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The President of the Republic at the State Banquet Hosted by the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Mr Tassos Papadopoulos, and Mrs Fotini Papadopoulou in Honour of the President of the Republic and Mrs Ingrid Rüütel on 8 January 200408.01.2004
Honourable President of the Republic of Cyprus,
Mr Tassos Papadopoulos,
Honourable Mrs Fotini Papadopoulou,
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
First, I would like to thank the Republic of Cyprus for the invitation. Mr President, on behalf of myself as well as of my wife and our whole delegation I would like to sincerely thank you for the cordial welcome given to us.
We are deeply impressed by your people and country. The primary reason for that are your friendliness and openness. At every turn, we have enjoyed the hospitality of residents of your sunny island. We, having arrived from a wintry Northern country, feel like the spring had been brought closer to us.
The next spring will be very special to us. Both Cyprus and Estonia are on the point of becoming members of the European Union and, thus, a new era in the foreign policy of our countries will begin. The positive outcome of the referendum gave us a clear mandate to protect Estonian positions at the Intergovernmental Conference. The main message here is this: a united Europe is very important to all of us. The enlargement of the European Union is not only a historic chance but also a historical and political necessity.
The idea of a common home of European sovereign states is rather old. European states have worked productively for the sake of this idea and so it can shortly become a reality. We can't but feel happy about it. In the case that all EU Member States will be guaranteed equal terms, all peoples both separately and jointly can perform better. Since one of the reasons why the European Union was created was the desire to ensure cultural diversity.
Estonia is willing to present its folk culture and, on the other hand, is grateful for the opportunity to enjoy the diversified cultural heritage of Cyprus. From this year on, the Estonian-Cypriot relations will be deepened and expanded still more, for we certainly have many common interests, aspirations and positions.
I give great prominence to the bilateral cooperation between our two small nations, Estonia and Cyprus. Close ties between small nations and their desire to increase their influence are only natural. And in addition, we rely on the knowledge that, as a source of a nation's vitality, its cultural heritage and cultivated spirit are probably more important than its size.
Your country, a romantic Mediterranean island, regarding its territory a fifth of Estonia, has a very rich culture dating back to ancient times. And we can't but feast our eyes on the architectural monuments forming a part of your culture. Among them, the Curium and Odeion Amphitheatre where one can enjoy plays of Ancient Greece, and the House of Dionysus with its mosaic floors featuring scenes from Greek mythology considered to be the most beautiful in the Mediterranean, are most magnificent sights indeed. They constitute a part of your unique inheritance, which enriches both the European and the world culture.
One part of Estonian capital Tallinn, our medieval Old Town, has been enlisted in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Pafos as well as the churches and church paintings of the Troodos Region have been given the same recognition. Considering this, it is particularly important that we would be able to better care for and preserve for the posterity the heritage accentuating our national distinctiveness.
The home sea of Estonians - the Baltic Sea - has frequently been called the Mediterranean of the North, thus referring to its importance in trade and development of culture. If a metaphor like this is conceivable, then my native island Saaremaa, the largest of Estonian islands, could, at least tonight, be called the Cyprus of the Baltic Sea. And if this metaphor in other respects should seem to be far-fetched, then, as to their eventful history, both Saaremaa and Estonia as a whole can definitely be compared with your native country.
I believe that, due to similar history, our experience and today's attitudes are similar as well. They tell us, among other things, that small nations can feel secure within alliances, forming parts of entities, which despite of limited resources and manoeuvring possibilities can still reach their goals.
Honourable Mr President,
The more we ponder on these issues, the better we can prove that Europe as to its basic values is quite homogeneous. It does not matter whether we look back at the past or look for connections in the present time. What matters, are people, values, and communication among people.
Cyprus is a country much loved by tourists and I am sure that they visit your island not only because of its geographical location and climate but also because of your people. In this context, those people who have had the will and skill to preserve their time-honoured way of life in small mountain villages deserve special recognition. The tourism agreement concluded between Estonia and Cyprus enables us, as well, to have a share in these riches.
In addition to all what bonds us together, the keywords security and stability in Europe are of paramount importance. The last year presented Estonia with an invitation to join NATO. Just like the enlargement of the EU, the enlargement of NATO, too, is a part of developments in Europe. It is the call of the day both in this year and this century that all nations together made efforts to secure peace.
Mr President,
Mrs Fotini Papadopoulou,
I would like to wish the people of Cyprus a great success in all your good undertakings!
I would like to wish human happiness to all residents of your beautiful country!
Permit me to raise the glass to your health!
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