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 | Speeches | | |
The President of the Republic At the concert-meeting on the occasion of the 15th anniversary of the Congress of Estonia At the Estonia Concert hall, March 13, 200513.03.2005
Dear people of Estonia!
During the last couple of years we have had several chances to remember those significant events from our recent history that had taken place fifteen years ago. From the viewpoint of the nation's as well as the state's history, this is a short period of time. Nevertheless, the time that has passed is sufficient to separate the events from their emotional background and evaluate once made decisions by the scale of permanent national values.
Looking back at the revolutionary time when small Estonia managed to tear itself away from the grip of the totalitarian state, we can see that each union, people's movement and organisation had their own definite role under extraordinary situation at that time. But the central place in all those events belonged to the people of Estonia.
In a situation, where the political forces were in confrontation and possible external allies, because of uncertainty about the further development of events, had taken a cautious attitude, the people could count only upon their own strength, their historical memory and experience.
The masses of people joined the movement of Estonian citizens and the People's Front, they strongly supported the activity of the Supreme Soviet helping to create a legal basis for the independent state, and during the referendum expressed their firm will to restore the independence. All this deserves a special respect and recognition also today.
The movement of Estonian citizens and its forum, the Congress of Estonia, helped the people of Estonia, who had been for fifty years under foreign rule, to unite and become the bearers of the supreme power. The principle of legal continuity became a guideline for the restoration of independence that helped to keep the course and focus the thoughts.
Looking back on the past, we have to appreciate the will of the forces that were participating in politics at that time, to find the way to overcome their differences. Commendable is also their ability to rise above the real politic goals when distributing responsibilities and making choices. I believe that the people will keep all this in their historical memory.
History is a great teacher, but it often has bad pupils. Today we have to worry that the power elected by the people is becoming alienated from the people and national permanent values are sacrificed for the interests of real politics.
Also today, having been almost for year a full fledged member of the European Union and an equal partner of NATO, we sometimes have to make difficult and complicated choices. While making those choices we have to consider the will of the people as the supreme order, just like we did fifteen years ago. This is the only compass that will keep our state on the right course.
I wish all of you willingness and strength to maintain the historical experience and preserve it as a guideline to the future!
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