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Estonia and Türkiye: 100 Years of Diplomatic Relations

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Türkiye recognised the Republic of Estonia de jure on 23 January 1924, which established official diplomatic relations.

For the anniversary year, we have compiled a timeline of Estonian–Türkiye relations. It is a chronological gallery of historical photographs, documents, and texts, which provides an overview of the important moments of the relations between the two countries over 100 years.

Thanks to everyone who has contributed to the collection of facts, photos, and documents!

To see the photo titles, move your cursor to the photo.

Happy time travelling!

24 February 1918
The Republic of Estonia declared Public reading of the Estonian Declaration of Independence in Pärnu on 23 February 1918. Photo: Collection of the Pärnu Museum
On the initiative of the Salvation Committee, the Estonian Declaration of Independence was compiled and publicly read aloud on 23 February 1918 from the balcony of the Endla Theatre in Pärnu. The next day, on 24 February 1918, the Salvation Committee declared Estonia an independent democratic republic.
29 October 1923
The Republic of Türkiye declared President Mustafa Kemal Atatürk in 1932. Photo: Wikipedia
Mustafa Kemal Atatürk was elected the first president of the Republic of Türkiye.
23 January 1924
Türkiye recognised Estonia de jure Letter from the Turkish envoy to the Soviet Union to the Estonian envoy in Moscow. Photo: National Archives of Estonia
1 December 1924
Estonian and Turkish envoys in Warsaw Johan Leppik and Ibrahim Taliy signed a treaty of friendship between Estonia and Türkiye Treaty of friendship between Estonia and Turkey. Photo: National Archives of Estonia
12 March 1928
Estonian envoy in Warsaw Otto Strandman and Undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Türkiye Mehmed Enis signed a trade and shipping convention in Ankara The first and last page of the Estonia-Türkiye trade and shipping convention. Photo: National Archives of Estonia.
March 1929
Türkiye appointed Ibrahim Osman as the diplomatic representative to the Baltic States based in Riga Article in the Järva Teataja newspaper 9 April 1929
He represented Türkiye also in Estonia. He presented his credentials to Foreign Minister Jaan Lattik on 11 May 1929.
1929
Estonia opened a Consulate General in Istanbul Ernst Veberman. Photo: National Archives of Estonia
Ernst Veberman was named as Honorary Consul General on 14 March 1929 and received his exequatur on 20 August 1929. The Consulate General operated until August 1932.
19 September 1935
The first Turkish envoy residing in Estonia Nuri Batu presented his credentials to State Elder Konstantin Päts Turkish Envoy Nuri Batu presenting his credentials to State Elder Konstantin Päts. Seated (from the left): State Secretary Karl Terras, Envoy Nuri Batu, State Elder Konstantin Päts, acting Foreign Minister Johan Müller, and Assistant General to the State Elder Gustav Jonson. Standing (from the left): Senior Assistant Officer of the State Elder Herbert Grabbi, Director of the Administrative Department of the Foreign Ministry Jaan Mölder, Junior Assistant Officer of the State Elder Oskar Põder. Photo: National Archives of Estonia
In mid-October, the Turkish legation in Tallinn was opened at Kentmanni 9.
6 June 1937
Director of the External Economy Department of the Estonian Foreign Ministry Eduard Virgo and Justice Minister of Türkiye (standing in for the foreign minister) Şükrü Saracoğlu signed a trade agreement between Estonia and Türkiye in Ankara and extended the clearing agreement The last page of the trade agreement and the clearing agreement. Photo: National Archives of Estonia
15 January 1939
Estonian Envoy to Poland Johannes Markus was appointed as Estonia’s envoy to Türkiye, based in Warsaw; he would later reside in Budapest Johannes Markus. Photo: Archives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Estonia
1 December 1939
Consulate General of Estonia was opened in Istanbul, with Richard Jõffert as Consul General Richard Jõffert. Photo: Archives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Estonia
June-August 1940
The incorporation of the Republic of Estonia into the Soviet Union began The delegation of the Estonian SSR arriving from Moscow in August 1940. Johannes Vares spoke at the meeting held at the Balti jaam train station. Photo: National Archives of Estonia
A coup d’état was carried out in Estonia with the support of the Red Army on 21 June 1940. The incorporation of the Republic of Estonia into the Soviet Union began. As of 8 August 1940, the government of the Estonian SSR ordered the liquidation of all Estonian embassies, consulates, and honorary consulates and the transfer of their assets to the local offices of the USSR. By 25 August, all foreign envoys in Estonia were required to leave.

