In a formal ceremony on 18 November, Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna inaugurated Ernst Jaakson Way in New York City. The street section is named in honour of Estonia’s most distinguished diplomat, Ernst Jaakson.
“Ernst Jaakson devoted his life to standing up for Estonia. By continuing his work at the Estonian Consulate General in New York during the Soviet occupation, Jaakson ensured that the legal continuity of the Republic of Estonia was preserved and that Estonia’s right to independence was not forgotten in the United States over the course of five decades,” Tsahkna said at the opening ceremony, which was attended on behalf of the United States, among others, by Keith Powers, Member of the New York City Council for District 4, as well as representatives of the city government and of Mike Lawler, the U.S. Congressman elected from New York.
“One of the most symbolic reminders that Estonia’s existence endured during the years of occupation thanks to the Estonian Consulate General in New York was the fact that in 1969, along with 73 other countries, Estonia’s message was sent to the surface of the Moon with the Apollo 11 astronauts,” Tsahkna recalled. “The slogan written by Jaakson—that the people of Estonia join those who hope and work for freedom and a better world —clearly holds true today.”
The Foreign Minister added that the Consulate General was able to continue its work during the years of occupation thanks to the United States’ policy of non-recognition, under which the Soviet Union’s occupation of the Baltic States was never acknowledged.
“The United States’ non-recognition policy enabled Jaakson to be one of the very few diplomats in the world representing a country under foreign occupation, thereby maintaining Estonia’s official presence and voice in the international community,” Tsahkna noted.
“Our diplomats today follow in Jaakson’s footsteps in defending Estonia’s interests, with the same dedication and perseverance,” the Foreign Minister added.
Estonia’s Ambassador to the United States, Kristjan Prikk, remarked that the opening of Ernst Jaakson Way is a major tribute to Jaakson’s life’s work, as well as a clear example of the diversity and strength of the Estonian–U.S. alliance.
“We are delighted to mark the 120th anniversary of Ernst Jaakson’s birth this year by opening a street in New York bearing his name, in the city where he spent most of his life representing Estonia,” Prikk said. “For fifty years during the occupation, Jaakson sustained Estonia’s relations with the United States, serving as a cornerstone of the partnership that exists between our two countries today. The fact that a street in a major city such as New York is now named after an Estonian diplomat is also testament to the strong friendship and alliance between Estonia and the United States.”
Ernst Jaakson was born on 11 August 1905 in Riga. He began working at the Estonian Embassy in Riga at the age of 14 and continued his service in Estonia’s foreign service until his death on 3 September 1999. With a career spanning 79 years, he is regarded as the world’s longest-serving diplomat.
Jaakson’s greatest achievement was safeguarding the legal continuity of the Republic of Estonia during the years of Soviet occupation. He continued his work at the Estonian Consulate General in New York, maintained close ties with leading U.S. politicians and the Estonian diaspora, and tirelessly supported Estonia’s statehood. Following the restoration of Estonia’s independence in 1991, he was appointed at the age of 86 as Estonia’s Ambassador to the United States and Permanent Representative to the United Nations.
Further information on Ernst Jaakson’s life and legacy is available on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website.
Ernst Jaakson Way is located on 34th Street in Manhattan, between 2nd Avenue and Tunnel Exit Street, close to the New York Estonian House and the Empire State Building.
Photographs and videos of the opening ceremony.
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