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The President of the Republic at the State Dinner Hosted by H.E. President of the Republicof Kazakhstan Mr. Nursultan Nazarbayev in Honour of the President of the Republic on 2 June 200402.06.2004
Honourable President Nazarbayev,
Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen,
First, I would like to thank you for your invitation and the warm welcome! We have spent in your midst two most excellent and interesting days, which we will never forget.
Our countries enjoy good bilateral relations, however, in order to increase knowledge of each other's interests and objectives, to expand our cultural and economic ties, we definitely wish to intensify them. Now, Estonia having become a member of the European Union and NATO, also our relations will enter a new, wider dimension. I believe that the visit of the Estonian delegation to Kazakhstan will contribute to that.
Mr. President,
There has been a lot of talk about what can the former Iron Curtain countries offer the world. What would provoke interest in us? The conclusion in most cases is that it is the very unspoilt nature and the calm and privacy concomitant with it.
I believe you have perceived that it is the vast expanse of your country, its nature and singularity what your guests come to discover here. Today's urbanising world attaches ever more value to closeness to nature. For the man himself is a part of nature, too.
I suppose that my fellow countrymen if asked what they know about Kazakhstan and the Kazakhs would first of all mention culture, because these are Kazakhstan's cultural traditions, rich heritage and folklore that arouse interest. As the pertinent saying goes: "Man does not live by bread alone."
While speaking about the Estonian-Kazakh relations, it is definitely important to stress our economic cooperation, where we can see plenty of unused opportunities on both sides.
Our cooperation could cover a very broad range from transit of goods and trade in food to information technology and communication services. I believe that if we combined your experience concerning Central Asia and our experience gained as a maritime country between East and West, we could take our mutually beneficial cooperation to a new, highest ever level.
Estonia has invested a lot to develop logistics and infrastructure. Thanks to that, we can offer transit routes also for Kazakh goods to be transported to the EU countries, notably, to Scandinavia and vice versa - for European goods to be transported to Kazakhstan. The reliability of services and price/quality ratio, offered by our ports, have a good reputation among businessmen of several countries, including Kazakhstan.
Also establishing joint ventures in both Estonia and Kazakhstan offers great possibilities. This process could start from mutual investments, which at present are rather modest.
Estonian economy becomes increasingly innovative and knowledge-based. We have gained international recognition for promoting information society. Also during our present visit, we are imparting our experience concerning the development of Internet-based E-Government.
Estonia has continuing interest in cooperation with you. The record large business delegation accompanying me on the visit scheduled to meet their Kazakh counterparts in order to discuss possibilities for cooperation in a whole range of areas is a proof of that. To remain competitive on an international scale, all countries have to find new markets and cooperation partners.
Honourable Mr. President,
Regardless of thousands of kilometres separating our countries - we are here today. People-to-people relations, sincere realization that there is a lot we can learn from each other - all this brings our peoples closer together. In view of the hectic pace of life in today's pragmatic world, sometimes it is good to reflect on that!
Mr. President,
I wish you on behalf of all of us the best of luck and every success.
Please raise your glasses in a toast to the Republic of Kazakhstan, its people and to you personally. To happiness and prosperity of Kazakhstan!
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