Türkiye never recognised the Soviet occupation in Estonia.
23 October 1991
Restoration of diplomatic relations between Estonia and Türkiye Turkish Ambassador to the Soviet Union Volkan Vural and Estonian Foreign Minister Lennart Meri sign an agreement on the restoration of diplomatic relations. Photo: National Archives of Estonia
7 September 1992
Rasih Erkan Gezer, the first Turkish ambassador to Estonia following the restoration of Estonia’s independence, presents his credentials Turkish Ambassador to Estonia Rasih Erkan Gezer. Photo: National Archives of Estonia
He resided in Vilnius and held the post until 1998.

Subsequent ambassadors of Türkiye to Estonia:

  • İlhami Altan Karamanoğlu (1998-2000, resided in Vilnius)
  • Ali Nazım Belger (2000-2001, resided in Vilnius)
  • Ömer Altuğ (2001-2005)
  • Fatma Şule Soysal (2005-2009)
  • Ayşenur Alpaslan (2009-2013)
  • Ahmet Ülker (2013-2015)
  • Hayriye Kumaşcıoğlu (2015-2020)
  • Süleyman İnan Özyıldız (2020-2022)
  • Başak Türkoğlu (2022- )
7 to 8 December 1993
State visit of President Lennart Meri to the Republic of Türkiye President Lennart Meri and President Süleyman Demirel at the signing of the friendship and cooperation agreement. Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Türkiye
President Meri met with the President of Türkiye Süleyman Demirel; the heads of state signed a friendship and cooperation agreement between the Republic of Estonia and the Republic of Türkiye.
19 September 1996
Sven Jürgenson, Estonia’s first ambassador to Türkiye following the restoration of Estonia’s independence, presented his credentials to Turkish President Süleyman Demirel Suursaadik Sven Jürgenson üle andmas volikirja president Syleyman Demirelile. Foto: välisministeerium
Ambassador Jürgenson resided in Tallinn and held the post until 1998.

Subsequent Estonian ambassadors to Türkiye:

