Excellences,
Ladies and gentlemen,
I
Warm welcome to the Riga Castle. Happy to see you here tonight on the eve of the Republic of Latvia Proclamation Day.
The first year of the second century of our Republic has nearly passed. In a couple of hours we will all enter a new year for Latvia with celebrations of our country’s birthday all around Latvia and abroad.
II
Tonight I would like to thank everyone who has worked conscientiously and diligently this year at enhancing the common good and development of our dear Latvia.
Thank you to everyone who pushed themselves to do more than they were expected to do.
Sincere thank you to everyone whose work, talent and achievements made all of us happy and proud about Latvia.
Together we are Latvia. Each of us can do a lot to make Latvia better and continuously inspire us to look for new ways of serving our country and people.
III
Proclamation of the Republic of Latvia would not have been possible without consensus between politicians and public figures on what needs to be done collectively to create our own state.
It was exactly on 17 November 1918 that our founding fathers created a transitional parliament, adopted the initial version of Satversme (Constitution) and laid foundations of the Republic of Latvia.
Independent and prosperous European country which provides freedom, safety and the rule of law to its people – this is how our founding fathers envisaged Latvia.
These core values are part of our country’s DNA. Each new generation must tackle its current challenges and exploit opportunities to ensure that the vision of Latvia as a happy place comes true.
IV
A state will always be a ‘work in progress’. Our work in fixing, improving and modernising our country never stops. Each new generation must constantly take care of our country to leave a better and stronger state to future generations.
I believe that our generation’s mission is to keep forging our country into highly-developed, democratic, modern and sustainable North-European state governed by the rule of law.
We have to keep pressing on next year to make sure our deeds contribute to these goals. It is our moral obligation to future generations and the founding fathers who gave us this state.
I believe together we can make it happen.
Let us celebrate Latvia! Let us be proud of our dear Latvia! Let us work together for Latvia!
God bless Latvia!
