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The President of the Republic At a festive dinner hosted by President of the Republic of Portugal H.E. Mr. Jorge Sampaio and Mrs. Maria José Ritta de Sampaio in honour of the President of the Republic of Estonia and Mrs. Ingrid Rüütel Lisbon, November 2828.11.2005
Honourable Mr. President,
Honourable Mrs. Maria José Ritta de Sampaio,
Excellences, Ladies and gentlemen!
Thank you, Mr. President! Your kind words and hospitality give us much pleasure and warm our hearts. Meetings and discussions with you, Mr. President, have given me a lot of food for thought. I would like to reiterate that I have experienced here very sincere and cordial reception and understanding by everyone whom I had the honour to meet.
Each country has its own peculiarities and its own story forged by history into what we see today. What we have experienced here in the last couple of days proves to us that Portugal is a beautiful country full of joyful discoveries. Your medieval towns, wonderful nature and the vast horizon of the Atlantic Ocean are values in their own right.
Estonia and Portugal are located on opposite sides of our continent - one in the north, the other in the south. Europe has always been a connecting bond between our two countries. Playing football in the same group with Portugal in the last qualification tournament for the World Cup showed us that what concerns football we have a lot to learn from Portugal. But what concerns the development of today's Europe, we certainly can complement each other.
From the world history we know that a union of different regions and different cultures offers a unique experience. This makes our continent stronger, as its strength is in its diversity. I do not see any reason to be worried about European solidarity, ideals and core values. The continuous enlargement of the European Union tends to confirm their validity and durability, and the cooperation between different countries will make it easier to understand them and will make them more meaningful.
At the same time, we are facing new threats and problems that cannot be solved by using models known from the past. One can name here international terrorism, trafficking in drugs and human beings, but also the spread of avian flue. It is the responsibility of all of us to act without wasting any time so that we could leave a habitable and safe environment to our future generations.
Honourable Mr. President,
As Estonians are coastal people living on the coast of the Gulf of Finland who are used to the noise of ports and roar of waves, paying a friendly visit to people who have for centuries been familiar with salty smell of the sea makes us to feel good and safe. Sea means sailing and discoveries, but also trading. On this visit I am accompanied by a business delegation, and I am sure that new useful contacts will be established here.
Besides our close economic ties, attention should be attached to cultural contacts between Estonia and Portugal. Estonian musicians have repeatedly given concerts here and we are very happy about the activities of Lisbon Estonian Society. Several Estonian students have used the opportunity to study the Portuguese language here and the first Portuguese students have already come to Estonia to study the Estonian language.
In conclusion, I would like to emphasise that the idea of European community composed of sovereign states, is not a new idea. In reality we are much closer to it than any generation before us has ever been during the history of Europe. People, values and mutual relations are of the highest importance. We are working together for the sake of achieving the goals set by the Lisbon strategy to make Europe more competitive and economically stronger. But also for the sake of preservation of our rich cultural heritage. This is a background against which we see also bilateral relations between Estonia and Portugal that are very good today, but will certainly become even better.
Mr. President,
Mrs. Maria José Ritta de Sampaio,
Ladies and Gentlemen!
I would like to thank you on behalf of my wife, the whole delegation and myself for hosting us and for your warm hospitality. I wish the Republic of Portugal, you personally, Mr. President, and Mrs. De Sampaio every success and a lot of humanly happiness!
I would like to raise this glass to the Republic of Portugal!
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