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The Baltic Presidents talked about historical anniversaries23.08.2004
Latvian President Vaira Vike-Freiberga today phoned President Rüütel to congratulate him on the 15th anniversary of the Baltic Chain and, at the same time, to reminisce with her Estonian counterpart about the regrettable events, which had began with the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact concluded 65 years ago.
The Estonian Head of State talking with his Latvian counterpart noted that the shameful agreement concluded between the two totalitarian regimes before the Second World War had created preconditions for the invasion by occupying armies and the loss of the Baltic States' independence, and brought about repressions and following repopulation.
President Rüütel emphasized importance of the Baltic cooperation in bringing awareness of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact and its consequences to the world, and also in other fields. The Estonian Head of State in addition underlined that the world must not forget - besides the Nazi regime also the Stalinist regime deserved outright condemnation.
President Vike-Freiberga deemed it essential that Estonian and Latvian historians worked together in researching into this period of history. She contended that our fight against historical injustice was not over at all, and expressed hope that cooperating year after year we would reach success. The Latvian President further thanked President Rüütel for good relations and pleasant cooperation.
The Presidents also recalled the Baltic Chain, in which Estonians, Latvians and Lithuanians had joined their hands, thus demonstrating the unity and strive for freedom of our peoples. The two Heads of State expressed their delight at the circumstance that the Baltic States on their way to NATO and the EU had maintained unity, and voiced hope that the solidarity and cooperation aimed at ensuring the prosperity of our peoples would continue in future too.
Also today, President Rüütel phoned Lithuanian President Valdas Adamkus who is in Athens. The Presidents discussed what was the historical role of 23rd August 1939 that had changed the fate of the Baltic States, and confirmed that this very togetherness which once had manifested itself in a 600-kilometre-long human chain running through our three countries to express our strive for freedom was alive today as well. They also emphasized the importance of tripartite cooperation among the Baltic States, as well as that of cooperation at regional level and within the EU framework.
Public Relations Unit of the Office of the President
Kadriorg, August 23, 2004
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