Opening ceremony

The opening ceremony is part of the plenary session of the first day of the VIII World Congress of Finno-Ugric Peoples, which will begin on June 16 at 2 pm.

Opening
Tõnu Seilenthal – Representative of Estonians in the Consultative Committee of the Finno-Ugric Peoples, Chairman of the Congress

Bagpipes
Kadri Allikmäe, Kaisa Kuslapuu

Greetings
Kersti Kaljulaid – President of the Republic of Estonian
Sauli Niinistö – President of the Republic of Finland
János Áder – President of Hungary
Egils Levits – President of Latvia

Musical greetings
Heikki-Rein Veromann (Estonians), Tarmo Tabas (Estonians), Natalia Abrosimova (Erzyan), Maria Korepanova (Besserman), Anna Makeev (Maris), Bogáta Timár (Hungarians), Juha Matti Aronen (Finns), Anne-Liina and Katri Mürkhain (Livonians), Erika ja Nora Kuznetsova (Komi), Pavel Kutergin (Udmurts)

Greetings
Anneli Ott – Minister of Culture of the Republic of Estonia
István Kovács – Ministry of Human Capacities of Hungary, Deputy State Secretary for International and EU Affairs
Antti Kurvinen - Minister of Science and Culture of the Republic of Finland 
Olga Lyubimova – Minister of Culture of the Russian Federation 
Urmas Klaas – Mayor of Tartu

Introduction of the Finno-Ugric coin
Madis Müller – Governor of Eesti Pank

Introduction of the Congress stamp and the first day envelope
Sven Suurraid
Eesti Post

PAUSE

Report of the activities of the Consultative Committee of the Finno-Ugric Peoples 2016-2021
Niina Sinkko – Coordinator of Finns in the Consultative Committee of the Finno-Ugric Peoples

Greetings from Finno-Ugric peoples
Karelians
Izhorians
Livonians 
Votians
Finns
Ingrians
Vepsians
Saami
Setos
Mansis
Hungarians

Musical greetings
Veljo Tormis "Forgotten Peoples"
Chamber Choir Collegium Musicale
Conductor Endrik Üksvärav

Greetings from international organizations
Sven-Erik Soosaar – Representative of the UN Indigenous Forum
Alar Karis – Eesti Rahva Muuseumi direktor

TSIRK arrives to Tartu
Finno-Ugric Capital of Culture 2021 Abja Paluoja – representatives of Mulgimaa: 
Arvo Maling – Mulgi Elder
Ave Grenberg, Alli Laande – Institute of Mulgi Culture
Performers: Margus Põldsepp (accordion), Andro Ojakäär (accordion), Ants Taul (Bagpipe), Folk Dance Group Samm Sassis.

The organizer of the Congress, NGO Fenno-Ugria, announces that considering the current situation caused by the COVID-19 virus, the Congress will be organized in hybrid form, in-person attendees in Tartu and virtual attendees online. All online participants will have access to plenary sessions and one of the thematic session chosen. Accession to the congress will be via link sent to the connection e-mail. Event content will also be recorded and made available online to foster further discussions after the event has ended, build out a knowledge portal for event participants.