** Scott M. Kigel, Estonia's honorary consul in Los Angeles, ain't happy about the Estonian foreign ministry's decision to can the New York City and San Francisco consulates. He thinks it's a bloody silly move.
Essential U.S. Consulates Maintain Crucial Role in Ensuring Estonia's Safety (According to Jaak Treiman)
Kigel's been a part of the Estonian diplomatic family since 1986, and he ain't letting go anytime soon. In a blistering op-ed, he argues that the decision doesn't serve Estonia's best interests. Here's why.
Europe vs America: Size Matters
Let's not sugarcoat it. Europe's a jam-packed continent, while America's... well, it's huge. Estonia maintains career diplomatic representation in 24 European countries. You'd figure they'd want a similar presence in the United States, right? The US, after all, has a land area roughly equal to Europe.
But nah, not Estonia. Instead, they propose to slash their presence to just one career diplomatic office in the US while adding two people to the remaining outpost. That's like trying to sew a gaping hole in a giant sail with a finger-sized needle. It ain't gonna work.
San Francisco and New York: The Heart and Soul of Estonia in America
Consulates in San Francisco and New York? They're more than just buildings. They're the heart and soul of Estonia in America. Here's why.
- Servicing Estonian citizens: These consulates handle app hideous amounts of paperwork, from passport applications to dealings with law enforcement. They help folks who've lost their passports, guide destitute Estonians, and issue visas. Closing 'em would leave plenty of Estonians hanging dry.
- Supervision of honorary consuls: The consulates work with Estonian honorary consuls in major cities like Los Angeles, Seattle, Phoenix, and more. They need to maintain connections with local communities and understand regional business, social, political, and cultural environments. That's some heavy lifting right there.
- Building local connections: Consulates are not just passport mills. They're crucial for fostering Estonian ties with American communities, businesses, and academic institutions. And that's not just about exchanging niceties. It's about bolstering Estonia's security and economic standing.
Keeping Up the Estonian Image
The US stuck by Estonia during the Soviet occupation, refusing to recognize the legitimacy of the Soviet annexations. And why? Because Estonians, living in the States and elsewhere, made their voices heard and kept up the pressure.
Estonia needs to maintain a strong presence in America to ensure continued support from the American people in times of crisis. A handful of soldiers might keep an invader at bay, but it's the local community that pressures the government to act.
Closing a Consulate or an Embassy: Choose Wisely
Some folks argue that the consulates should be closed to save some cash, and Estonia should secure needed financial credit by shuttering an embassy instead. But that's a false dilemma. Both consulates and embassies serve different purposes, and each plays a vital role in Estonia's interests.
In Estonia's case, it's crucial to maintain a strong presence through consulates. Embassies focus more on high-level diplomacy, while consulates provide the crucial backbone, engaging with communities, advocating for Estonia's interests, and helping Estonians in need. Losing consulates like San Francisco and New York would be a massive blow to Estonia's standing in America.
Kigel ain't mincing words here. The closure of the New York and San Francisco consulates would be a short-sighted decision that undermines Estonia's interests on multiple fronts. Keep 'em open, he says. The alternative ain't pretty.
- Scott M. Kigel, as Estonia's honorary consul in Los Angeles, expresses disapproval toward the Estonian foreign ministry's decision to close the New York City and San Francisco consulates.
- Kigel, a member of the Estonian diplomatic family since 1986, believes the decision to close the consulates does not serve Estonia's best interests.
- In a critical op-ed, Kigel argues that Europe and America have significant differences, with America being much larger than Europe, yet Estonia maintains more diplomatic representation in European countries compared to the United States.
- Despite proposing to reduce their presence in the US to one career diplomatic office, Kigel explains that the consulates in San Francisco and New York play a crucial role in servicing Estonian citizens, supervising honorary consuls, and building local connections.
- The closure of the consulates could leave many Estonians without necessary services, such as help with passport applications, legal issues, and visas.
- Maintaining a strong presence in America is essential for Estonia to secure continued support from the American people in times of crisis, as demonstrated by the US's support during the Soviet occupation.
- Closing consulates like San Francisco and New York would weaken Estonia's standing in America, undermining its interests in various aspects, such as security, economy, and general news.
){kind=link}