Speech by President of the Republic Tarja Halonen at a banquet hosted by President Toomas Hendrik Ilves of Estonia on 4 May 2010

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I would like to express my warm thanks to you and your spouse for this opportunity to visit Estonia with my spouse on these spring days. I have had the pleasure of acquainting myself with your beautiful country several times in connection with official visits. Even more often occasions like song festivals have brought us here. In addition, I have participated in art camps, Estonian language courses and other events, and visited you at Ärma Talu in southern Estonia.

Today has been the time of official discussions. But they have been held in a friendly and open spirit, as always. We have noted that relations between Finland and Estonia are excellent. At the same time we have considered how we can best ensure the development of relations also from here on.

The roots of the long interaction between Finland and Estonia lie in our related languages and geographical proximity. It is natural that people have sought influences in the course of time across the gulf, in both directions. Our national epics were born alongside each other and Fredrik Pacius's composition, which we have also heard many times today, was adopted as the national anthem of both countries. Although the boldest expectations of national romantics may not have come true, we are now closer to each other than ever before.

In a divided Europe our nations' natural connections were broken almost completely for decades, but after the Cold War ended they have rapidly been restored. Cultural ties between our countries have grown back. More and more Estonians and Finns work or study in the neighbouring country. Estonia has retained its place as a particularly popular tourist destination for Finns.

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European integration has promoted the strengthening of cooperation between Finland and Estonia. Estonia's accession to the European Union in 2004 gave impetus to development thanks to which southern Finland and northern Estonia already largely belong to the same economic area. Some years ago I had the opportunity to warmly welcome Estonia to the European Union. I hope that Finland will be able to welcome Estonia also to the euro zone at the beginning of next year. Then Estonia will be the Finland´s first neighbouring country to use the euro as her currency.

As EU member states we must also seek means together to overcome present economic difficulties. This requires cooperation throughout the EU. Its resources can be used efficiently. A good example is the 100 million euro support for the Estlink 2 project that is included in the Union's recovery package.

Our countries' most important resource is people and their abilities, and we must know how to take care of them. We need to intensify cooperation in the fields of education, innovations as well as information and communications technology. Both of our countries excel in developing the information society.

What also binds us together is the sea – which you Estonians logically call Läänemeri, whereas we Finns call it Itämeri in accordance with the Swedish times. It is not too late to save our common sea from an ecological catastrophe, but we must get to work immediately in all the countries of the region. I am very pleased with the commitments that governments, public entities, enterprises and non-governmental organisations gave for the Baltic Sea in the Summit held in Helsinki in February. We must continue this work with determination.

You, President Ilves, were one of the initiators of the EU's Baltic Sea strategy in the European Parliament. This helps focus Union policy and resources on the Baltic Sea. The guiding principle is close cooperation among neighbouring countries. This is needed in environmental protection, transport and trade projects and in fighting cross-border crime. It is particularly important that the strategy's environmental objectives are based on the ambitious action programme of the Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission (HELCOM).

Finland and Estonia largely face the same regional and global challenges. We need everyone's cooperation to strengthen economic stability, sustainable development, gender equality and social justice.

Our countries' close relationship makes cooperation natural. As neighbours, relatives - and I want to add also friends - we have learned to trust and support each other.

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I wish you and your spouse best success and propose a toast to the happy future of Estonia and its people.