Ladies and Gentlemen,

I like to open embassies. There was a time when it was quite tricky and at that time we called our embassies cultural points. I don't know why, but we had embassies that were camouflaged cultural points, no, the other way round, in Finland, in Stockholm, in Copenhagen, in Bonn, in London. So I think once we shall perhaps rewrite the chapter in Estonian diplomacy, because it was a beautiful, romantic time, when everything went great, in our minds it seemed to be so easy, within our grasp.

I think I should say that Estonia and the United States have had diplomatic relations since 1922, that year our first ambassador Ants Piip arrived to take up his post in Washington. Later he was a professor of international law in the University of California and still later was deported from Estonia and killed by the Soviets.

After Professor Piip returned to Estonia, my country decided that its interests in Estonia would be served by an Consulate General in New York. It was only in May of 1940, a month before the occupation of Estonia by the Soviet Union that the government decided it would be best to re-open an Embassy in America, and in Latin America. The second town, if I am right, was Tokyo. The new ambassador was to have been my father, Georg Meri. Instead, we were occupied and my family was deported to Estonia. As you see, we were lucky and survived.

We were lucky also in another sense. I think that the United States is a beautiful country, but still I am happy that I spent the most difficult time for Estonia with my people. I am quite sure that if there would have been a slightest possibility, it could have been the other way round: and he (T.H.Ilves) would have been at my place and I at his place. Well, it came as it came. And I must tell you that I am very proud that we have such a beautiful embassy and I am even more proud that Estonia is represented by Ambassador Ilves.

During the occupation period, Estonia did not have any embassy here. But the United States did maintain its policy of strict non-recognition of the annexation of Estonia. And I would like to thank the United States here for that policy.



I must confess that I had some afterthoughts after Jalta and all those dirty things. So when I was visiting for the first time in the United States, I went to the State Department after working hours. I banged on the door. A black american asked about my wishes and I told him that I just came to look if my flag was on its place. Perhaps there was something more in my face but acting against the very strict rules, and I will not mention his name, he opened the door and showed me the flag. It was on the right place, as you know, in the hall of the State Department there is no wind.

It is a policy that also has determined the look of this Chancery here. As you can tell from the documents in the small reception room to my right, we have been around for a long time. I believe that this building reflects that. I understand its architecture, especially the tower was also instrumental in overcoming the opposition of some of the neighborhood to having an embassy here. The main argument of Ambassador Ilves was that Tallinn has exactly the same towers of the Hanseatic city, which perhaps historically is not very exacts, but it served our common purpose.

Well, I think that's the way embassies are opened. You're very welcome.

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