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President of the Republic at the Conference "Otto Tief and the Interim Government of 1944" at Tartu, on September 17, 2004
17.09.2004


Ladies and gentlemen,

The well-known maxim that every people have a right to their history can be interpreted in different ways. But, first and foremost, every people also have a right to an honest and theoretically systematized judgement of their history based on objective sources. Based on this very kind of foundation, the survival of our people and culture can be safeguarded.

Researchers researching history and assessing sources face complicated problems. While dealing with the recent history, emotional judgements and personal connections of those concerned can sometimes be a disadvantage. While assessing earlier periods, researchers frequently are frustrated by shortage of sources and inability to put events into context of concrete circumstances.

The recent events in Estonia have confirmed one more time that people need information concerning both the 60-year-old and more recent events. The duty and great responsibility to clear them up, to overcome controversies and to perpetuate our history lies with politicians, but with history researchers likewise.

The subject of today's conference is relevant and intriguing. Our people 60 years ago, once again during only a few years, experienced fateful times. Future scenarios of the then totalitarian states gave us but a negligible chance to restore an independent state.

The secret pact concluded between Stalinist Russia and Nazi Germany on 23. August 1939 had divided Central Europe and by that also determined the fate of the Republic of Estonia. The Soviets occupied Estonia with Germany's approval. When war broke out we had a certain hope to restore our state but it was not in the interests of the Third Reich occupying Estonia.

The two successive foreign regimes brought for our people innumerable sufferings including mobilizations by both of them. Many men preferred fighting for Finland to fighting in the occupants' forces. When the Red Army in early 1944 neared the Estonian territory, our patriotic forces in apprehension of a new bloody occupation began to close their ranks.

The National Committee that assembled in March aimed to restore our independence but in April German authorities arrested the majority of the members and helpers of the Committee. Later the NKVD arrested these members of the National Committee who had not fled Estonia. The fate of those people strikingly exemplifies the approach of both occupying powers to the Republic of Estonia.

The Electoral Assembly on 20 April 1944 noted that in accordance with generally recognised principles of international law the Soviet occupation of Estonia had de facto ended with occupation of Estonia by German troops. In minutes signed by Prime Minister Jüri Uluots we can read as follows: "Neither Soviet nor German occupation has changed the status of the Republic of Estonia as a sovereign state but created a factual situation, where activities of the Estonian constitutional bodies are provisionally and partly suspended."

Deliberations like this received to a certain extent support also from the Western World. In 1941 the Atlantic Charter had stated that every nation had a right to independently determine their system of government and fate. The Charter gave the occupied nations hope that, with the West's help, they would succeed in regaining their lost independence.

Based on just these facts as well as on legal and ethical judgements, Jüri Uluots on 18 September appointed to office a Government of the Republic that was headed by Otto Tief. We must appreciate and acknowledge the resolve and heroism of both men in taking in this extremely complicated situation the responsibility for the fate of their people and state.

Tief's government aimed to restore the independence of the Republic of Estonia built on democratic values, and offered resistance to both foreign powers. In Tallinn and its vicinity clashes between Pitka-men and Germans took place. In summer at Sinimäed efforts were made to stop a new occupation threatening from the East.

These were extremely complicated times claiming many victories where the history gave no opportunities to restore the independence of our state. Soviet repressive bodies imprisoned Otto Tief, the Members of his Government and all others who fought for Estonia's independence. At the same time, also tragic events contain valuable experience of history and teach us how to make choices in complicated situations.

We as an independent and democratic nation have now an obligation to talk honestly and openly about our history and to perpetuate it for the present and future generations.
For this, I wish you strength.


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