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The President of the Republic on the Ceremony of Conferring the Decorations of the Republic of Estoniaon February 23, at the Kadriorg Palace23.02.2002
Dear chevaliers of the decorations!
Ladies and gentlemen!
I congratulate you on the occasion of the 84th anniversary of the Republic of Estonia, and on the distinguished recognition bestowed on you. This is how the Republic of Estonia expresses her gratitude for your devotion, and in many cases, for your bravery and self-sacrifice. In your midst, there are many people directly connected with maintaining the continuity of the Republic of Estonia, struggle for the freedom of our nation, and the restoration of the Republic of Estonia.
Just as in previous years, the Republic of Estonia expresses her gratitude to freedom fighters, scientists and cultural figures, and our outstanding sportsmen. This also includes our male skiers who have literally given their contribution to make the anniversary of our Republic more festive and glorious. Andrus Veerpalu and Jaak Mae are the brand-name of Estonia, quietly but powerfully promoting the stature of our country both among our fellow countrymen and all over the world.
Also, we are deeply grateful today to August Pruuel, who has had to wait alsmost till his 102nd birthday for Estonia to remember him and, through him, all others who fought in the War of Liberty for our victory.
Also, let me now settle an old debt, which concerns all of us, but especially the sixty-nine members of the Supreme Council of the Republic of Estonia who voted for the restoration of the Republic of Estonia on August 20, 1991. With this step, they manifested the will of the Republic of Estonia and redeemed at least a fraction of the sufferings of the hundred thousands of people that the destruction of the sovereign statehood of the Republic of Estonia had brought about. This was the fulfilment of both a national and a civic duty. Fortunately, no blood was shed at the restoration of the independence of the Republic of Estonia. We did not need another War of Liberty. For some people, it was not easy to come to terms with the idea that also those whose mandate originated from the Soviet times participated in the restoration of the independent Estonia. And yet - the people are one, and the continuity of the state is impossible without the continuity across generations. Furthermore, the restoration of Estonia's independence was realised by means of a national agreement. Had that agreement not been reached, there would not have been an authorised body, whose voice was audible to the world. In the reality of the world politics of those times, only the Supreme Council of the Republic of Estonia had legitimacy. It is pleasant to recall that the Estonain Congress accepted this at that most crucial moment for Estonia.
It is not an overstatement to say that those 69 delegates were risking their lives. Only a malevolent person, wise after the event, could ironically remark that the Soviet Union would have collapsed anyway, independently of the emergence of people's movements, independently of the Estonians claiming their historical rights.
As the Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Council at the time, I had the possibility to learn of the existence of harsh punitive sanctions that could have befallen the delegates as well as all other people that fought for the independence of the Republic of Estonia. I have joked that if the coup in Moscow had been a success, we could today celebrate the release from prison of many Estonians. Because this very term - ten years - was the most common sentence for counteracting the constitution of the Soviet Union. But if our actions had been classified as high treason - and for sure, there would have been such attempts - it could also have meant a death sentence for us.
Dear friends!
These recollections were not meant to justify any of the decorations conferred, because there is no need to justify those that will get their decoration from Estonia today. Let us appreciate the way how our rural pragmatism managed to keep alive the education in the Estonain language, the national culture, and the national values in Estonia also throughout the years of foreign occupation; how, despite the economic pressure and the omnipresent totalitarian rules and surveillance, we built up or restored tens of thousands of homes, and brought up a generation that had the courage and took the responsibility to restore the Republic of Estonia, and is even today bearing most of the weight of the development of Estonia. All those upon whom independent Estonia has bestowed or will bestowe her gratitude have been outstanding representatives of their country and outstanding citizens, throughout their life and in their activities.
Ladies and gentlemen!
Although the anniversary of the Republic of Estonia turns our glances to history, it is just as important to speak also of our present and our future. As I already mentioned, among those recognised by our state, there are many people who have given Estonia the face she has today - with their high professional skills, their calling, or their selfless devotion. It does not matter whether one is a cultural figure, a farmer, a sportsman, a writer, a doctor, a public servant, or a soldier. Nor does it matter what nationality one represents. What matters is that each of you has made a contribution to increase the creativity of Estonia and helped to ensure the future of our country. Because - as Walter Rand, one of the bearers of the idea of the Estonain spirit, an engineer and a philosopher, has put it - "creativity is the Estonian spirit". And Estonia is the fruit of our joint creativity.
Thank you for contributing to it!
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