BORDER CHANGES IN EUROPE DURING THE XX CENTURY

The opening address of the conference will be delivered on Wednesday, 2 February, at 12 p.m. by Professor Jaak Aaviksoo, Rector of the University. Professor Aadu Must, Chairman of Tartu Municipal Council, will greet the participants on behalf of the City of Tartu.

The conference features papers on linguistic, ethnic and border changes in Europe during the XX century, the creation of new borders, the importance of the Tartu Peace Treaty, the national reawakening and territorial utopias of 1914-1945 as experienced in Italy, Germany and Greece, the dismantling of borders and their incorporation into the Soviet Union, why Baltics are not Balkans, as well as a number of other interesting topics. The opening speech on Thursday, 3 February, will be given by Arnold Rüütel, President of the Republic of Estonia.

The focus of the largely English-language conference is not limited to specifically Estonian issues. According to Olaf Mertelsmann, Chair of the Organising Committee and Director of UT Centre for the Study of Soviet History, the topics treated involve broader studies of a variety of borders. The conference has a twofold purpose: on the one hand, it is intended to familiarise European academics with Estonia and the issues facing it, on the other, it will approach Estonian history under a different angle. "The two-day event will provide a forum for respected European scholars to dialogue, asking one another questions and hearing opinions on matters which are yet unclear to them", Mertelsmann added.

The speakers, arriving both from Europe and the US, include a number of renowned researchers, among whom the most notable are Professor Thomas Lundén of the University of Södertorn (Sweden), Professor Walter C. Clemens of Boston University, and Professor Alice Freifeld of the University of Florida.

The conference brings together scholars and scientists from Estonia, Russia, the United States, Poland, Austria, the United Kingdom and Ireland. It is organised by UT Centre for the Study of Soviet History (opened in March 2004) in collaboration with the Museum of UT History.


Illari Lään
Head, UT Public Relations and Information Office

Contact person for additional information: Olaf Mertelsmann, Director of UT Centre for the Study of Soviet History, tel. +372-737-5658, +372-50-94521