1920, between the Republic of Estonia and Soviet Russia. The treaty was the young Estonian state’s first major diplomatic victory and became one of the foundations of Estonia’s foreign service.

The table will be displayed to visitors, including foreign guests, diplomats and international delegations. The ministry also plans to use it for formal signing ceremonies.

The unusually large piece of furniture was known as the “peace table” even before the negotiations. It was believed that people seated around such a large table could find common ground despite their disagreements.

The table, formerly held by the Tartu City Museum, has been brought to Tallinn while the museum is renovated and a new permanent exhibition is prepared. It will return to Tartu afterwards.

“It certainly has enormous symbolic importance and value for us,” said Rasmus Lumi, the Foreign Ministry’s deputy secretary general for administrative affairs. He said the ministry wants the table on view for guests and hopes to hold significant signing ceremonies there.