Speeches

Toast by the President of the Republic of Lithuania, Mr. Valdas Adamkus, at the State Dinner

I sincerely thank you for the cordial welcome extended to me, my wife Alma and our entire delegation! The meetings that we held today as well as our open and sincere conversations have made us feel among partners and friends.

The history of the people of Lithuania, celebrating this year the millennium of the first mention of its name in written records, has been repeatedly intertwined with the history of the people of Finland. Since olden times the Finno-Ugric and Baltic tribes were linked by the Baltic Sea and their interest in each other. The close ties maintained by our two neighboring peoples are well demonstrated by the common words used in our languages, such as laiva, krantas, kirvis, ratas, tiltas.

Historical and geographical circumstances pre-determined Finland's and Lithuania's existence at the crossroads of Eastern and Western cultures and civilizations. Although our nations were shaped by different political and cultural influences, they shared many things in common. Links between Finland and Lithuania are first mentioned in historical sources as far back as 1330, while the marriage of the Lithuanian and Polish Princess Catherina Jagellonica and Duke John of Finland, which took place in the 16th century in Vilnius, brought the winds of Renaissance to Finland and connected our two countries by the Vasa dynasty bonds. I am delighted that tomorrow I will have the opportunity to feel the spirit of our historical togetherness in Turku Castle.

It is very pleasing that at the end of the 19th century the shared pages in our history encouraged the interest of Finnish linguists and ethnographers in the Lithuanian language, folklore and cultural heritage. It was then that many prominent Finnish figures became true friends of Lithuania, including writer Maila Talvio, linguist Jooseppi Julius Mikkola and Aukusti Robert Niemi, professor at Helsinki University who wrote about Lithuania and the issues of its national survival. Our common cultural heritage also includes such names as philosopher Vasili Sesemann, born in Finland, and author Henry Parland who lived and worked in Kaunas. Unfortunately, the well-established bond between our nations and societies and the close political dialogue maintained by our two countries since 1918 - a year of great historical significance to both Lithuania and Finland - were once again severed in the middle of the 20th century by the Soviet occupation of the entire eastern coast of the Baltic Sea.

The Baltic nations went through a difficult period of totalitarian oppression, human suffering and resistance fights. This painful memory has been living on in the hearts of every freedom-loving and freedom-building Lithuanian. Just as the independence fights of the Finnish people in the Winter War and the Continuation War will always remain an example of courage to be followed. And such prominent figures as the Marshal of Finland, Gustaf Mannerheim, will forever remain a symbol of devotion and dedication to the sacred values of national independence and statehood.

The past several decades have emerged as yet another beginning of new high expectations for our region. Twenty years ago, the Baltic breakthrough and liberation from the grips of totalitarian oppression opened the windows of great historical opportunities, once again connecting our states and their people by a dialogue of togetherness and mutual understanding. We remember with deep respect that President Mauno Koivisto of Finland was the first western leader to visit Lithuania after it reestablished independence. We also remember with deep gratitude the unwavering technical and financial support extended by Finland to Lithuania.

We are delighted by the ever stronger bilateral bonds, growing flows of trade and investment, people-to-people contacts promoted by the friends of Lithuania in the Donelaitis Society and the small but dynamic Lithuanian community in Finland, and our men and women of arts and letters who work on joint projects .

Ladies and Gentlemen,

In the face of new serious global challenges, we have to search for yet unexplored initiatives to further develop our relationship between Lithuania and Finland and deepen cooperation ties among the Baltic Sea countries. From July of this year to June of next year, Lithuania will preside over the Council of the Baltic Sea States, focusing on such goals as the economic competitiveness of the region and a clean and secure Baltic Sea. I firmly believe that a successful EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region will create many more opportunities for EU member states to work together for the future of the Baltic region.

Today our region needs to have an efficiently operating network of energy and transport connections to speed up the actual integration of the economies and energy markets located on both sides of the Baltic Sea. I am deeply convinced that the Baltic Energy Market Interconnection plan, initiated by the European Commission, and the funds allocated for its implementation will speed up the Nordic-Baltic energy connection projects.

Climate change and the environment are no less important for us today than energy security. The Baltic region is among the most vulnerable in the context of climate change. Therefore, the eco security of the Baltic Sea must be placed on top of the list of our cooperation priorities.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Today, when major economic challenges and new security threats descended on the global community, bringing the focus of our attention on our own welfare, we nevertheless cannot ignore the problems which emerge in the neighboring regions and across the world. Lithuania and Finland are bound by shared commitment to protect the principles of freedom, democracy, territorial integrity, and international law. I hope that we - members of the European Union - will not remain indifferent to the aspirations of our neighbors to build independent democratic states and that we will support them on the peaceful road of Euro-Atlantic integration. I believe that the summit of the European Union and Eastern Europe's countries to be held in Prague at the beginning of May will launch Eastern Partnership - a project which is greatly important for the whole of Europe and which will effectively support the democratic aspirations of Moldova, Ukraine, Belarus, and the South Caucasus countries.

Excellency!

I raise my glass to your health, Madam President, to that of Mr. Pentti Arajarvi, and to a successful Finnish-Lithuanian partnership based on common interests and shared values!

Valdas Adamkus
The President of the Republic of Lithuania