The former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Iceland is giving lectures at the University of Tartu
Until 31 March, Jón Baldvin Hannibalsson, the former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Iceland, who held the post when Iceland was the first country in the world to acknowledge the independence of the Baltic states in the beginning of the 1990s, will be giving lectures at the Institute of Government and Politics of the University of Tartu as a guest of the Centre for EU-Russia Studies.
Jón Baldvin Hannibalsson will be teaching a course “Small States in the International System in Theory and Practice – six case studies” to Bachelor’s and Master’s students of the University of Tartu and will also participate in the Traderun programme of lectures with his lectures.
Piret Ehin, the Director of the Centre for EU-Russia Studies confirms that students have shown great interest in Hannibalsson’s lecture. “The issue of how small countries can protect their interests in the international arena and make themselves heard is obviously very important for Estonia. I believe that we have a lot to learn from the experience of other small countries in this respect. There is even a competence centre focussed on the subject of small countries operating by the University of Iceland. The fact that Hannibalsson is well-acquainted with Estonian politics and recent history and has played an important part in Estonia regaining independence adds weight to his being here.”
Jón Baldvin Hannibalsson was the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of Iceland from 1988 to 1995 and then worked as an ambassador in the USA and Mexico (1998-2002) and Finland and the Baltic states (2002-2005). He has been a visiting professor at Icelandic universities as well as the University of Vilnius.
During his time as the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Iceland was the first country in the world to acknowledge the independence of the Baltic states in the beginning of the 1990s. He has been awarded the highest decorations of the Baltic states for his political support in restoring the independence of the Baltic states. Lennart Meri, the President of Estonia, awarded him Maarjamaa Cross 1st class in 1996.