Estonia: Põlluaas in Finno-Ugric Day greeting to Finnish and Hungarian Speakers: multiplicity of cultures has a decisive role in preserving and strengthening of civilizations

NordenBladet — Today, on the Finno-Ugric Day, President of the Riigikogu (Parliament of Estonia) Henn Põlluaas sent a video greeting to the Speakers of the Parliaments of Finland and Hungary. He pointed out that multiplicity of cultures had a decisive role in preserving and strengthening of civilizations.

Põlluaas underlined that the Finno-Ugric Day was an excellent example of the cultural and educational cooperation between Estonia, Finland, Hungary, and the Finno-Ugric peoples living in Russia “Let us strengthen the ties between the Finno-Ugric peoples and support each other both in troubles and in success,” the President of the Riigikogu said.

“It is very important to introduce our kindred nations and their concerns to the wider world and to strengthen their cultural self-awareness,” Põlluaas emphasised. “Multiplicity of cultures has a decisive role in preserving and strengthening of civilizations. We, the parliamentarians, have the special responsibility of providing a sustainable legal setting for this.”

Põlluaas recalled that this year Estonia was to host the VIII World Congress of Finno-Ugric Peoples. However, due to the global crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Congress had to be postponed. He expressed hope that the Congress would take place next year in Tartu.

The tradition of introducing kindred peoples and their cultures began in 1931, but it was discontinued when Estonia was occupied. In 1988, this tradition was revived, and in March 2011, the Riigikogu adopted a resolution to celebrate the Finno-Ugric Day as a national holiday and a flag day in Estonia on the third weekend of October.