Speech by Prime Minister Andrus Ansip at the festive conference dedicated to the 90th Anniversary of the Republic of Estonia on 19 February 2008 at the Assembly Hall of Helsinki University
19.02.2008
Speech by Prime Minister Andrus Ansip
at the festive conference dedicated to the 90th Anniversary
of the Republic of Estonia,
on 19 February 2008 at the Assembly Hall of Helsinki University
Dear Mr. Mayor,
Vice Rector,
Good people of Helsinki,
Finns and Estonians!
I congratulate you all on the 90th Anniversary of both our states. Estonia celebrates its anniversary this Sunday; Finland’s celebration took place in December 2007. Our countries are equals in age. As nations, we are closely related. This gives rise to certain special relationships between us, which are quite unparalleled in the world.
No other nations of Finnic descent have achieved statehood (because of their Ugric background, Hungarians are somewhat more distant). When looking back into our history, it can be seen that our starting-points were well comparable with several other West Finnish kindred nations. Nevertheless, we are the only ones blessed with the possibility of maintaining and developing our own, independent states. Let us thank the founders and keepers of our states. Let us thank all of the people whose efforts in the past allow us to stand here today and congratulate each other.
I believe that both our nations have benefited from an ancient notion – a mythical bridge over the Gulf of Finland. However, the so-called Finnish Bridge is far from being merely a myth. In a figurative sense, it exists in reality. And it must be kept in working order. The more efficiently and bilaterally this bridge is utilised, the stronger we are – both separately and together. The correctness of this statement has been proven to the fullest extent, both in old times and in the past century that witnessed the creation of our states and the setbacks that followed. The statement is also true here and now.
President Lennart Meri was often warmed by memories and dreams about taking a train from Tallinn to Central Europe. In terms of transport links, Finland is almost like an island and Estonia’s situation is not much better when looking towards the heartland of Europe. The best definition of Estonia’s position has been offered by Johannes Gabriel Granö, Finnish geographer: Estonia is located in a region where Northern Europe is imperceptibly transforming into Central Europe. Therefore, in addition to the Bridge between us, we need bridges, roads and connections with the rest of Europe.
At the end of last year, the Estonian people and culture suffered a great loss. Jaan Kross passed away. He was equally loved on both the Southern and the Northern shore of the Gulf of Finland. As Jaan Kross himself once admitted, Finland had always been his runner-up favourite country. I quote: “Sometimes I have been asked whether my books spark more interest among readers in Estonia or in Finland. And more than once have I had difficulties when answering that question.” End of quote.
You, as Finns, know Kross equally well as we Estonians do. The more people there are that are considered “our own” in both Finland and Estonia, the stronger the Finnish Bridge.
Lydia Koidula, one of Estonia’s most patriotic poets, described it as follows in one of her poems:
We greet you, Northern Border,
You, coast of the rocky land!
Estonia wishes to bring truth
and love for all your band!
Now, hammer, strongly you must strike!
A nation with another nation
is asking to shake hands!
This will be the bridge to Finland,
This will be the wings!
A piece will join another piece,
and walls together us will bring!
Let us take a look from the modern perspective at the possible extent of bringing our nations together. In addition to his other achievements, Jaan Kross, our common bridge pier, even found time for the reheating of the idea of a united Estonian-Finnish state. And this was by no means a joke, but rather a clear and yet remote vision of the future.
According to this vision: “The future, two hundred years from now, is as inevitable as tomorrow is; to us, Finns are by far the most acceptable nation for us to merge with – perhaps not insomuch ethnically, but at least linguistically”. Consequently, Kross was of the opinion that we have a common future.
This prophecy has come true much sooner than expected. Although not directly, not through a union state. It has come true through the common political framework in which our states currently function. Above all, I refer to the European Union. Allow me to return to this subject and other foreign policy-related co-operation in more detail a little later.
Important factors include our geographical proximity and economic realities that have provided our people with new, free options under free conditions.
