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The President of the Republic on the 83rd Anniversary of the Peace of Tartu on 2 February 2003
02.02.2003


Allow me to read out the order of the Rescue Committee, No 1:

To the people of Estonia and to the Estonian military units.

The Manifesto of Estonian Land Council has proclaimed Estonia an independent republic and the highest power of governance is vested with the Rescue Committee.

As the Manifesto of Independence has declared the Republic of Estonia neutral in the war, the Estonian military units and Estonian citizens can no way participate in the Russian-German war.

The mobilization ordered by Russian People's Commissars is declared null and void in Estonia.

All county, city and rural municipal governments elected by universal suffrage should resume work and soviets, committees and other institutions, which had taken their place by force, should be removed.

The Estonian military units and militia should use all means to implement the order if requested by a legitimate representative of legitimate local government.

We order all citizens and public servants regardless their place of work to apply all measures to avoid taking any assets out of Estonia or destroying them, as the assets now belong to the Republic of Estonia.

In Tallinn, 24 February 1918


Prime Minister,
Commander of the Defence Force,
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

Today on the 83rd anniversary of the Peace of Tartu as the President of the Republic of Estonia I would like to do my utmost to eliminate the necessity to issue such orders in Estonia.

However, when the Rescue Committee resorted to extraordinary measures to defend the newly proclaimed state, its fate hung by a thread. The people were scared and exhausted by the severity of the war, the bloody civil war continued in the east. Both German and Russian armies threatened Estonia.

What could the young state rely on under the circumstances? Estonia could rely only on its people, its faith in sovereignty and intent to govern its own land. Schoolboys and grandfathers as well as virile men, many of who had just returned from the front of the world war fought for their land. They went into the battle without knowing whether their reward will be fatherland and freedom or names in marble, instead.

We should acknowledge the wisdom of the leaders of the young state. They promised land - the most significant source of subsistence - to everybody defending Estonia in the war. This reconfirmed the faith of the defence force comprised primarily of peasants that there can be nothing more important than defending your home and homeland. We can say that faith delivered victory in the War of Independence.

It was early morning today 83 years ago when the peace treaty was signed between Estonia and Russia. People who had longed for peace could now start planning their own future. Men, at long least, could grab a sledgehammer instead of a gun.

The War of Independence was like a purgatory transfiguring the concept of independent statehood. The War of Independence matured citizens on the front and in the rear. There was no more of your Estonia and my Estonia; Estonia became ours. It was a national agreement and contemporaneously made us all responsible for the future. Just like today: despite individual and group interests there is only one Estonia - our Estonia, and your, my and our well-being depends on it.

In a few weeks we are going to celebrate the 85th anniversary of the Republic of Estonia. Let's reflect now whether the schoolboys who fought in the War of Independence and made history, realized the responsibility they bear. Do the children who for more than ten years have been living in a newly independent Republic of Estonia, know the real price of freedom?

Each era has its unique challenges. We have recently witnessed a moment when Estonia received an invitation to join the North-Atlantic Alliance. This is one of the most significant events in the history of Estonian security policy.

We have shown that we want to defend our home and provide our Estonia a possibility to last. As the President of the Republic of Estonia I would like to assure you that Estonia wishes all nations to have this chance and does it utmost to prevent fathers and sons from losing their lives on a battlefield.


Dear friends,

Today we take freedom for granted and kind of forget the price of gaining freedom. In 1918, a very young and neutrality-preferring Estonia had to fight. However, although the war has become known as our glorious War of Independence, we would have preferred peaceful developments to battles. No victory in the battlefield is more significant than human life.

Following this principle we succeeded to restore our independent statehood in 1991. We treasure this principle today as well - we should endeavour to save each life. Even poor peace is better than a victorious war. Let us treasure peace in the world.

Today, on the anniversary of the Peace of Tartu, I bow to everybody celebrating together with us. But, first and foremost, to those who out of responsibility and setting priority to advancement have delivered Estonia to its present.

I congratulate us all and wish patriotic spirit!


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