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The President of the Republic at the Dinner given by the Government of Norway on April 11, 2002, in Bergen11.04.2002
Your Majesties,
Honourable Minister Ludvigsen,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
A couple of hours ago we were walking on twisting sidewalks in the venerable Hanseatic quarter of your city. We were admiring beautiful old wooden houses, which you have preserved so well, and it made us feel at home. Actually, we have felt at home during the whole visit to your country. It has proved to be true once again that the Estonians and the Norwegians can get on very well, that we can easily make contact with each other.
I hope you agree with me, if I say that this state visit has been a success. We have had very constructive talks and all the time we have felt Norway`s sincere support to our aspirations. We have discussed the co-operation between Norway and Estonia in different fields. The wise regional policy of Norway has offered us much food for thought. You have been able to see to it in your country that mountains, valleys and distances are not separating your people but joining them together. Equally, you have attached great importance to the regional co-operation with your neighbouring countries, the co-operation between the Nordic Countries and the Baltic Sea States being a shining example of it. I have said it already before, and I would like to stress here once more the need to continue this process also after the enlargement of the European Union and NATO.
Usually, the President of Estonia on his state visits is accompanied by business delegations, but very rarely have those delegations been so strong and representative as the present one. Yet, even more businessmen were willing to come along, as they were so very much interested in meeting their partners face to face, and to talk matters advancing economic life in both our countries. I would say, that we could see the mutual interest coming, but it was still a pleasant surprise that the yesterday's business seminar in Oslo was so popular. Well, I must admit that I even have a reason to envy our business delegation to a certain extent, namely - they had more time on their programme for visiting the sights of your country than I had. They even found time to visit the fish-market of Bergen, which I - as a native of the island of Saaremaa - would have been very interested visiting in. Thus, I can only hope that my first visit to your country would not remain the last one.
Dear Friends,
I am glad that the second day of our visit has brought us to Bergen, to an old Hanseatic city, the first capital of Norway, a port and a maritime city, in which also your centre for maritime research, that I just have visited, is situated. As a matter of fact, Bergen was a wish of my wife. She has many old friends and colleagues - preservers and promoters of folk culture - in your city. It was most pleasing to meet with them. It turned out that numerous Estonians, having come to greet us, have found a home or a school here. And I hope not to be wrong saying that we all enjoyed the berry drink of Bergen's Olde Hansa - the sister of Tallinn's Olde Hansa.
Our visit is going to have a fine conclusion. Before flying back home, we will visit the home of Edvard and Nina Grieg at Trodhaugen. Of course, many Estonians too know Morning or Times of Holmberg by heart, for Grieg is in Estonia almost as well known and beloved as in Norway, but to listen to this music at the place where it was created - this is certainly an unforgettable experience.
Thank you very much. On behalf of myself, of my wife, and of us all, I propose raising the glasses to your health.
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