100 years of diplomatic relations between Estonia and Switzerland

On 22 April 1921, Switzerland recognised the Republic of Estonia de jure, marking the beginning of official diplomatic relations.

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

Move your cursor to the photo to read the captions. Happy time travelling!

Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Embassy of Estonia in Vienna

24 February 1918

The independence of the Republic of Estonia was declared

Manifesto to the Peoples of Estonia, published in Teataja 25 February 1918

1920

Switzerland opened a consular agency in Tallinn

Andreas (Endmund Konrad) Hofer, a Swiss businessman living in Estonia, served as the consular agent. Hofer was the honorary consul of Switzerland in Estonia until 1926. The consulate was located at Tõnismägi 3.

1 February 1921

Karl Menning was appointed consul general in Germany, but also in Austria, Hungary, Czechoslovakia and Switzerland

Karl Menning: Photo: National Archives

Decision of the Government of the Republic on the appointment of Karl Menning as the representative of Estonia. Photo: National Archives

22 April 1921

Switzerland recognised the Republic of Estonia de jure

Letter from the Swiss envoy to Germany to the representative of Estonia in Berlin. Photo: National Archives

4 June 1921

Karl Menning was appointed chargé d’affaires to Switzerland (resided in Berlin) and he presented his credentials on 13 June 1921

Telegram from the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the Swiss Federal Political Department on the appointment of Karl Menning as chargé d’affaires to Switzerland. Photo: National Archives

14 October 1925

A trade agreement was signed between Estonia and Switzerland

Last page of the trade agreement. Photo: National Archives

Summer 1926

Karl (Carl) Bosshardt became the honorary consul of Switzerland

Diplomatic passport form of Karl Bosshardt. Photo: National Archives

From the summer of 1926, the Swiss Honorary Consul was Karl (Carl) Bosshardt, and the consulate was located at Weizenberg 14-2. Bosshardt worked there until the consulate was closed in 1940.

19 January 1927

Businessman Hans Hirter became the Estonian honorary consul in Switzerland

Approval of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the appointment of Hans Hirter as honorary consul. Photo: National Archives

The consulate was located in Bern at Schauplatzgasse 35. In 1939, he was appointed honorary consul general and served until the consulate was closed in 1940.

6 March 1931

August Schmidt (later Torma) was appointed Estonian chargé d’affaires to Switzerland

August Schmidt (Torma). Photo: National Archives

He held office until March 1940 and resided in Rome and London as an Estonian envoy.

12 November 1938

A new trade agreement was signed between Estonia and Switzerland

Signing of a protocol to the trade agreement between Estonia and Switzerland Sitting at the end of the table is Dr A. Koch, the head of the Swiss delegation, and on the right is Honorary Consul Karl Bosshardt. On the left: Georg Meri, Director of the Foreign Trade Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Heinrich Pullerits, Head of the Office, and Karl Selter, Minister of Foreign Affairs.

November 1938

Karl Egger was appointed the first Swiss envoy to Estonia

Credentials of Karl Egger Photo: National Archives

Karl Egger presented his credentials on 3 February 1939; he resided in Helsinki.

Presentation of Karl Egger’s credentials First row: Swiss Envoy Karl Egger, President Konstantin Päts, and Minister of Finance Leo Sepp, Deputy Foreign Minister. Standing (from the left): Colonel Herbert Grabbi, Senior Aide-de-Camp to the President of the Republic, Chief of Protocol Elmar Kirotar, Director of the President’s Office Elmar Tambek, and Junior Aide-de-Camp Leonhard Teder. Photo: Uus Eesti, 3 February 1939.

23 August 1939

Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact

Map of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact

The Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, a non-aggression pact between Germany and the Soviet Union, was signed in Moscow, paving the way for the outbreak of World War II in Europe. A secret additional protocol of the pact placed Estonia in the Soviet sphere of influence.

6 May 1940

Karl Selter was appointed Estonian envoy to Switzerland

Karl Selter. Photo: National Archives

Karl Selter presented his credentials on 11 June 1940; he resided in Bern. Selter also served as the Estonian envoy to the Vatican and permanent delegate to the League of Nations.

Karl Selter remained in Geneva after the embassy was closed and was the unofficial representative of Estonia to the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany from 1952 to 1958 (until his death).

21 June 1940

A coup d’état was organised by the Soviet Union and the incorporation of Estonia into the Soviet Union began

Riigikogu, 1941 Photo: National Archives EFA.205.0.37891

Switzerland did not recognise Estonia’s incorporation into the USSR (1940-1991).

