Latvia is not merely a name. It is a belief in freedom, passed from generation to generation, for which more than once we have paid the ultimate price. It is a land, the like of which you will find nowhere else.
Most importantly, Latvia is you, here and now.
Before we look to the future, today I invite each and every one of you to reflect on the past.
Every one of us has our own story about Latvia. I would like this to be a centuries long story about our freedom, because standing here today under these red, white and red flags, I can safely say, “We won.”
Therefore, let us celebrate our centenary with distinction! Because there is no greater reason to celebrate than freedom, and the Latvian people have no greater source of pride than our nation.
During the occupation years, the words “God bless Latvia” were not merely dangerous; they were banned.
Today, we can safely sing our national anthem. More safely than ever before, because not only can we protect our country, but we want and are capable of doing so. This is a modern and free country that is an exemplar for many.
.At the moment of the birth of our nation, we merely had the idea of independence. We had the will to make this decision, and the solidarity to implement it; to build everything from scratch.
Today, we have incomparably more.
However, for our nation to flourish and life to become better, we must not rest on our laurels for even a second.
We have the freedom to create our own future, and we must exercise it. Only then will the sustainable viability of Latvia become reality.
This begs the question; what will our nation be like in twenty, thirty and one hundred years’ time?
The future belongs to our children and grandchildren, and the most valuable thing we can give them is a good education. Therefore, I invite us to continue progressing along the path towards a society of knowledge. Let us support those who are fighting for an education worthy of the future. For our children to go to school with joy and to be ready for tomorrow’s world.
Although we are a European country, we have much work to do in this regard. To become part of active Europe, in the next decade we must transform ourselves from takers into givers; from timid newcomers to the European Union into its visionary architects.
With this self-awareness in mind, we would continue to shape Europe as open and diverse, as a paragon of democracy for the rest of the world. We have joint security, shared culture, and our future growth will occur together.
Next year will not only be a year of celebration, but also the year of the Latvian parliamentary elections. Next autumn, everyone will have to make their own personal decision regarding whom we will entrust with the right to represent our society and the duty to guide our country forwards.
In our Constitution it is written that power belongs to the people.
I urge you to give life to these words over and beyond the letter of the law. Be ready to act! Follow the affairs of our nation, defend its interests; talk and discuss. Think for yourselves and involve your loved ones and friends. Use all the opportunities provided in our Constitution!
We know the price of our independence. In many other places around the world people would be ready to sacrifice everything for that which we are blessed with, i.e. our own nation. For us, this privilege is not just an onus for celebration, but also for responsibility.
And this is the best reason not to stand on the sidelines.
I urge all those here at the Freedom Monument, as well as those watching on screen: do not stand on the sidelines!
It is never too late to learn.
It is never too late to take pride in one’s people and to strengthen one’s country.
And this is the ideal moment to jointly continue to build a modern, democratic and open Latvia. Thus, we will flourish and surprise the world for centuries to come!
Let us celebrate this centenary! And live every day so that on 18 November next year, each and every one of us can say, with more pride and conviction than ever before, "I am Latvia."
God bless Latvia!