Dear consuls,

I am happy to welcome you here in Tallinn and in the Presidential Palace. After all, while you are citizens of other countries, this is in some way also your capital and the palace of your president.

You have chosen to represent Estonia in your own country and I and Estonia thank you for that. Your dedication to helping this nation and to promoting contacts between your countries of residence and Estonia has already led to contracts being signed, concerts taking place and exhibitions going up - and this, after all is only the result of a few years' work.

And yet we still have much to do. The Estonian economy must be further attached to the world economy - and not only that. Estonia as a whole must be firmly secured in the world community's fold. That means membership in both the European Union and in NATO. These are our paramount, our essential goals for the future. Both require our commitment and perseverance and they require it not only from us here, but from you as well, for while you may not formally be Estonian diplomats, you are nonetheless official representatives of the Estonian state and you are called upon to explain and to represent this country. But you have indeed proven your ability to do so.

Therefore I am confident that the coming years will bring even more results to your work which in the end is of benefit both to your home countries and the country you have chosen to represent, Estonia.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

One among you has particularly deserved my - our - gratitude. This is Mr. Kasturi Lal Vig, our honorary Consul-General in India. He has served this country with great distinction and I am personally most indebted to him for providing us with such magnificent support during my state visit to India last year. It is largely thanks to him that relations between Estonia and India have developed in such a dynamic fashion.

This is why it gives me great pleasure to bestow on Kasturi Lal Vig the Order of St. Mary's Land, as a symbol of Estonia's gratitude.

Thank you.

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