Dinner speech to Estonia's Prime Minister Mart Siimann

Mr. Prime Minister, dear Mart and Marika Saarna-Siimann, distinguished members of the Estonian delegation, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Having spent your weekend in Western Norway, I hope that you have arrived in Oslo with fresh impressions of our country and our ways of life. You have seen the different faces of Norway and what binds us together.

Our unity is based on common values, within a christian and humanist tradition. In the same way, the Nordic nations – in spite of our separate identities – are closely linked together – by geography, culture, norms, and long-established contacts between our peoples and politicians.

Our gathering here today, is also very much a family gathering. After having been frozen for far too long, our relations with the Baltic states are developing into the type of partnership – and friendly rivalry – that we are so fond of in the Nordic circle of nations.

On behalf of the Government of Norway, Bjørg and I therefore have the great pleasure of extending to you a warm welcome to Norway and to this dinner at Akerhus Castle.

Even more so, this is a special honour for me – since this is the first official visit of an Estonian Prime Minister to Norway, following the Norwegian Prime Ministerial visit in November 1996.

A decade ago, Estonia declared its independence from the Soviet Union. 80 years ago, the first Republic of Estonia was proclaimed– on February twenty-fourth (24th), 1918.

On this occasion, I would like to congratulate our friends from Estonia. Not only with the Republic’s eightieth (80th) Anniversary. But also with the remarkable results that you have achieved in the short space of time that has passed since you regained your sovereignty – after five long decades of war, oppression and foreign domination.

All of us remember vividly the excitement in August 1989, when the Baltic peoples formed a human chain from Vilnius to Tallinn. As Norwegian Foreign Minister from 1989 to 1990, I was closely involved in supporting your peaceful fight for freedom, which culminated in the dramatic days of August 1991. As a fellow independent-loving nation, Norway stood by you then. And as a like-minded partner, we will support your efforts on your path towards Europe today.

Let me state clearly: Norway remains committed to assist Estonia in the process of becoming a full-fledged participant in Western cooperation. This is a duty, and a privilege, for us as friends and neighbours. Our aim is a democratic Europe, whole and free. We must avoid creating new, artificial dividing lines on our continent.

Norway supports all three Baltic states’ aspirations to qualify for membership in the atlantic Alliance, which has ensured peace and prosperity in Europe for almost 50 years. NATO’s door remains open to all democratic states. We will work together with you - in NATO’s partnership programs, in our political and defence cooperation, bilaterally and regionally – to prepare for the time when NATO is ready for a new round of enlargements.

At the same time, it is obvious that security in Europe and in our region can not be achieved without Russia. We must work to integrate Russia in multilateral and regional cooperation, to promote political and economic stability also east of our borders.

Like the Barents cooperation, the Council of Baltic Sea States is becoming a central forum for expanding networks between us and our Russian neighbours. Nordic-Baltic meetings can provide a setting for even closer dialogue with Russia. An important confidence-building measure would be Russian signature of the border agreements.

Norway welcomes Estonia’s efforts to follow up recommendations of the OSCE on integration of the Russian-speaking population in your country. You yourself, Prime Minister, deserve credit for your support for the role of the OSCE and High Commissioner van der Stoel, and for your handling of the sensitive minority issues. As Chairman-in-office of the OSCE next year, Norway looks forward to working with you to enhance stability in Europe and in our region. Through organizations like the OSCE and the Council of Europe, we will continue to strive together to consolidate democracy, human rights, and the rule of law on our continent.

Dear guests, dear Estonian friends,

Relations between Norway and Estonia have never been better or more extensive than they are now. Your visit here today, Prime Minister, bears witness to the ever closer partnership that is developing between our two nations. In the economic field, I am encouraged by the substantial increase in trade and investments of the past few years. Environment and energy will be important areas of cooperation in the future. We, like you, also place great emphasis on strengthening cultural relations and national identity in the process of all-European integration

A high point in our bilateral relations will be reached during the State visit to Estonia this August. The King and Queen will pave the way for a further expansion of our cooperation, and also revive old connections, dating back to the time of the Vikings: King Olav the first – Olav Tryggvason - was captured by Estonians and spent parts of his childhood in Tallinn. The memory of King Olav the second – Olav Haraldsson, who fell as a martyr at the battle of Stiklestad in 1030 – has been preserved in Tallinns beautiful ”Oleviste kirik”, or Saint Olav’s church.

It is my hope and belief that we will draw inspiration from our historical and cultural heritage, as we continue to build a prosperous and peaceful Norwegian-Estonian partnership for the future.

In closing, I propose a toast to you, Prime Minister Siimann, to your wife, and to the friendship between the people of Estonia and the people of Norway.

Skål.