Once again, I would like to quote Jaan Kross, who said in 2004: “As I’m observing from Tallinn how the Finnish population slowly shifts towards the Uusimaa and Turku territories and the Estonian population shifts towards the Southern shore of the Gulf of Finland, the forthcoming emergence of a Finnish-Estonian agglomeration with more than one million inhabitants appears to me.” End of quote.
It is almost impossible to find an Estonian who has never been to Finland. Every year, the number of Finnish tourists visiting Estonia significantly exceeds our own population. Finland is also the leader in the volume of sectoral investments made in Estonia. Investments express trust in the target state and its people. One could come across Finnish citizens everywhere in Estonia, and vice versa – Estonians in Finland.
Nevertheless – how well do we know each other? Both cultural and political figures have sought answers to this question.
Some years ago, Esko Ollila, a former President of the Bank of Finland, and Jaak Jõerüüt, Ambassador, compiled a Report on future co-operation between Estonia and Finland. The Report was completed immediately prior to Estonia’s accession to the European Union – at a time when the relations between our states were on the verge of an entirely new era.
This was also emphasized by Ollila and Jõerüüt. I quote: “Both states will then belong as equals to a union offering better possibilities for the development of their nations and societies.” Based on this equality, all Governments of Finland and Estonia have continued to pursue their objectives.
I am glad to mention that the new Report on future co-operation between Estonia and Finland will be completed under the direction of Gunnar Okk and Jaakko Blomberg as early as this spring.
Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen is one of my closest and best colleagues on the global level. But have we done all that we can or is there something that we could do better in order to find out more about each other? What are the sources of misconceptions between our closely related nations and cultures?
Alongside the aforementioned Jaan Kross, another Estonian-Finnish bridge pier and a great man uniting our nations is Professor Seppo Zetterberg from Finland. Last year, he published a voluminous and wisely written book titled “History of Estonia”.
Professor Zetterberg explains his work as follows: “Educated Finnish readers need much more information on Estonian history. If a person wishes to understand the present day of another nation, he or she should know the nation’s history. Estonia is one of the best examples: if you do not know the history, it is impossible to understand why Estonians behave as they do. Right up to the reasons for craving for the European Union and NATO so desperately. If you know Estonian history, everything becomes self-evident. Finns, for example, have great difficulties in understanding your determination to join NATO. [...] If you know Estonian history, the said act becomes understandable.” End of quote.
The same applies the other way around. We are different enough that we can be caught in an endless loop of asking questions about both more distant history and the political decisions made today. These questions may concern the Estonian War of Independence or Finnish Civil War. They may concern the successful or less-than-successful self-defence of democracy in the 1930s – at the time when the whole of Europe was engaged in an extremely dangerous flirtation with longing for a strong authoritarian arm or nation cured by dictatorial means. They may concern the events that took place on the eve of World War II – the accepting of the military bases treaty and ultimatum in Estonia or the Winter War in Finland. And, eventually, the questions may concern the years of Finlandisation or even decisions made today or in the recent past.
Furthermore, why limit oneself to historical events? Historical persons and their contemporaries bring about excitement on both shores of the Gulf. Let me remind you of President Konstantin Päts, who is of great interest to Finnish researchers. In Estonia, on the other hand, difficult questions are being asked regarding the policy pursued by President Kekkonen. We also remember the visit that Kekkonen paid to Estonia in 1964, and especially his speech in Estonian at the University of Tartu. At that difficult time, the speech went straight to the hearts of many Estonians. Or President Meri who was always known as Finland’s steadfast friend. The same goes for the relations and sympathy of President Tarja Halonen towards our country and language. And it is the opinion of our President Toomas Hendrik Ilves that Estonia’s rightful place is among the Nordic ‘Christmas’ countries.
Dear friends,
Finally, allow me to return to perhaps the most important link between our states – the political framework that connects Finland and Estonia today. First of all, our common efforts in the European Union. The Union has provided us with a unique possibility for contributing to the well-being of our home, the Baltic Sea region, by participation in the decision-making process. This does not simply concern economy and environmental protection – in fact, it concerns all areas of life.
