Mr Chairman of the Riigikogu,
Dear Members of the Riigikogu, the outgoing and incoming Governments of the Republic,
Dear Fellow Countrymen,
Honoured Guests,

In a few moments, in your presence, I will sign Decree No. 534 to recall Prime Minister Andres Tarand's Government from office. This will be done in accordance with paragraph two of Article 92 of the Constitution and - as you can see - immediately after the new Government, led by Prime Minister Designate Tiit Vähi, has sworn the oath of office before the Riigikogu and has assumed office.

The reason I have decided to sign this before the Riigikogu, the reason I wish to do so witnessed by the Estonian people - for I could have done so in my office at Kadriorg - has primarily to do with public law, but also to do with human considerations, or, if you prefer a Latin word, with procedure. A state is continuous, and the Head of State, or President, is the guarantor of the state's continuity. The continuity of the state is particularly highlighted, is subject to particularly acute international scrutiny when a new parliament is elected or a new Government assumes office. A state, as I have repeatedly stressed, lives and operates unremittingly, just like the people that have created the state. Among other things and above all, it lives and operates in its foreign political relations and obligations, be they written or verbal. From a legal point of view, a vacuum in executive state power or even an absence of state power during a change of Government must be categorically prevented. There would be no need to mention this self-evident fact if already last week the members of Prime Minister Tarand's Government had not repeatedly been referred to as ex-ministers. This, unfortunately, testifies to an inadequate knowledge of the Constitution and the mechanism of the state.

Having said this much, I would first of all like to thank Prime Minister Andres Tarand and the members of the Government he has led. Above all, I wish to thank the outgoing Government for the revival of dialogue with the people of Estonia. This is a cornerstone of democracy, and I leave it to you to decide, dear fellow countrymen, whether the President's concern about the crumbling of that cornerstone was justified or not. Any Government in any state must from time to time make unpopular decisions. In democracies, however, such decisions are made in a close and straightforward dialogue with the people and with the parliament elected by the people. Such a dialogue is the most effective and simplest way, among other things and above all, to increase the people's sense of security. Outgoing Prime Minister Tarand stated that the main objective of his Government was to reduce the people's alienation from state power. The election results in the counties of Rapla and Harju proved that the departing Prime Minister had managed to set the ice moving in a short period of time. I hope - I am sure - that this trend will not be interrupted, rather reinforced, and as President I will assist this in any way I can.

From a human perspective, I would say that cooperation with outgoing Prime Minister Andres Tarand has been pleasant on a personal level, and educational from a legal point of view. These six months helped us to reach an important understanding: that the separation of powers and competition between different branches of power are not synonymous. The separation of powers prescribed in the Constitution does not include elements of hierarchy, prestige or slyness. On the contrary, the balanced separation of powers provides a distribution of responsibilities, and, consequently, cooperation. It is my pleasure to pass on this experience to Tiit Vähi's Government which today assumes office.

My dear countrymen!

A few minutes ago we summarised the concerns, desires and hopes which you in one way or another expressed on March 5th. If the people have spoken, this must be reflected in the state. You made your choice among sixteen candidate lists. To some observers, it may seem that the transfer of power has been slow and painful. This is a superficial assessment. I consider it my duty to thank Prime Minister Tiit Vähi for the important and substantial meetings held during this period of great responsibility, during which the Government was formed. Parliamentary democracy is still young in the Republic of Estonia, which is in the process of restoration and gaining in strength. Yet this change of Government bears witness to the democratic nature of our young statehood. Allow me therefore to congratulate you all, dear countrymen, and you, honoured members of the Riigikogu and the new Government, led by Tiit Vähi. As President, I wish with all my constitutional power and moral strength to support the Government of Prime Minister Tiit Vähi, which is clearly and unequivocally committed to Estonia's national security priorities, which are the continuation of reform and Estonia's rapid integration with the European Union and European defence structures. In this regard, I value highly that Prime Minister Tiit Vähi and Minister of Agriculture Ilmar Mändmets have distanced themselves from the unsuccessful parliamentary bill which caused the world to doubt the continuation of reform in Estonia and gave rise to speculation of the possibility of a swing to the left in Estonia. I have actively spoken out against such allegations, which are irresponsible, may dangerously undermine Estonia's international reputation and may cause unjustified doubt of Estonia as a democratic country with a liberal economy. Words, even thoughtless words, have power, and unfortunately also a high price. Estonia is a small country. Our good name is capital which is easily lost, yet hard to restore. I do not wish to speculate further as to how much that thoughtless bill has cost Estonia in kroons or in dollars, but rather would like to point out the need to carefully weigh each word, each statement and decision with consideration to the reaction of the international community. This presumes or rather demands close cooperation between the Riigikogu committees, the Riigikogu and members of Government within the framework of the separation of balanced powers. Our foreign political voice must be consistent, clear and unambiguous. It must be a voice which carries a clear message to all our partners and neighbours. Only then, only under these conditions will Europe and the world perceive Estonia as a partner which can be trusted and which must be taken into consideration. Every word has weight, every word has a price.

With these words, allow me to sign the decision to recall Prime Minister Andres Tarand's Government from office. With these words, allow me to express my wishes to the Riigikogu and the new Government of the Republic under Prime Minister Tiit Vähi's leadership for a spirit of cooperation, the integrity of concluded agreements, an understanding of reality, a sense of responsibility before their people and international cooperation --- and for all this, according to Estonian tradition, to wish you the strength to carry out your work!

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