“This is the place where the beginning and the end of the war symbolically meet: here, under Narva, the first battles broke out in 1918, and here, in 1919, the last attempts of the Red Army to invade failed,” Kallas recalled.
According to the Prime Minister, maintaining freedom requires constant and tireless work. “We have had to fight for our independence several times. For many of us, it became painfully clear how much we pay for freedom,” she stressed.
“Unfortunately, history sometimes repeats its darker chapters as a reminder and makes us ask: what kind of terrible country attacks another state?” asked Kallas. “Ukraine will not be helped by a lukewarm truce, but by a victory. We need to help Ukraine withstand this difficult year.”
In her speech, the Prime Minister recalled that the War of Independence is a good example of how a difficult situation on the front can change quickly. “Our War of Independence did not start well: the first mobilisation failed, with only one in ten showing up. The enemy, who was not inconceivably large at the time, seemed invincible. It seems unbelievable that just a few months later, the territory of the Estonian state had been cleared of invaders.“
The Prime Minister also thanked all those who contribute to the defence of the Estonian state. “We are fortunate to live in a country that is safe and secure in the midst of general uncertainty. We have strong friends and allies. We work hard every day to keep it that way,“ she confirmed.
Full speech (translated from Estonian): https://valitsus.ee/en/news/speech-prime-minister-kaja-kallas-victory-day-narva
Gallery: https://www.flickr.com/photos/stenbockimaja/albums/72177720318153545/