It is completely natural that in most of the matters we are of the same opinion and thus able to support each other. I hope that our across-the-Gulf harmony becomes even stronger.
A beautiful and ‘productive’ example of our co-operation is the idea of a European Northern Dimension expressed by President Martti Ahtisaari at the University of Tartu in 1995, which has developed into one of the co-operation frameworks within the European Union. The Northern Dimension does not involve Finland and Estonia only – it signifies co-operation in the entire Nordic and Baltic region, at NB8 summits and within other frameworks.
Having gained experience in defending the region’s interests in the European Union through the work done in connection with the Northern Dimension, we are prepared to go one step further. I believe that the Baltic Sea Strategy of the European Union, founded mainly on the initiative of the members of the European Parliament elected from Finland and Estonia, will constitute that step, provided that the Strategy is promoted in a skilful manner.
In the context of bilateral relations between Finland and Estonia, the quoting of a Swede is rather uncommon. However, considering the comprehensive range of the subject, it is indeed justified. Last week, Carl Bildt, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Sweden said: “In our region, co-operation has never been so close and extensive, at least since the times of the Kalmar Union”. The Kalmar Union was founded in 1397 – although it is unlikely that the audience present needs to be reminded of it.
Therefore, the opportunity available to us today only knocks once every couple of centuries. Because of this, the opportunity needs to be used very wisely. Co-operation in the calling into existence and implementation of the Baltic Sea Strategy will be the touchstone for the governments of all countries in the region.
However, let us return to discussing the relations between Estonia and Finland, two 90 years old nation states.
We also engage in political co-operation on the grassroots level, directly across the Gulf, without visiting Luxembourg, Brussels or Ljubljana. I am grateful to the Finnish nation for the help that Estonia received in the 1990s, when we were reconstructing our state. This concerns both material and – especially – intellectual help. The fact that we learned new, European business culture from Finns is by no means a secret. You were the first Western investors that arrived in Estonia and we learned a great deal from you.
Today, Estonia is among the most recognised states on the global level in several areas. We are continually prepared to hear out Finland’s recommendations in matters where we still have room for development. At the same time, we are ready to share our experience in the fields where we have achieved greater success. This concerns, for example, implementation of the electronic taxation system or arrangement of e-elections.
I hereby invite Finnish entrepreneurs, researchers and students to Estonia! If we unite our skills in the fields of enterprise and research and development, we will be able to maintain our global competitiveness. Estonia is still a land of a thousand opportunities.
Pragmatic co-operation is the key to becoming stronger, both together and separately. The Finnish Bridge still exists!
Today’s festive meeting is a step in the direction of an improved understanding between our nations. I express my gratitude to the co-organisers of today’s event: the Tuglas Society, Helsinki University, Union of Estonian Societies in Finland, Estonian Institute, Enterprise Estonia, and Estonian Embassy in Helsinki.
With the help of these organisations and other volunteers, the 90th Anniversary of the Republic of Estonia will also be celebrated in other cities in Finland besides Helsinki. Estonia will be paying a visit to Turku, Oulu, Vaasa, Kotka, Kuopio, and Tampere, and most likely to other places where Estonia’s friends and Estonians can be encountered.
Finland’s 90th Anniversary was recently celebrated in several Estonian cities. Such co-operation and self-introduction is completely natural. It is a part of natural communication consisting of hundreds of components – from friendly relations between individual cities, schools and choirs and a ‘network’ of honorary consuls to personal friends and acquaintances on the opposite shores of the Gulf of Finland.
Finally, paraphrasing Jaan Kross, I would like to state that Finland and its destiny will always be runners-up for Estonians. Right after our homeland.
Congratulations to our 90 year old free states!
Paljon onnea yhdeksänkymmentä-vuotiaille vapaille valtioillemme! (Congratulations to our 90 years old free states!)
Kiitos, hyvät ystävät. (Thank you, dear friends.)
 
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