Saeima of the Republic of Latvia

Honourable President of the State,

Honourable Prime Minister,

Dear members of the Supreme Council,

Dear speakers of foreign parliaments,

Excellencies,

Ladies and gentlemen,

Ninety-three years ago in this very place our grandparents gave us a present – our state. But 20 years ago at Jēkaba iela, 111 members of the Supreme Council gave this state back to us.

 Today our state is having a celebration, and this celebration is primarily in honour of you. Without your courage, your conviction about what you were doing, we wouldn’t be able to celebrate the independent Latvia which was given to us as a present from our grandparents on 18 November 1918. I bow my head before you and extend my gratitude.

 The decision of 21 August showed the world that Latvia was ready to be independent and ready to shape its own destiny again. The most important point is that you showed the world that you could adopt a decision which was desired by the majority of our people.

 The decision of 21 August offered Latvia another opportunity to be internationally recognised as a sovereign and independent state, and showed that 50 years of occupation did not keep us from returning to where we came from, namely, the family of Western democracies. 

 The decision made 20 years ago was also important for the self-confidence of our people. On 4 May 1990, when the Declaration of Independence was adopted, there was joy in the air; people greeted members of the Supreme Council with flowers and songs. But on 21 August 1991, when the decision on the de facto restoration of Latvia’s independence was made, there were tanks on the streets, Soviet military helicopters hovered above our heads, and the radio and television stations were not working. You had enough courage, responsibility and conviction about the significance of this document, about what had to be done for your state and your people.

 At that time, our people knew what they wanted, and you knew what you were doing. However, without allies the situation probably would be different. We remember Iceland’s decision to recognise Latvia immediately after the vote of the Supreme Council. We remember the first embassies that were opened here to symbolise an independent country in which there are Western diplomatic missions. We remember the diplomats who worked here without embassies and who knew that it was dangerous to be here. Thank you for that!

 This is why I am especially happy to have the speakers of parliaments from our allied countries among us today. It was important for us at that time just as it is today to have allies at our side. This feeling of unity strengthens our conviction that we belong to the family of Western democracies and the transatlantic space.

 The vote of 21 August 1991 brought nothing new to our conviction, but it did bring us our own free state. Once again we have our own state, and we still have our allies just as we did then. We have our people –industrious and talented people. The ideals and values of the Awakening still live within us, and we have to unite them in order to shape Latvia as it was desired by founders of our state in 1918 and supported by the members of the Supreme Council 20 years ago, when the courageous decision was made to give this state back to us. I am convinced we will succeed, for we have all that it takes to succeed.

 Therefore, I would like to thank you once again for your contribution, but your help will be needed in future as well. We must strive to work together for the sake of our children, our grandchildren, our state – our Latvia. I know that we can do it; I know that we will succeed.

God bless Latvia!