The accomplishments and undertakings of Estonian politician and diplomat Toomas Hendrik Ilves are a testament to the realisation of the goals and ideals which were so important for Jan Nowak-Jeziorański: freedom, democracy, security, including – above all – the strengthening of ties between NATO and Europe, with particular emphasis on the Baltic countries and Poland.
Toomas Henrik Ilves supported Poland’s aspirations to join NATO, becoming known as a warm friend of our country and an advocate of transatlantic cooperation. He now presents a clear position on supporting Ukraine in its fight against Russian invaders. It is an honour for our Museum that the second Courier from Warsaw Medal is awarded to a man whose beliefs, conduct and commitment are so close to the values professed by Jan Nowak-Jeziorański.
Jan Ołdakowski, Director of the Warsaw Rising Museum
Both Jan Nowak-Jeziorański and Toomas Hendrik Ilves, guided by the history of their nations and a thorough analysis of current events, warned shortly before the collapse of the Soviet Union about the risk of a resurgence and intensification of imperial tendencies in Russia, which, with the passivity of the West, could pose a serious threat to the security of Central and Eastern Europe and, consequently, also to the United States and its European allies.
Jerzy Koźmiński, member of the Award Chapter of the Courier from Warsaw Medal
Metaphorically speaking, Poland is the only great European country that, as well as we Estonians, understands the term ‘mass deportation’, that is, it takes into account the horror of what our experience was under the USSR, and earlier under the Russian Empire. (Poland) is, after all, a big country in Europe, so it must have the right to speak out – including when others encourage you to ignore what Poland has to say.
Toomas Hendrik Ilves, former President of Estonia and recipient of the Courier from Warsaw Medal
Now there is a debate in America about aid to Ukraine. We Americans are faced with the same choice as in the 1930s. Then we withdrew from (ensuring) security in Europe and led Europe, Poland, Estonia into disaster. We must remember Jan Nowak-Jeziorański not only as a historical figure, but as a prophet and friend of freedom.
Daniel Fried, Sovietologist, diplomat, first recipient of the Courier from Warsaw Medal
The Courier from Warsaw Medal commemorates Nowak for his mission. The fact that he was always a courier between the free world and those in need… He was able to do extraordinary things, but after his first mission, with which he came here to Warsaw to say that the West would not help Poland during the Warsaw Uprising, he was the one who understood that we could not fight for freedom ourselves.
Jan Ołdakowski, Warsaw Rising Museum
Born into a family of Estonian refugees, Ilves grew up in the United States. He received a BA from Columbia University and an MA in Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania. In 1984 he moved to Munich, where he worked as an analyst for Radio Free Europe; after a few years he became head of the Estonian section of the radio (1988-1993).
From 1993 to 1996 he served as Estonian Ambassador to the United States. In 1996, he was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs of Estonia, a position he held until 1998 and – again – from 1999 to 2002. He led Estonia’s accession to the European Union and NATO, which took place in 2004. From 2004 to 2006 he was a Member of the European Parliament.
Toomas Hendrik Ilves served as President of Estonia from 2006 to 2016. After his presidency, he spent three and a half years at Stanford University as a Research Fellow at the Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences and lecturer on the digitisation of governmental and public services. He currently advises the World Health Organisation’s European Regional Office on cross-border health and technological solutions needed during the pandemic. He also lectures at the University of Tartu.
Since 1991, the year of Estonia’s independence, Toomas Hendrik Ilves has emphasised the importance of Poland for Estonian and European security. He pointed out: “Poland is the only large country in the European Union that understands the concept of ‘mass deportations’ – something that other large countries in Europe have never understood, because it is part of the trauma of the Baltic States”. As Estonia’s ambassador to the US, he strongly supported Poland’s aspirations for NATO membership – he understood that this would also open up opportunities for Estonia.
Toomas Hendrik Ilves and NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen. Photo: PAP
President Toomas Hendrik Ilves visited Poland no fewer than eighteen times while president of Estonia. Strengthening Estonian-Polish ties was so important to him that journalist Argo Ideon devoted an entire chapter to this issue in his book on Ilves’ presidency.
Toomas Hendrik Ilves with Paweł Ukielski, Deputy Director of the Warsaw Rising Museum, during a visit in 2014. Photo: MPW
In 2014, Ilves was awarded the Order of the White Eagle. Three years later, he was honoured with the Knight of Freedom, an award from the Casimir Pulaski Foundation given for his “work to promote democratic and pro-European values at home and around the world”. In 2021, the Estonian politician presented the same award to Alexei Navalny. On behalf of the Russian opposition leader – imprisoned by Vladimir Putin’s regime – the award was received by Leonid Volkov and Vladimir Milov, Navalny’s associates.
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