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The President of the Republic at the 86th Anniversary of the Republic of Estonia on 24 February 2004 at Estonia Theatre24.02.2004
Dear people of Estonia,
Dear fellow countrymen,
Excellencies,
Ladies and gentlemen,
First, I would like to congratulate all of you on the anniversary of the Republic of Estonia. Let us today remember with gratitude all those who 86 years ago turned into reality the dream of many generations of having an independent Estonian state.
Our gratitude goes to all those who fought in the War of Independence with self-sacrifice for Estonia's independence and honour. All these hundreds of thousands who participated in our "Singing Revolution" and the restoration of our independence as well as all those of our countrymen who both abroad and at home under the foreign power kept alive the hope for liberation deserve our deepest respect. I thank all those who during the occupation preserved the Estonian flag and raised it knowing that they might be punished for that.
With this expression of gratitude I wanted to stress that state sovereignty is not just a legal or political notion. The state sovereignty grows from us ourselves and includes also ethical and cultural dimensions. Speaking about the independence of the Republic of Estonia and its continuity, we must not ignore notions like "duty", "responsibility" and "solidarity". Who else would know better than those who have taken part in building our nation and restoring our independence what is the real significance of these notions. However, in our daily life, we sometimes tend to forget the value of these notions.
Our Constitution is a repository of permanent values generalizing the experience of establishing the Estonian statehood and securing its independence, and also a basis consolidating and balancing the form of government and legal system of our state. While amending the Constitution, these values and the experience that during the development of our statehood has stood the test of time should be observed, so that the Constitution also in changing times ensured the survival and development of the Estonian state. Yet, in several proposals concerning alteration of the constitutional foundations of our political system, they have not been taken into consideration. Examining these proposals, one might get the impression as if our state were a white sheet torn out from the history and on which casual notes are made in passing. Thus, proposals like these pursue just goals of day-to-day politics.
The Constitution also defines the objectives of the Estonian state: to guarantee conditions for dignified life, to ensure the survival of the Estonian people, language and culture. It was understood already in the early days of our state that the singularity of the Estonian people can be ensured only in a sovereign and democratic state. Public figure Ilmar Tõnisson noted in 1930s: "Our state is also a cultural value - because it is a nation state."
Yet, we cannot be sure in the survival of our national, ethical and cultural values if policymaking remained a playground of political parties only and the majority of the people were kept on the sidelines. Therefore, I am expecting that the public, notably our cultural figures, educationalists and scientists would be involved, and participated actively in working out future plans for Estonia and in their realization. This is particularly important at the present tumultuous times when Estonia is changing along with Europe renewing itself.
The membership in the European Union means to us new duties and, through that, also new chances combined with historical responsibility to take actively part in shaping the future of our continent.
Foreign Minister Kaarel Robert Pusta, one of the pioneers of Estonian diplomacy, noted in 1926: "an independent Estonia is inconceivable outside a well-ordered peaceful Europe". Pusta dreamt of a great democratic union, in which "an Estonian citizen's identity card in all respects would equal to a European identity card". For now, his and his contemporaries' thoughts are about to come true.
In the European Union, the principle of equal treatment supplemented by consideration for Member States' potential to make contributions must continuously be held in esteem. Differences between states and regions can encourage the development of the whole system. But ignoring as well as overstating them can lead to a confrontation slowing development. The enlargement will put to the test not only values and ideals but also the solidarity of the Member States.
Estonia's role in this situation must be compellingly clear both to other countries and to us. Regarding important issues, we must avoid to trim our sails to the wind. And if we in discussions about the future and structures of the European Union sometimes should be critical, then it just testifies to our concern for developments on our continent. Because the diversity of and cooperation among the 25 states is whence Europe draws new energy. The source of Europe's vitality is its diversity.
In the reality, new in historical sense, our main assets are and will be the reliability and soundness of our policy, the self-esteem of our state and people. They must be swayed neither by changes of global correlation of forces nor by changes of government, neither by our domestic disputes nor discord.
Estonia should rather follow the example set by Finland and the rest of the Nordic countries, and try to achieve agreement through open discussions respecting each other. The societies of our overseas neighbours are characterized by strong solidarity and social cohesion, and there are close bonds between their local, regional and global decisions. That's the way to describe the Northern Dimension cherished by politicians who attach importance to social dimension and factors consolidating society.
The Nordic peoples' strong sense of community will definitely help to keep regional cooperation high on the agenda of the European Union. Multifaceted regional cooperation should be regarded as a possibility to influence European developments. As for Estonia, one extra reason for this kind of cooperation is the circumstance that the lion's share of foreign investments comes from our contiguous regions.
Now, we will have a chance to become together with Latvia and Lithuania a bridge between the European Union and Russia. Democratic developments in this country next door serve both our own interests and the interests of the European Union. All signs of a different kind should not only trouble us but also catch attention of the whole of Europe.
Adherence to values characteristic of the Nordic countries would help us raise awareness of our border-state status in the European Union, including all the opportunities and obligations deriving from it. The democratic spirit prevailing in the European Union is in the interests of Estonia and strengthening it, from now on, is the foremost goal of our foreign policy. It equally means that Estonia as a EU Member State will back the idea of a homogeneous Europe also in the United Nations and NATO.
Due to a common area of responsibility, we are also integrated into the transatlantic cooperation in the framework of NATO. While regarding the world as an indivisible entity, we have to talk more and more about peace and security. Security does not depend on the will and efforts of certain countries only but on the ability of all peoples and countries to work together both in their own regions and in more distant areas, too. Our willingness to cooperate and perform obligations admitted by agreements will also enhance our reliability in the eyes of our partners.
