Independence Day 2004

Mr. Prime Minister, Ministers, my friends and colleagues in the diplomatic community, all our honored guests, and my fellow Americans, welcome to the 228th celebration of the independence of the United States of America.

It is the third and last time I will preside over these celebrations in Estonia. Estonia and the relations between Estonia and my country have come a long way in those three years. I have been honored to be a witness to the positive outcome of history.

The credit for this positive outcome goes overwhelmingly to the many Estonians inside and outside of government who set the course of this newly-reborn country over the past decade and a half. It has been my honor to be associated with you. We have also seen the full flowering of the partnership between our countries. When I arrived here, much of what my Embassy did could be described as assistance to a nation building its capabilities to join the Western community. Today, we work as partners on the key issues confronting that community and Estonia is more likely to be giving assistance than to be receiving it.

Our relationship is a very rare one in the world. We have a unique history of simply doing the right thing for each other, because it is the right thing. The United States refused to recognize the Soviet Union's decades-long illegal occupation of Estonia. It might have been easier for the United States as a great power to accommodate that occupation. Certainly, many found our policy to be naïve and "ideological." Later, there were also many reasonable people in the world who made the argument that we should not damage our larger interests in Europe to foster the aspirations of the Baltic States to be full members of the major political and security institutions of this continent. In both cases, the American leadership of both political parties rejected these arguments simply because we knew that supporting Estonia was the right thing to do.

Recently the shoe has been on the other foot. The past two years have been most difficult for my country. We have come face-to-face with an enemy whose ferocity we did not expect and whose nature we still do not fully understand. It will come as no surprise to anyone here if I say that not every step we have taken in response has been well placed. To stand with us in this uncertain time is to open oneself up to criticism and to risk. I can think of no country that has a better record than Estonia for sharing our difficult moments in courage and solidarity. We recognize that this has come at a price, including the price of the life of a fine young man in Iraq. It is easy to profess friendship when things are safe and developments are positive. True friendship shows itself in more difficult times. There can be no doubt that the United States has found a friend here.

I would like to say a few extra words to my fellow Americans, especially those who have worked with me at the Embassy. Given the rhythms of our service, this is probably the last time I will serve our country abroad. I want to thank you all -- here in front of our Estonian friends -- for making this last stop in a wonderful career abroad the most successful one for me. I leave knowing that nothing will be lacking in our country's work here.

Still, you have a heavy responsibility today. Our image in the world has suffered recently. Our values, our motives and even our competence are being called into question. Don't any of you dare to hang your heads. Our country has played a major part in the expansion of human dignity around the world. This has happened because of your actions and the actions of those who came before you. They were empowered by our people, who genuinely believe in the words and principles written in our Declaration of Independence, words that were written when Americans were under military occupation and subject to arbitrary treatment. Your fellow Americans expect you to live up to those principles. This expectation of basic American decency has been more powerful than armies in our work abroad.

From time-to-time in our history, our fears have dominated our hopes. Fear clouds the vision and can lead to actions inconsistent with our most basic beliefs as a people. You have seen how quickly our people will reject the results. Hope has always been the best counselor for us, and I encourage you to choose hope over fear in your future choices as public servants. If you stay true to our basic principles, whatever the popularity of our policies, things will come out all right for you and the country.

The mission I was given when I was assigned to be my country's Ambassador to Estonia has been completed. Now, it is time for Leslie and me to leave, and for those who follow me at the U.S. Embassy to build on the accomplishments that our two countries have achieved together. My great satisfaction at this country's success and the Embassy's role in it is, therefore, diminished only by our sadness at having to leave this wonderful corner of the world so soon. My wife and I leave with many wonderful memories and no regrets other than the fact that our stay among you was too short. We will miss you all.

No farewell is made better by length. Please enjoy our celebration tonight. Leslie and I wish you all the best.