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Address by the President of the Republic on Victory Day, 23 June 2003 at Jõhvi23.06.2003
Mr Admiral, Excellencies, Soldiers and Members of the Kaitseliit,
Reservists at your homes, Dear Compatriots,
I feel particularly proud and honoured to stand as Supreme Commander of National Defence today, on Victory Day - the 84th anniversary of the Battle of Võnnu, in front of hundreds of Estonian soldiers, members of the Kaitseliit, and patriotic youth organisations.
Estonia throughout centuries for those coming from both near and afar has been a coveted destination. Enemy forces have repeatedly attempted to conquer our country and to subjugate our people. Yet, even when our country was occupied, alien powers failed to break our people. The Estonians' love of liberty and persistent will to be masters in their own house have inspired us and given us strength to fulfil our long-standing dream of our own state.
The soldiers of the young Estonian state have won our statehood in the battles of the War of Independence. Seven decades after the Peace of Tartu, which later has been called the birth certificate of the Republic of Estonia, our people sang us free again.
Already in the days of the Singing Revolution, Estonia began to lay the foundations for an independent state. With the restoration of independence came the time to safeguard the existence of our state. That meant, among other things, the need to restore of our own Defence Forces, for no state, not even a small one, can manage without a shield guaranteeing the security of the state and its people.
The new beginning was not easy. Now, on the Victory Day, it is appropriate to draw conclusions about what we have achieved in the field of national defence.
When we got down to setting up our Defence Forces it became clear that, beyond our own capabilities and the people's defence will, we also needed support and assistance from other countries. Collective security is more efficient both in military and economic sense.
Estonia has received an invitation to join NATO and we can hopefully mark the next Victory Day as a full member of the Alliance. The parliaments or governments of many NATO countries have already ratified the Accession Treaty. For Estonia, this is a great victory strengthening our self-confidence and security.
It has not been an easy victory. Our pending NATO membership is an achievement of our whole people, which, however, neither enables nor entitles us to count on the other's help only. We ourselves too, if need be, must be capable of standing up for ourselves.
The documents on national defence adopted in Estonia with regard to the development of Defence Forces set up the primary task of creating sufficient independent defence capabilities, which, among other things, means capability of cooperation with NATO. While developing our defence capabilities, we have to take account at once of these documents, Estonia's potential and also of recommendations of our partners.
Different NATO countries have armies with different structures and some of them, on top of that, voluntary defence organisations as well. At the same time, all members of the Alliance have to take into consideration recommendations and expectations of their partners. That's what also Estonia has to do, although our internal defence solutions are largely up to us to decide.
We should not forget that it is possible to give military assistance only to a state that at the moment of giving the assistance exists and is in a position to receive it. Therefore, the importance of independent defence capability must neither today, nor in the more distant future be underestimated. National defence is not conceivable without a defence will of the people and readiness of armed forces. In this respect, the Kaitseliit and also the territorial units and defence districts to be created have an important role. The reserve units trained on the basis of compulsory military service are and must remain a vital component of our national defence.
As a Member of the Board of Elders of the Kaitseliit, I am glad that our membership including specialized organisations has risen to nearly 15 thousand. Since the restoration of our independence, the Kaitseliit for the tenth time before Victory Day lights up a Victory Fire that will be brought to all counties carrying the great and noble sense of freedom. The contribution of the Kaitseliit to patriotic education, maintaining military readiness, organizing territorial and total defence, and to nurturing defence will, deserves much appreciation.
The tactical exercise Spring Storm 2003 with over 2300 servicemen participating, the largest hitherto to be staged with Estonia's own forces and means, took place in May. This exercise once more testified to the high training standards of the Armed Forces and the Kaitseliit, and exemplified the existence of defence capabilities and will. It also demonstrated clearly that the Armed Forces are in a need of an artillery range and other military exercise and training areas.
For today, Estonia is not just a consumer of security any more but is itself, too, capable of creating and safeguarding it. Estonia's worthy contribution is impressively illustrated by the participation of our servicemen in missions in Kosovo, Afghanistan, Iraq, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Macedonia. Altogether, nearly 200 Estonian servicemen are engaged in safeguarding the global security, which, for a small country, is a remarkable contribution.
Both the participation in international missions and the development of national defence have put a great strain on the resources of the Estonian people. In a situation where at once young families, pensioners and students need to be supported, each kroon allocated for the national defence matters and is valuable. However, these kroons are not just expenditures but also an investment into security, which by enhancing the safety of human environment actually helps to improve life of the whole population.
I believe that the Defence Forces have used the allocated funds efficiently. The best proof of that is the good appraisal of the training and skills of Estonian soldiers given by our allies.
We have signalled our partners and demonstrated our will to keep the defence expenditure at the level of 2% of GDP, as agreed upon in a corresponding political accord. The Government of the Republic and the Ministry of Defence also in future must see to it that the funds earmarked for national defence be purposefully spent on national military defence. Our people's money has to be spent most carefully, effectively and counting every cent.
We have done a great job developing our national defence. Yet it is obvious that a lot still remains to be done in order to guarantee our people their inalienable right - the right to be free and independent. For the sake of that, I wish you strength, energy and willingness to make sacrifices if necessary.
Long live the Republic of Estonia!
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