Ladies and gentlemen,
We need cooperation instead of confrontation both in domestic and foreign policy. Only in this way it is possible to fulfil our short-term as well as long-term ambitions. It is Estonia's goal to safeguard for its people a more secure and dignified life.
Estonia can be a respected and reliable partner only in the case if it can cope with its internal problems. However, we have recently had reasons to talk about people's alienation from their own state.
This is a very dangerous tendency. The first reason for that is the divide between political rhetoric and reality, and therefore, voters feel cheated. During election campaigns expectations are pushed up, and election pledges are being embellished by high-sounding epithets yet, before too long, it turns out that the new methods of policy-making are no different from those, which just had been criticized.
The second reason is the inability to rise above personal and group interests. Yet, while shaping our policies and governing our state, we must start from Estonia's common interests and needs only.
If we really want to overcome alienation, party political scuffling is definitely of no help. What we need is more statesmanlike responsibility as well as participation of all political forces in finding solutions. I do hope that Estonian political parties were able to work together, which made our people feel the support of our state and be happy with it.
If we want to be statesmanlike, we must learn how to be and remain what we really are. Assiduity and false pathos would only hamper us both in our domestic matters and in international relations. Dignity is better than pride. For already our proverb says that pride comes before a fall. Maybe the circumstance that this aphorism has fallen into oblivion is the very reason why we can see less and less dignity and more and more self-centredness around us, and that's where only one short step parts us from pettiness and indifference.
We need the noble hallmark of self-esteem everywhere and in all our doings. Our citizens, in order to have life worth of living, are entitled to a home in a respectable country and to dignified conditions of life. It is of paramount importance that each place in Estonia could offer such conditions. While creating new values we must start from what we have - the ability, inherited from our parents, to be demanding of ourselves even if leading a frugal existence, and a noble mind that has been appreciated as "building material" of personality already since the dawn of European civilisation.
Democratic social order is based on local government. It is alarming that while building our society the goal to strengthen local governmental basis has not been included in our priorities. The prolonged run-up to administrative reform has narrowed our possibilities to offset regional disparity and to improve our human environment.
It is obvious that the ability to distinguish between serious analyses and wishful thinking is a prerequisite for functioning as an independent state. And this very ability is what we need while discussing our tax system, evaluating the results of health reform and working out plans for education reform. In view of the well-being of our people and the competitiveness of our country, all of the above are top-priority issues.
Voters have unambiguously signalled politicians that they must not forget our shared social and mental environment while focusing on economic issues. Knowledge-based economy and concomitant innovation are not possible in a country, in which social inequality is growing and many people can hardly make both ends meet. Yet, luckily enough, those shaping the future of Estonia become increasingly aware of the fact that our most valuable assets are our people with their knowledge and skills. Therefore, we should invest in them and handle our most sensitive human capital with care.
At the same time, the human being in an open infotainment world is in the face of intruding triviality more helpless than ever before. The tendency to present life as an endless entertainment without problems and need to use one's own brains contaminates our mental environment. The values that have been pillars of our culture and society tend to be drowned by this noise pollution. We can resist it only if backed by strong family, good education and self-esteem. I believe that in the large development area offered by the EU, our national culture will prosper, not vanish into nothingness.
Our people feel increasingly threatened because of the demographic processes characteristic of the last decade. This problem has been discussed in public for some time now and we have reached agreement on certain measures. We have come to the conclusion that in order to positively influence the demographic processes Estonia's top priority must be children and family, and reached the conviction that long-term social sustainability is more important than short-term growth of economic welfare. In other words, the parental benefit alone can replace neither the possibilities to offer children necessary care nor good general and out-of-school education.
The discussions about population and family policy have produced an understanding that simple measures to influence these processes, which would give instant results, do not exist. Only complex, long-term solutions based on consensus can be productive. Once again, we have to ask help from various stakeholders of society - scientists and clergymen, cultural figures and teachers, as well as all the others who can shape the Estonian's values in such a way that it increased the fertility rate.
It is only natural that also the focus of our National Agreement concluded last year was the future of the Estonian people. The fact that we reached it signalled the need for and possibility of a real social dialogue. The agreement was born out of the perception that the development divide in various areas of our life was close to the point unacceptable to the social tolerance of society and, by that, threatening our national resources and basic values. I believe that also the associations not acceded to the agreement as yet have perceived it by now.
Dear people of Estonia,
Addressing you at the New Year's Eve, I noted that Estonia should change gears, and this thought has found a lot of supporters. It's true that our democracy-experience is still inadequate, however, the hope for the progress of both participatory and representative democracy is growing. I am sure that both politicians and all the rest of us have enough will and shared values on which to build our productive cooperation in the most vital areas.
This year, we are celebrating the 120th anniversary of the day when Pastor Rudolf Kallas at Otepää consecrated the blue-black-white flag of the Estonian Students Society that has become our national flag. Not only while celebrating the Year of the Estonian Flag but also in future we should follow the example all those generations who have held the honour of our flag in high esteem. Exactly 15 years ago, our national flag after so many years was raised on the Tall Hermann Tower again. In this year, we should also remember the concord that, in 1989, joined the three Baltic peoples to a homogeneous human chain and supported Estonian political forces in concluding agreements, which led to the restoration of the independence of the Republic of Estonia.
No doubt, what Estonia needs most today is togetherness and sense of community. Yet, would that be sufficient in order to keep pace with changes taking place in the world? What is the key to our future success? Many of our fellow countrymen and Estonians living in other countries, too, have thought that this could be, first of all, an original idea bonding us together and on which we could rely both in good and bad times.
I believe that is pursuit of education, self-esteem, and the privilege of being an Estonian and living in Estonia, which we have inherited from our forebears together with an obligation to keep this privilege viable and to pass it on to future generations.
Happy Independence Day to all of us!
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