Your Excellency Mr President of the Republic of Latvia,
Dear Mrs Aina Ulmane,
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen!

Taking pleasure from President Guntis Ulmanis' kind hospitality, I have seen a fragment of Latvia today of which I had only heard before. Seen from either shore of the Pacific Ocean, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania may indeed seem to be a single country, but we all know well how much in fact there is for us to discover about one another.

But the joy of discovery will always be coupled with the pains of search. And it is not distinctions that we search for now. Small nations having similar aspirations can and must find a uniform message to convey the interests of both countries. We need each other's support on the threshold of the international decisions we are facing, and if it is crossed it will certainly not be only Estonia or Latvia or Lithuania that will benefit from it. The integration of the Baltic states has become a touchstone for the uniting and renewal of all Europe.

We know that each Baltic country is individually responsible for the success of its foreign policy. Yet we have experienced that domestic blunders, homework left undone, or rifts among ourselves can cause a backlash in international relations. In our role of an indicator we have to enhance our internal co-operation and our foreign policy instinct. Which applies both with regard to NATO and the European Union. At present our status is, in a number of respects, that of a pupil coming from a poor family, whose tuition expenses are covered by somebody else. But a precondition for that has always been excellent progress at school.

I believe our ability to learn quickly has found proof in military co-operation. I also believe there has been many a time we have hit the right moment to make a joint political statement. Often, alas, we are slow on the uptake. A keen foreign policy instinct must also involve an ability to foresee and to forge a strategy, as well as an ability to settle bilateral problems before they get in the way of multilateral relations.

As we seek entry into European security structures we must have a vision of a Europe rid of confrontation. We are destined to live on Europe's periphery, but we shall not build a wall of the Cold War period. Our border with Russia has to be not only as safe as befits Europe but also as good- neighbourly as befits Europe. A Baltic trinity firmly allied to European structures cannot but be a support to Russian democracy.

It is not only strategic plans, however, that our goal implies, but also routinely harmonized details in everyday work. The ability to harmonize is the very skill the European Union expects us to acquire, be it even for the reason of self-defence. And we cannot afford to be among laggards. I am pleased that after the great lengths we have gone to we have eventually reached important agreements in the spheres of trade and transport. It remains to hope that Via Baltica and a joint energy network will not only stay on paper again for the next four years. For we are thinking on the same wavelength: a successful economy is the basis of security. A successful economy, however, presupposes an ordered legal atmosphere; it presupposes accurate contracts and the self-evident honouring of them.

I believe and can see that we do want to have it all. And we are beginning to switch from words to deeds. So, according to an Estonian custom, I wish both the Latvian and Estonian peoples: ''Jõudu tööle! - More power to your elbow!''

I raise this glass in gratitude for all the friendship and warmth we have been met with on our state visit to Latvia, and I do hope to reciprocate to President Ulmanis and his wife in Estonia.

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