eesti keeles

Speeches
Open in print mode

The President of the Republic On the occasion of the Gala Dinner in honour of the President of the Republic of Poland H.E. Mr. Aleksander Kwaśniewski and Mrs. Jolanta Kwaśniewska At Kuressaare Castle, on July 5, 2005
05.07.2005


Honourable President of the Republic of Poland,
Mrs. Jolanta Kwaśniewska,
Ladies and gentlemen!

Mr. President, let me once again to extend our warmest welcome to you in Estonia and in Saaremaa! Your visit is a proof of good relations between our two countries, which, from one side, are based on centuries long history and from the other side, on close cooperation in today's world.

I am sincerely pleased that you could visit also my native island and that I have the honour to host you today in this 13th century bishop's castle, which is one of the best preserved medieval citadels in the Baltic states.

Our today's meeting confirmed that Estonia and Poland have many common interests in various fields of life. When in the 16th century the Poles found their way to Livonia, they taught how to get knowledge and learn from books, today, we are building together Via Baltica in order to invigorate trade and facilitate the communication between people.

Also book learning has not disappeared anywhere. In the University of Tartu, Estonian students have had a chance to learn the Polish language already for years. And we consider it very important to continue those studies also in the future, as Estonian-Polish relations are becoming ever so intensified. One of the reasons for that is mutual understanding of each other, which is based on our similar historical experience.

Our bilateral relations have certainly gained a new momentum and content thanks to our partnership within the framework of the European Union and NATO.

It is said that our future lies in our own hands. Yes, also the future of the European Union, which we, dear colleague, discussed today, is to a great extent in our hands. In what kind of world we live tomorrow depends on our concord and joint contribution. It would be superb if we could talk today about harmonious and well targeted positive development where mutual understanding prevails and we could blame the fickleness of nature for any setback. Alas, the latest developments in Europe have brought along many question marks. We have reached a point where we have to think everything over, and understand that the 21st century requires mental renewal from all of us.

Mutual synergy derived from the way of thinking based on similar values, reliable partnership and taking each other's interest into account have been a source of European creativity. Those fundamental concepts are still firmly hold in esteem today, and therefore I am confident that we all together will find the right path also this time. Fortunately enough, in spite of our momentary troubles, the range of alternatives happens to be much broader and they are without compare more pleasant than those Europe had to face in the 30-ies and 40-ies of the last century.

Mr. President,

I would like once again to thank the Polish people and you personally for the great support that you offered to Estonia in our aspirations to become a NATO member state. We all remember your speech you made in the library of Warsaw University in 2001, where, being the first leader of NATO member state, you openly pronounced that you considered it necessary that Estonia should be invited to join NATO. Today Estonia is a NATO member, and this is a proof of our smooth cooperation. I am pleased to note that NATO takes very seriously the need to protect the security of its common airspace and implements NATO's common airspace protection policy also in relation with those member states that today lack necessary capability to do it themselves. Estonia is grateful to Poland for the planned contribution to airspace policing in the Baltic region in 2006.

But NATO is not only a well-oiled military machine; it is also a political and strategic block. And even more important is the understanding of shared security space on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean. The cooperation between our countries has to continue in order to strengthen and extend the still narrow area where democracy reigns and human rights are respected.

In case one of the nations in Europe lacks security, the rest of Europe is also insecure. We might avoid direct conflicts, but we could not avoid refugees and interruption of trade that insecurity could bring along. Therefore, for us it is in direct national interest that we make our contribution to European and transatlantic security. There is no need to change the underlying principles of our cooperation. We have to think how to use the existing potential more efficiently and rationally.

Dear colleague,

Your personal contribution to the development of relations between our two countries has been remarkable. I know that the forthcoming autumn will be for you personally and for the Polish state a time of changes. I wish that standing at the crossroad you chose the path, which will bring new and interesting challenges into your life and offer an opportunity to use your existing experience for shaping a better and happier future.

I am very pleased at numerous opportunities for interesting exchange of thoughts and efficient cooperation in promoting the relations between our countries. Thank you!

Allow me, Mr. President, to raise a glass to your and to wife's health and to the health of Polish people, and to the prosperity of the Republic of Poland.


© 2006 Office of the President l tel: + 372 631 6202 l fax: + 372 631 6250 l sekretarvpk.ee