This day, 21 August, reminds us of the value of freedom and of our own country. After more than fifty years of striving, it was on this day that we were able to regain our state and our freedom. Those efforts began the moment we lost our independence. Faith in an independent Latvia inspired both the resistance movements in Latvia and our compatriots in exile, whose voices were a constant reminder of the crimes committed against our country and people.
A long-held dream of the Latvian people, that someday Latvia would again be an independent democratic republic where sovereign power belonged to the Latvian nation, came true 25 years ago. From that moment we were able to make our own decisions about our future and that of our children.
Members of the Supreme Council,
A quarter of a century has already passed since your historic votes for independence. Today we live in the country which you restored by fulfilling the will of the Latvian people.
Today I would like to acknowledge that Latvia is proud of you. The people entrusted their dream of a Latvian state to you and you did not let them down.
We are grateful to you for our restored Latvia! Thank you for your courage and commitment to Latvia!
Dear friends of Latvia,
Today, our nation is not alone in celebrating this day. Nor were we alone on our way to renewing our statehood.
In the restoration of independence, we were closely linked with our sisters of similar destiny, Estonia and Lithuania. We stood hand in hand on the Baltic Way from Tallinn via Riga to Vilnius - together in order to remind the world about the treacherous Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact and to reclaim our right to decide our own destiny. Even today, it is still important for each of us to feel the other’s shoulder in order to protect our freedom and independence.
Our return to the family of independent nations was especially facilitated by our closest neighbours, the Nordic countries: Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden. I am sincerely grateful to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Iceland of that time, Jon Baldvin Hannibalsson. The courage that Iceland demonstrated in being the first to recognize the restoration of Latvia’s independence, on 22 August 1991, was a clear sign that our efforts to regain independence had been successful. It gave the impetus for other countries to recognise us. This enabled us to return to the international political arena quickly.
After 1940 more than 50 different countries refused to recognize Latvia’s occupation. The Latvian diplomatic and consular service continued to represent the Latvian state and to defended our interests abroad. After the restoration of independence, the international community recognized us as the same country that was proclaimed on 18 November 1918.
Ladies and gentlemen,
We are on the threshold of Latvia’s centenary. This gives us an opportunity to reflect on the kind of Latvia we are building for our children and grandchildren.
Every day we move nearer to our ideal Latvia through our thoughts and deeds. It is essential to realise that everything in our own hands. Our Latvia will be what we make of it. There will be no one else to blame.
I am very concerned that we often lose faith in ourselves and in Latvia. In the modern world too often we are drawn to quick and simple solutions. Daily negativism and exaggerated self-criticism take away our strength and weaken our country. This is how we denigrate the fruits of our work and our future.
During these years we have worked hard and we can take pride in our achievements. 25 years ago who would have believed that that we would be members of the European Union and NATO? Today, together with other members of these organizations, we make decisions about the future of Europe and provide our contribution to building a safer world.
Latvia is free and independent. We are strong and united. We feel safe and secure in our country.
Let us be proud of our Latvia!
Let us work together for the benefit of Latvia!
God bless Latvia!