Your Excellency President Oscar Luigi Scalfaro,
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

I have a vivid memory of my visit to Rome on 13 September 1994 and of your keen interest, Mr President, in a small and remote, almost arctic democracy. Today I had the pleasure of meeting you at Kadriorg, where a coquettish summer palace designed by your compatriot, the architect Niccolo Michetti, is a reminder of centuries-old cultural contacts between Italy and Estonia. These contacts are still very much alive in Estonian painting, sculpture and operatic art, in defiance of times and iron curtains.

To Estonians, as to the whole world, Italy means above all the beginning of Europe. This is not very precise, but it is a fact. Next year we shall celebrate two anniversaries. The Republic of Estonia will be 80. The name Estonia will be 1900. Our godfather, as I told you then, was Tacitus, who in Chapter 45 of his monumental book was the first to put down the words aestiorum gentes.

Mr President, as you can see I am unable to rid myself of my mistress, Clio, or History. All I can do is take another step towards her. This month 79 years ago the then Italian foreign minister, Sidney Sonnino, received the first diplomats from the Republic of Estonia. Kaarel Robert Pusta in his memoirs recalls the friendly atmosphere of that audience. As you realize, it was the matter of recognizing the Republic of Estonia. And indeed, a few days later a letter was received from the foreign minister Sonnino, addressed to Carlo Roberto Pusta and Edoardo Virgo, who had accompanied him. The letter says that staying true to her traditions, Italy is happy to express her strong support to the freedom aspirations of the Estonian people. Italy's swift response implied readiness to recognize the Estonian Diet de facto. Later Italy played a leading role among Western powers in Estonia's international relations. Agostino Depretis presented his credentials to a predecessor of mine on 18 February 1920. And that same year Italy supported the admission of Estonia to the League of Nations, in spite of geopolitical scepticism on the part of the Allied Council, or Entente.

Your Excellency,

we know that history does not repeat itself. Fortunately. But what does repeat itself is mistakes. Unfortunately. A mistake is like a chameleon: every time a different colour, so it is not recognized; and every time too expensive to be repeated. Nonetheless hesitations and aspirations do recur; again and again the balance wavers between procrastination and principles. Evaluating the constellations of today, working on them day after day and shaping them, politicians would find it edifying to think about Italy's dynamic policy towards Estonia in the Twenties. I am grateful to you that you have always kept that model before your eyes.

The end of the century requires a similar dynamism from Europe, including ourselves. The agreements signed today are but one step on that long road. My state visit, the invitation for which I thankfully accept, will likewise be a step on Europe's road to self-identity. I am grateful to Italy that your people, your government and yourself have supported Estonia's accession to the European Union.

We know well how significant the months ahead us are.

As a natural born optimist I would like to assure my people that it's all over with Yalta. But as realists we must admit that it's just the beginning of the end of the past, since it's the beginning of the restoration of Europe's boundaries.

Ten days ago, while on a state visit to Hungary, I said - and I want to reiterate: what breakdowns of empires mean in the first place is not so much new political maps as a new way of thinking: acceptance of freedom of choice and rejection of dictate and ultimatums. Europe is not about geography. Europe is about the unity of principles and adherence to principles. It's principles that mould geography: it's not geography that moulds principles. Only on such premises can we bequeath the 21st century hopefully to our children.

Mr President,

I hope you like the day you have spent in Estonia. I hope you take along with you not only global visions and the busy matter-of-factness of our bilateral relations but also some features of Estonians. They are sedate for the most part, because they are eager to act.

But today and tomorrow we are cheerful at meeting you again, Mr President, the Italian head of state: cheerful at meeting Italy - a beginning of a youthful Europe, the most dynamic Mediterranean country, whom we expect to pursue an equally dynamic European policy.

Excellency,

on behalf of my wife and myself, on behalf of all of us here, on behalf of all Estonia, I wish you success and happiness.

To the prosperity of the Italian Republic!
To your health!

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