President of the Republic at the ceremonial dinner in honour of His Excellency Süleyman Demirel, President of Turkey
03.06.1997

Excellency, President Demirel,
Esteemed Mrs Nazmiye Demirel,
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen!

The state visit that has begun today is the first visit ever by a Turkish head of state to the Republic of Estonia. Welcoming you most heartily, Mr President and Mrs Demirel, I have great pleasure in recalling the long time co-operation between Turkey and Estonia that began in 1924. By establishing diplomatic relations our countries declared their wish and will for a sincere and perpetual friendship - amitié sincčre et perpétuelle, as the French text of the treaty says.

During World War II the Republic of Estonia was occupied by the Red Army, by the German army and again by the Red Army. Estonia highly appreciates that Turkey kept its allegiance to the principle of international law, and accordingly to our treaty of 1924. When the Estonian people in their immortal freedom blaze restored our independence, Turkey was among the first, on September 3rd, 1991, to restore on its part, Turkey re-established diplomatic relations with Estonia at once thus resuming the co- operation policy that had been started in the first quarter of the century.

Mr. President, today I thankfully recall our first meeting and our talks in December 1993, during my visit to the Republic of Turkey. The treaty of friendship and cooperation signed at that time has provided a basis for hard-headed activities over the years that have passed since. Dealings between our countries have grown more active, and a logical indication of this will be the signing of a free trade agreement and an agreement on the promotion and protection of investments today before noon in Kadriorg.

Mr President, the conviction you expressed in 1993 that Turkey and Estonia do have the political will and resolve to resume relations after an interval of half a century and to raise them to the standard of the modern world without wasting time - this conviction has proved true.

It is as true as the fact that the Baltic Sea in the north and the Black Sea in the south are geopolitical poles of crystallization, which invite to develop the Estonian-Turkish axis of cooperation in every possible way.

The complexity and political realities of the world today have always compelled us to link bilateral problems with global issues. Estonia's main diplomatic issue at the turn of the century is integration into European and global structures, accession to the European Union and NATO. This is the inevitable continuation of liberation from the residues

of occupation, an axiomatic return to the European home, to a democratic world. We have been publicly declaring this everywhere. If you mount a camel, don't try to remain invisible, as says the Turkish proverb.

I am glad to note that Turkey, as well as Estonia, is an on principle a supporter of open doors, free choice for countries and equal bases for choice. This is political ethics; this is ethical politics.

The opposite attitude would take us back to the time of spheres of influence and ultimatums.

At the beginning of the century there were loud protests in Turkey against the Tallinn accords. The issue in question was the meeting, on Tallinn harbour, between the Russian Czar Nicholas II and the British

King Edward VII, whose favourite pastime turned out to be the division of spheres of influence.

As the Estonian head of state I wish to emphasize that a diametrically opposite mentality exists today here in Tallinn today and at this present meeting.

The essence of this other mentality is deep respect for the diversity of the world, endeavour to learn to know and understand. The Estonian poet and translator Ly Seppel, together with her husband Andres Ehin, has translated Turkish literature into Estonian. This has meant decades of immersion, its visible result being books and its implicit result being the widening of our cultural perception, our perception of the world. Quite recently a small book of 20th century Turkish poetry in their translation was published.

I have frequently spoken to Estonians about time, actually about the lack of it; we have lost too much time due to occupations, so now we have to make haste. Perhaps this is the reason why my head echoes so strangely with the poem by Anday which speaks of the times of President Atatürk

Atatürk had a watch

It maintains its unswerving run.

I believe that besides economic and political contacts and cooperation we have plenty of opportunities for promoting cultural cooperation. The acquaintance with Turkish culture that we have already had has prepared a favourable ground for the future. I mean the interest and affinity of Estonians that you, Mr President, had too little time to observe and perceive but which you no doubt have observed and perceived.

Dear President Demirel,
Dear Mrs Demirel,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

On behalf of all Estonia and everyone here today, allow me to wish the Republic of Turkey energy and enthusiasm, success and prosperity. I ask you to raise your glasses to the good fortune of the Republic of Turkey, to the health of the President of the Republic of Turkey, Mr Demirel, and Mrs Demirel.