July-August 1940

Estonian Envoy in Bern Karl Selter was dismissed and the embassy was closed

Directive on the dismissal of Karl Selter from office in Bern. Photo: National Archives

20 August 1991

The Supreme Council of the Republic of Estonia adopted a resolution on Estonia’s national independence

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Toompea, 24 August 1991 – Lennart Meri, who had returned to Estonia, which had just restored its independence, from Finland on the evening of 23 August 1991, at a press conference with Taivo Klaar and Tiit Pruuli. Photo: Peeter Langovits, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Estonia

28 August 1991

Switzerland re-recognised the Republic of Estonia, diplomatic relations were re-established on 4 September 1991

Letter from the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs to the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs with a proposal to restore diplomatic relations. Photo: Archives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

13 January 1994

Sven Meili, the first Swiss ambassador to Estonia, presented his credentials to President Lennart Meri; the ambassador resided in Helsinki

Swiss Ambassador Sven Meili, Jacqueline Meili, Helle Meri, and President Lennart Meri at the presentation of credentials in Kadriorg Palace. Photo: Archives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs / Voldemar Maask

Accredited Swiss ambassadors to Estonia in 1999-2021:

Hansrudolf Hoffmann (1999-2001)

Pierre Chrzanovski (2001-2005)

Josef Bucher (2006-2010)

Maurice Darier (2010-2012) (resided in Helsinki)

Walter Haffner (2012-2013)

Markus Niklaus Paul Dutly (2013-2017)

Konstantin Obolensky (2017-) (resided in Riga)

6 January 1995

Toivo Tasa was appointed Estonia’s first ambassador to Switzerland, he resided in Vienna, and presented his credentials on 16 June 1995

Ambassador Toivo Tasa. Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Other accredited Estonian ambassadors to Switzerland:

Mart Laanemäe (2000-2003, resided in Vienna)

Katrin Saarsalu-Layachi (2003-2009, resided in Vienna and 2011-2012 in Tallinn)

Gert Antsu (2012-2017, resided in Brussels and in Tallinn)

Rein Oidekivi (2017-2018, resided in Vienna)

Toomas Kukk (2018-, resides in Vienna)

19-20 July 2001

Official visit of the President of Switzerland Moritz Leuenberger to Estonia; during the visit, the Swiss Room was opened in the National Library of Estonia

Presidents Moritz Leuenberger and Lennart Meri at the opening ceremony of the Swiss Room at the National Library of Estonia. Photo: Archives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs / Erik Peinar

9 April 2007

Working visit of Micheline Calmy-Rey, President of Switzerland and Head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, to Estonia

President Micheline Calmy-Rey meeting with Prime Minister Andrus Ansip at Stenbock House. Photo: Archives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs / Erik Peinar

7-8 December 2011

Working visit of President Toomas Hendrik Ilves to Switzerland

President Toomas Hendrik Ilves meeting with President of Switzerland Micheline Calmy-Rey at Lohn Estate. Photo: Press Department of the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs

25 August 2014

Visit of Didier Burkhalter, President of Switzerland and Head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, to Estonia

President Didier Burkhalter and Foreign Minister Urmas Paet signing the protocol amending the convention for the avoidance of double taxation. Photo: Archives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

10 April 2017

Working visit of Doris Leuthard, President of Switzerland and Head of the Federal Department of Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications, to Estonia

President Doris Leuthard meeting with Jüri Ratas in Stenbock House. Photo: Government Office

3-4 May 2017

Working visit of President Kersti Kaljulaid to Switzerland

President Kersti Kaljulaid meeting with the people of the Swiss Estonian Association at the Children’s and Youth Library of St. Gallen. Photo: Office of the President of the Republic / Helen Ree

5 September 2017

Konstantin Obolensky, the current Swiss ambassador to Estonia, who resides in Riga, presented his credentials

Ambassador Konstantin Obolensky presenting his credentials to President Kersti Kaljulaid. Photo: Office of the President of the Republic

27 November 2018

Toomas Kukk, the current Estonian ambassador to Switzerland, who resides in Vienna, presented his credentials

Ambassador Toomas Kukk presenting his credentials to President Alain Berset. Photo: Office of the President of the Swiss Confederation

22 April 2021

100 years have passed since Switzerland recognised the Republic of Estonia de jure, establishing official diplomatic relations between the countries