  • Andres Tomasberg (1999-2004, resided in Tallinn and Madrid)
  • Märt Volmer (2004-2008)
  • Aivo Orav (2008-2012)
  • Miko Haljas (2012-2016)
  • Marin Mõttus (2016-2019)
  • Annely Kolk (2019-2023)
  • Väino Reinart (2023- )
3 to 4 June 1997
State visit of the President of the Republic of Türkiye Süleyman Demirel to the Republic of Estonia Presidents Lennart Meri and Süleyman Demirel in front of the guard of honour in Kadriorg. Photo: Archives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Estonia
President Demirel met with President Lennart Meri, Prime Minister Mart Siimann, President of the Riigikogu Toomas Savi and Mayor of Tallinn Ivi Eenmaa, and opened the Turkish Language Centre at the Tallinn Pedagogical University.
15 to 18 October 1998
State visit of President Lennart Meri to the Republic of Türkiye Presidents Lennart Meri and Süleyman Demirel in the residence of the Turkish president. Photo: Archives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Estonia
President Meri met with President of Türkiye Süleyman Demirel and Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz, gave a lecture at the Bilkent University and took a tour of Istanbul.
26 February 2001
Embassy of the Republic of Estonia in Türkiye opened in Ankara The building of the Estonian embassy in Ankara that began operating in 2005. Photo: Archives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Estonia
1 October 2001
Embassy of the Republic of Türkiye in Estonia opened in Tallinn The Turkish embassy building in Tallinn. Photo: Wikipedia
18 to 19 April 2002
State visit of the President of the Republic of Türkiye Ahmet Necdet Sezer to the Republic of Estonia President Ahmet Necdet Sezer and President Arnold Rüütel with spouses at the Kadriorg Palace. Photo: Archives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Estonia
President Sezer met with President Arnold Rüütel, Prime Minister Siim Kallas and President of the Riigikogu Toomas Savi, and gave a speech at the Concordia University.
2004
The Estonia-Türkiye Friendship Society was founded, with Ali Galip Ilter named as its chairman Galip Ilter accepting the Order of Merit of the Cross of Terra Mariana from President Toomas Hendrik Ilves for advancing Estonian-Turkish relations. Photo: Archives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Estonia
6 to 8 September 2005
State visit of President Arnold Rüütel to the Republic of Türkiye President Ahmet Necdet Sezer and President Arnold Rüütel with spouses in front of the residence of the president of Türkiye. Photo: Archives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Estonia
President Rüütel met with Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, Deputy Speaker of the Parliament Sadik Yakut and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, opened the building of the Estonian embassy in Ankara and took a tour of Istanbul.
24 April to 17 May 2006
Turkish cultural days were held in Tallinn on the initiative of the Turkish embassy and the Turkish-Estonian-Latvian-Lithuanian Friendship Society Poster of the Turkish Days
16 March 2008
On the initiative of the Estonian embassy, the first Anatolian ski marathon was held in Türkiye, with Estonian Prime Minister Andrus Ansip participating Prime Minister Andrus Ansip at the Anatolian Ski Marathon. Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Türkiye
9 to 11 October 2008
Official visit of the President of the Republic of Türkiye Abdullah Gül to the Republic of Estonia Press conference of President Abdullah Gül and President Toomas Hendrik Ilves at the Kadriorg Palace. Photo: Archives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Estonia
President Gül met with President Toomas Hendrik Ilves, Prime Minister Andrus Ansip and President of the Riigikogu Ene Ergma. The heads of state opened the Türkiye-Estonia business forum in Tallinn and an exhibition covering the bilateral relations of the two countries in the National Library of Estonia.
15 to 17 April 2010
Official visit of President Toomas Hendrik Ilves to the Republic of Türkiye President Toomas Hendrik Ilves and President Abdullah Gül in front of the guard of honour in Ankara. Photo: Office of the President of Estonia / Reuters
President Ilves met with the President of Türkiye Abdullah Gül, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and the Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye Mehmet Ali Şahin. President Ilves also gave a lecture at the Bilkent University in Ankara. In Istanbul, President Ilves met with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomeus.
7 June 2010
The world premiere of Arvo Pärt’s major composition Adam’s Lament, commissioned by the European Capitals of Culture Istanbul (2010) and Tallinn (2011), at the Hagia Eirene church in Istanbul. Turkish President Abdullah Gül presents Arvo Pärt with the Lifetime Achievement Award of the Istanbul Music Festival. Photo: Estonian embassy in Ankara
It featured Tõnu Kaljuste as conductor, singers of the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir and Vox Clamantis, and music by the Borusan Philharmonic Orchestra. Patriarch Bartholomeus, Estonian President Toomas Hendrik Ilves and Turkish President Abdullah Gül also attended.
23 to 24 October 2014
Official visit of the President of the Republic of Türkiye Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to the Republic of Estonia President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and President Toomas Hendrik Ilves in front of the guard of honour in Kadriorg. Photo: Archives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Estonia
President Erdoğan met with President Toomas Hendrik Ilves, President of the Riigikogu Eiki Nestor and Foreign Minister Urmas Paet, and visited the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence and the e-Estonia Showroom.
Spring 2018
To mark the centenary of the Republic of Estonia, the Estonian embassy in Ankara held an exhibition on the relations of Türkiye and Estonia throughout the past century Lähis-Ida Tehnikaülikooli kultuurikeskuses avatud näituse plakat. Foto: Eesti suursaatkond Ankaras
The exhibition was on display at the Cultural Centre of the Middle East Technical University in Ankara, at the Bilgi University in Istanbul and at the Uludağ University in Bursa.
17 August 2022
Ambassador of the Republic of Türkiye in Estonia Başak Türkoğlu presented her credentials to President Alar Karis Turkish Ambassador Başak Türkoğlu presenting her credentials. Photo: Office of the President
6 February 2023
Southeastern Türkiye was hit by powerful and devastating earthquakes that caused extensive damage in the region and claimed tens of thousands of lives. Estonia decided to send a 35-member team immediately to help with rescue operations. EST-USAR taking part in urgent rescue efforts in the Hatay Province. Photo: USAR team
1 August 2023
Väino Reinart became the Estonian Ambassador to the Republic of Türkiye, presenting his credentials to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on 7 September 2023 Estonian Ambassador Väino Reinart presenting his credentials. Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs
30 October 2023
To celebrate the centenary of the Republic of Türkiye, the Turkish embassy held a concert and a reception at the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre in Tallinn Turkish Ambassador Başak Türkoğlu at the reception with Ant Nurhan, this year’s winner of the talent show Eesti otsib superstaari (Pop Idol). Photo: Turkish embassy in Tallinn