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The President of the Republic of Estonia At a Festive Dinner Given in the Honour of the Ambassadors of the Member States of the European Union 30 October, 2001
30.10.2001


Your Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

I am very happy to have the opportunity to welcome you, Ambassadors of the Member States of the European Union accredited to Estonia, here, in Kadriorg, in the residence of the President of the Republic of Estonia.

This residence, as well as the Kadriorg Park surrounding it and the entire historical city of Tallinn carry a genuine European spirit. I am sure that you have noticed something familiar in our architecture, environmental design and local mentality.

It arises from the common feeling of Europe as our home which has been formed by the civilisation which has developed during centuries on the continental part and islands of Europe. Estonia became part of this civilisation in the first half of the 13th century. However, modern theories claim that our forefathers reached and settled in this place after the retreat of the ice shield between 18 000 and 7000 years before Christ. And the jumping-off point for this immigration was what we regard today as the Real Europe.

Thus, Estonians are indigenous to Europe. It is a nation which has stayed in one and the same place for the last five thousand years, cultivating the land, carrying their national culture and keeping their language alive throughout the centuries.

Fate has not cherished us. The Second World War and the Soviet occupation which followed would almost have cost Estonia its entire existence. During the period 1940-1950 we lost more than one-tenth of our population. If, ten years ago, we had not succeeded in regaining our national independence, Estonia would have fallen into oblivion.

We have been able to feel that we are a European state for only three decades. However, already in the second half of the 19th century, during the first period of National Awakening, the Estonian intellectual elite realized that the continuation of the Estonian nation, its language and culture could only be secured by independence and close relations with the rest of the Europe.

It is worth reminding ourselves that Estonia was one of the most enthusiastic supporters of the Pan-European movement launched after the First World War and of the Pan-European Union founded by Richard Coudenhove-Kalerg in 1923. As we all know, the idea of the European Union originates from this movement.

Among the many reasons for the failure of the past European Union and the League of Nations, one in particular should be stressed: "the correction" of history induced by revenge. At that time Europe was not mature enough to join on the basis of a new European civilization and in the European consciousness. One further and especially brutal experience was needed in order to convince us finally: every following war brings mankind nearer to self-destruction.

The consolidation of Europe started in the 1950s and by the beginning of the 1990s it had developed into the European Union which proved that this time Europe was ready to form a union of states where common resources could be used in a more flexible and effective manner. An old truth that strength lies in union is conquering prejudices and obstacles placed in our way by history.

Now, Estonia wants to join in this association of states where democratic traditions are highly valued. Our way back to the family of European states has been long. But we have never lost the hope that historical justice will be restored and that - as we used to say some ten years ago during the days of the singing revolution in Estonia - "one day we will win for sure."
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However, on our way towards accession to the European Union, Estonia shall not be guided merely by its historical arguments but also by the need to prove that along with the accession of Estonia, the European Union shall also win.

Just as the whole of Europe has been a challenge for Estonians through the ages, the same is true about the European Union representing a union of states and nations of the European civilization.

Let us raise our glasses to your countries, to the European Union and to our common future!


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