Speech by President of the Republic Tarja Halonen at a banquet in Tallinn, Estonia on 16.5.2000

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It is a great pleasure and honour for me to speak to you in a place with such a rich history as the House of the Black Heads. The Brotherhood of the Black Heads was a very influential guild of bachelor merchants in the days of the Hanseatic League. Thus women were not accepted as members.

Times have changed. The Hanseatic League disintegrated centuries ago and Tallinn has experienced many vicissitudes. Estonia is again becoming an important political, economic and cultural centre in the Baltic Sea region.

Estonia has always had a special place in the affections of every Finn. It is a great pleasure for me that precisely this country is the destination for what is only my second official visit as President of Finland. I know your country from my earlier visits and the programme that you, Mr. President, have so thoughtfully arranged for me gives me the opportunity to see the Estonia of today from a completely new perspective. I really would like to get to know Estonia and the Estonians as well as you know Finland and the Finns.

Relations between our countries are now more richly-varied in content than they have probably ever been in the long time that we have been neighbours. Finnish-Estonian political ties have become an important part of the development of the situation in the entire Baltic Sea Region. History teaches us how in difficult situations decisive decisions may have to be made and these experiences of ours are precious educational material for the future. In the most important questions with a bearing on security policy, we respect one another’s choices and defend each other’s right to make these decisions on the basis of one’s own free will.

Economic cooperation is another field in which Finland and Estonia have become really big-league partners. Finland’s trade with Estonia is now as important as our trade with Poland, the Czech Republic and Hungary combined. Our economic relations have already developed way beyond ordinary trade to encompass cooperation in production as well. Finland has in recent years gained confidence that Estonia’s strong economic growth will continue, and this is reflected in our investment policy. Estonia’s "tiger spring" to embrace information technology from the primary school level onwards harmonises well with Finland’s development in this sector and promises great development potential. Where economic relations are concerned, we can probably say without any exaggeration that Estonia has become a member of the Nordic community.

Nevertheless, our common linguistic and cultural background is still more important than our political and economic interaction as a foundation stone for relations between our countries. This link is such a strong factor that not even great differences in development in the past few centuries have been able to blur it. As a historian and writer, you, Mr. President, have devoted much attention in your works to the roots of Estonian culture and special features that also we identify with. The value of this shared background of ours will be accentuated all the more in the near future when the powerful advance of global culture prompts people to turn to their historical roots in search of an identity.

Relations between Finland and Estonia will reach a new level when Estonia, hopefully soon, joins the European Union. Then, for the first time in the whole of our history, we shall both be members of the same union on a basis of full equality. We share common values and we are natural partners in both Nordic and pan-European cooperation.

Mr. President, let me propose this toast to yourself and the Estonian people. May you continue to enjoy success in the development of your independent country, whether it be in the segment of political security or economic prosperity, or making your national culture flourish.