General Clemmesen.
Graduates,
Guests,

History shapes our daily activities in a silent, but persistent way. The academic tradition of Tartu goes back to the 13th century. Education has played for 7 centuries a central role in this town. Last year we actually witnessed the re-establishment of the presence of military education in Tartu. The faculty of philosophy of Tartu University in 1803-1830 had a Department of Military Sciences and some higher officers of the Imperial Russian Army graduated from this Department, General Field Marshal Count Friedrich Wilhelm Rembert von Berg among them. As a continuation of this tradition, now - roughly 200 years later, the scholars of Tartu University are lecturing at the BALTDEFCOL.

Most of you are aware that Tartu has experienced the presence of foreign military structures since World War II until we achieved the complete withdrawal of foreign occupying forces between 1990 and 1994. Tartu was at that time a ''closed'' military base and at the same time a place of enlightenment, a place that was not deprived of the spirit of freethinking and academic way of life, even during the darkest years of occupation, which according to the Russian Foreign Ministry was something like a voluntary occupation, if you know what I mean. Nevertheless it gave to the people of Ichkeria their first democratically elected president, General Dudayev, killed in action.

Looking back into history makes it clear why we are here today. We are here, because we know the price of security and we know even better the price of lack of security.

Speaking about today's occasion - I would start by thanking all of you for making the world conscious of the BALTDEFCOL as a centre of democratic and modern officer education. The need for co-operation has ripened into a will of co-operation and a skill of co-operation. The Baltic Defence College has integrated into a single team of students and teachers with different national backgrounds and traditions. During this year the academics and students have learnt the meaning of ''team spirit'' and the meaning of common values. The role of the BALTDEFCOL is to shape the instinctive will to defend one's country into a sophisticated and effective instrument of skills.

We seek to contribute to the security environment in which we live. Security is indivisible, and not only it is indivisible in Baltic States, but also around the Baltic Sea, in Europe and in the world. Security on the coasts of the Baltic Sea can be guaranteed only through multilateral co-operation.

In this context I would like to thank and congratulate you, no matter whether you are Estonians or Danes, Hungarians or Lithuanians, Americans or Germans, for the great support and interest that has surrounded the Baltic Defence College since its first day. I remember only too well the very first day in this same hall.

I wish to underline the help of our partner countries in setting this new school in motion, and to express my sincere gratitude to the first Commandant of BALTDEFCOL, Danish Brigadier General Michael Clemmesen. We deeply cherish your friendship.

Education, especially on such a high and international level, is never cheap. But peace, stability and security are never too expensive. Every kroon, dollar or mark invested in the education of officers is an investment in security, and it will pay back hundredfold. The fact that we have invested heavily to this project is natural. The fact that western allies, taxpayers from many nations have, is a miracle.

I thank our nearest partners and companions, Latvia and Lithuania, who like Estonia, can highly appreciate that with a new generation of senior staff officers we will enhance our national sovereignty and regional stability, and give more weight to our contribution to the strengthening of global security. The lack of strategic and operational level staff officers is our biggest concern.

Thank you for your excellent work, for your united will, for your friendly relations. Also, I wish that this college, students as well as teachers to remember that the future generations will follow in your footsteps. Be aware of your responsibility to them.

You will be the protectors of democracy in the 21st century. I am honoured to be here with you today.

Thank you.

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