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President Ilves: Our own careless satisfaction and slack thinking that everything is okay are among Estonia’s greatest enemies

01.06.2007

“What we saw at the end of April in Tallinn and Ida-Virumaa was not just a crisis, but the greatest challenge to the security of the Republic of Estonian during the last 16 years,” said President Toomas Hendrik Ilves yesterday in Kadriorg, when greeting the police, members of the National Defence League, and government officials, who defended public order and the security of the country during the events that occurred a month ago, and were therefore invited to the a reception of appreciation.

“We know that security is not only military tranquility. The security of a country also means that the country can make its own decisions about its life; that other countries do not dictate what the country’s government should be; that the country’s various nationalities are not antagonistic toward each other, but know how to understand each other,” said the Head of State.

He repeated his words from the morning of April 27th, when the slivers of glass were still being collected from the streets of Tallinn and the owners of looted stores were added up the damages—this all had nothing to do with the peace of the grave or maintaining the memory of those who fell in the Second World War, and the nocturnal criminals were not united by nationality, but a desire to riot, vandalize, and loot.

“At the same time, we experienced an anti-Estonian information and cyber-war. Many of you repulsed these attacks, which were just as perilous to people’s security as the violence in the streets,” said President Ilves.

Addressing the police, members of the Defence League, and government officials, the Head of State declared, “You managed very well. You proved that Estonia could cope. A country is somewhat like a person—if it is not challenged, you cannot find out how serious it is.”

According to President Ilves Estonia is now more self-confident. “However, we should not be deceived by this self-confidence. Those who wish our country harm have not disappeared. Therefore, our own careless satisfaction and slack thinking that everything is okay are among Estonia’s greatest enemies,” said the Head of State.

The police continue to require better equipment, starting with gloves and ending with everyday working conditions, said President Ilves. “Our preparedness to act wisely and quickly during a crisis is good, but we can definitely be even better. This means training, this mean learning,” he said.

“We must also learn how to root out the weeds of uncertainty that sprang up a month ago, which must not eclipse Estonia’s steady gaze and must not create internal conflicts. “Despite our dissimilar pasts—regardless of nationality—we share a common future. For we will all continue to live in Estonia.”

According to President Ilves, there should be many more people at the reception of appreciation. “After all, thousands of police officers, hundreds of members of the Defence League, and government officials from various ministries and institutions were involved in subduing the so-call April crisis,” said the Head of State.

“I am very sorry that I cannot thank you all personally. The only thing I can say to you today is—please forward my thanks and words of appreciation to your colleagues,” said President Ilves, who concluded his remarks by saying, “I am very sure that the Estonia will also cope in the future.”

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