Schoolchildren commemorate students who died during independence war

On the 105th anniversary of the Tartu Peace Treaty, Tallinn schoolchildren, members of the government and city officials remembered the student soldiers who fell during the War of Independence.
The treaty was signed on February 2, 1920, between Estonia and Soviet Russia. Russia agreed to recognize Estonia's independence and the borders of its territory. With the signing of the treaty, Estonia's War of Independence came to an end.
Student councils, teachers, and school leaders from Tallinn schools gathered at the Reaali Poiss monument on Sunday morning.
"The Estonian War of Independence is, above all, a story about the price of freedom. It was a young state's struggle for its future, in which the entire nation contributed to achieving victory," said Prime Minister Kristen Michal (Reform).
"Today, we no longer have to go to the battlefield. But we must ensure that Estonia remains strong, united, and a country of free thought. Our task is to keep alive the very values for which the heroes of our War of Independence fought. Let us cherish freedom, for it is Estonia's greatest treasure."
Reaali Poiss is a memorial dedicated to the teachers and students of Tallinn who died during the War of Independence.
President: Treaty was one of Estonian diplomacy's great achievements

President Alar Karis called the treaty one of the great achievements of Estonian diplomacy at an event to mark the 105th anniversary at the Estonian Representative House at Toompea.
It also provides valuable insights into contemporary international relations and peace negotiations, he added.
"Five years ago, I had the rare opportunity to hold and leaf through the original Tartu Peace Treaty and to reaffirm that this treaty is undoubtedly one of the great achievements of Estonian diplomacy," said President Karis.
The head of state noted that securing a lasting agreement with Russia has always been difficult, as Russia withdraws from its commitments when it finds doing so advantageous.
"History has shown this as well — barely a few years after the treaty was signed, an unsuccessful coup attempt was staged in Estonia on December 1, 1924," he told the assembled crowd of diplomats and officials.
In his speech, the president highlighted three conditions necessary for serious peace negotiations.
"First, the aggressor must abandon ultimatums, and a realistic space for agreement must be established. Second, negotiations must not be used merely as propaganda — to showcase to the international community a supposed desire for peace when that is not the true intention. Nor should talks serve as a maneuver to continue military operations later and weaken the other side. And finally, perhaps most importantly, the aggressor must recognize the other party as a sovereign state in the negotiations, and both sides must be willing to consider a broader framework for coexistence and communication," Karis said.
The president added that the significance of the Tartu Peace Treaty extends from history to the present day.
"Serious peace negotiations cannot be considered before the necessary preconditions are met. The experience offered by Estonian history is valuable here. And in presenting it, dear diplomats, you play a key role."
A solemn ceremony took place in Kadriorg

A ceremony organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was held at the statue of Jaan Poska in Kadriorg to mark the anniversary on Sunday.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Margus Tsahkna (Eesti 200) said Poska was much more than the first foreign minister of independent Estonia
"His role as an architect and consolidator of Estonian statehood is difficult to overestimate. The Tartu Peace Treaty has been called the birth certificate of the Republic of Estonia, but it also has a significantly broader international dimension — it was the first international act to explicitly use the concept of national self-determination," he said.
The memorial ceremony was attended by the deputy commander of the Defense Forces, the commander of the Defense League, the mayor of Tallinn, the chairman of the Tallinn City Council, and representatives of the Estonian Reserve Officers' Association.
Diplomats, guests, and the foreign minister, were transported to the memorial ceremony in Kadriorg Park by the tram named after Poska. Afterwards Estonia's current and former foreign ministers had lunch at Jaan Poska's house.
This article was update to add comments from President Alar Karis and Minister of Foreign Affairs Margus Tsahkna.
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Editor: Mari Peegel, Marko Tooming, Helen Wright