Prime Minister Ratas: Mediocrity must never be Estonia’s aim
At today’s concert celebrating the 99th anniversary of the Republic of Estonia, Prime Minister Jüri Ratas called for the understanding of the message that our homeland can only become a better place if people stand united and work towards common goals.
“Looking back at historic events and thinking about the future we understand the importance of cooperation, cohesion and efforts to achieve common goals. The Estonian state will never be completed; and even today, we are faced with a number of major challenges,” said Ratas. “To increase people’s well-being and security, and to overcome the population crisis, we must stand united and love our fatherland the same way we did a hundred years ago - or as we did during the Singing Revolution, as many in this Hall today still remember very well. Increasing social cohesion is the only way forward if we want to continue to exist as a state and a nation.”
“Estonia is our common home in the most treasured sense of the word. A home and a homeland should have a good atmosphere and warm relations between different family members, communities and ethnic groups. A home should be a wonderful place to come back to, and a place where everybody feels good. At home, in our native place, we are always willing to cooperate with our neighbours and the community to make it even better,” said Ratas.
“We have achieved a great deal over the last 25 years, but we must not become complacent and relax our efforts. Mediocrity must never be Estonia’s aim. Much more work needs to be done on all fronts. A good railway connection with Europe, creating jobs in rural regions, accessible public transport, fast internet, better connection with the islands, constant improvement of the business environment, encouraging and boosting entrepreneurship in remote regions, and public investment in infrastructure. These are just a few key aspects to improving the living environment of the Estonian people.”
“We can build our home only by working together. I would like to thank each entrepreneur, doctor, teacher, police officer and rescue worker. Each serviceperson, builder, worker, shop assistant, farmer, community centre head, and customer service staff as well as the heads of local governments, journalists, members of the Riigikogu, and public officials. Our collective contribution has enabled us to come this far and it is only together that can we make Estonia even better.”
“I would like to congratulate the Estonian people at home and abroad as the Republic of Estonia approaches its 99th anniversary. I would also like to pay tribute to our ancestors who created the state of Estonia and fought for its freedom,” said Ratas. “I would also like to bear a thought for the events of the late 1980s and early 1990s. A country which is about to celebrate its centenary should not divide the efforts of the different groups of people who contributed to the restoration of its independence. We should be proud of the efforts of the People's Front, the Estonian Heritage Protection Society, the Estonian National Independence Party, the Estonian Citizens' Committees movement, the Congress of Estonia, and Estonian expatriates as well as all other popular initiatives. Let us remember with gratitude and appreciation all of the men and women who made our independence possible and all those who contributed with determination to the statehood of Estonia.”