Speeches
Address given by the President of the Republic at the Mother’s Day celebrations held on 13 May 2012 at the Estonia Concert Hall
Fellow countrymen, mothers and grandmothers throughout the country, children and parents everywhere,
Today is a day that recognises and honours a part of our lives of which there is quite possibly none greater nor more personal: that with which we all, innately, have an unbreakable bond.
Mother's Day.
Without further ado, let me wish all mothers eternal thanks, endless embraces and all the flowers you could wish for! My mother. All of the mothers here today. All mothers, everywhere.
Let me wish them, too, good health and unwavering resolve. Such wishes never go amiss.
We talk a lot of the hugely important role that mothers play in our lives, and of the responsibility they shoulder.
Mothers make important decisions about their children's education.
Mothers set the rules at home, and instil values in their children.
Mothers make sure that everyone in the family is healthy, and encourage their children to exercise and play sport.
And it is usually mothers who children come to seeking solace, to take their pain away, and to make them feel safe and secure.
The question I would like to put to you today is this: given that we ask so much of our mothers, do we really give them the authority and the opportunities they need to be able to cope with those demands?
The simple but precise answer to that question is to be found in another: are mothers, and women generally, being granted sufficient decision-making rights in the way we organise our lives today?
As mothers and as women, are they sufficiently able to influence decisions that not only affect society, but women and mothers themselves and their quality of life?
I'm rather afraid that they're not. And I don't understand why.
13.05.2012April
- 20.04.2012 President of the Republic at a meeting with the ESTCOY-14 unit that is about to be deployed to Afghanistan, Paldiski, 20 April 2012
March
- 14.03.2012 President of the Republic on Mother Language Day on 14 March 2012 in National Library of Estonia, Tallinn
- 14.03.2012 President of the Republic at the “E-governance or E-Dependence?” conference in Swissôtel, Tallinn, 14 March 2012
- 09.03.2012 Greeting of the President of the Republic to the Flight of the Kite Conference of Estonian Employers Confederation in KUMU (Estonian Art Museum) on 9 March 2012
February
- 24.02.2012 Toomas Hendrik Ilves, the President of the Republic on the 94th anniversary of the Republic of Estonia in the Vanemuine, Tartu, 24 February 2012
- 23.02.2012 President of the Republic at the Estonian State Decorations Ceremony University of Tartu Assembly Hall, 23 February 2012
December 2011
- 31.12.2011 New year’s address by the President of the Republic 31 December 2011
- 05.12.2011 President Toomas Hendrik Ilves at the assuming of office of the Commander of the Defence Forces on 5 December 2011 in Tallinn
November 2011
- 24.11.2011 Address by the President Toomas Hendrik Ilves at the conference "The Baltic Ways: 20 Years on. Closing the Gaps in the Baltic Sea Region" at the Radisson Blu Hotel Tallinn, 24 November 2011
- 13.11.2011 Welcome speech by the President of the Republic at the Men’s Health conference at the Radisson Blu Hotel Tallinn, 3 November 2011
October 2011
- 27.10.2011 Address by the President of the Republic of Estonia Toomas Hendrik Ilves at the official opening of the Helsinki Book Fair 27 October 2011
- 19.10.2011 Opening address given by President Toomas Hendrik Ilvese at the Creative Entrepreneurship for a Competitive Economy conference held in the Viru Keskus Conference Centre in Tallinn on 19 October 2011
- 10.10.2011 The President of the Republic of Estonia upon taking the oath of office before the Riigikogu 10 October 2011
September 2011
- 29.09.2011 President of the Republic at Language Forum 29 September 2011 Hall of the Estonian Academy of Sciences, Tallinn
- 26.09.2011 President Toomas Hendrik Ilves at ICEGOV conference (International Conference on Theory and Practice of Electronic Governance), September 26 2011, Viru Conference Center
- 21.09.2011 H. E. Toomas Hendrik Ilves President of Estonia To the 66th Session of the United Nations General Assembly UN Headquarters, New York, 21st September 2011
- 12.09.2011 President of the Republic in the Riigikogu on 12 September 2011
August 2011
- 29.08.2011 President Toomas Hendrik Ilves in the Riigikogu on 29 August 2011
- 20.08.2011 President of the Republic At the festive concert dedicated to the 20th anniversary of the restoration of the independence of Estonia, the Tallinn Song Festival Grounds 20 August 2011
- 20.08.2011 Address by the President of the Republic on the 20th anniversary of the restoration of Estonia’s independence Toompea, 20 August 2011
June 2011
- 23.06.2011 The President of the Republic of Estonia Victory Day in Tartu 23 June 2011
- 21.06.2011 The President of the Republic of Estonia honouring the best graduates of upper secondary schools, vocational schools and institutions of higher education Kadriorg Rose Garden 21 June 2011
- 15.06.2011 The President of the Republic hosting the Bring Talent Home program at the Kadriorg Rose Garden 15 June 2011
- 02.06.2011 Opening address of President Toomas Hendrik Ilves at the Fourth Annual Tallinn Conference of the International Technology Law Association
May 2011
- 15.05.2011 Getting to Turkey or Aquaria from Fish Soup
- 12.05.2011 President of the Republic at the funeral service of Security Police official Mr. Tarmo Laul in Kaarli Church in Tallinn on 12 May 2011
- 08.05.2011 The President of the Republic of Estonia at the official Mother’s Day concert, 8 May 2011 Estonia Concert Hall
April 2011
February 2011
- 24.02.2011 The President of the Republic of Estonia Independence Day 24 February 2011
- 23.02.2011 President of the Republic at the Estonian State Decorations Ceremony February 23, 2011
- 16.02.2011 Greetings from the President of the Republic of Estonia on Cities and Rural Municipalities Day, 16 February 2011, Viru Hotel conference centre
- 02.02.2011 Address by the President of the Republic at the ceremony marking the anniversary of the Tartu Peace Treaty on 2 February 2011 at the Estonia Concert Hall
January 2011
- 20.01.2011 The President of the Republic at the University of Uppsala
- 19.01.2011 Business Seminar opening address by President Toomas Hendrik Ilves At the Swedish Trade Council Stockholm, Sweden, 19 January 2011
- 18.01.2011 The President of the Republic at a banquet in honour of Their Royal Majesties Swedish King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia Stockholm, 18 January 2011
December 2010
November 2010
- 11.11.2010 Address by the President of the Republic of Estonia to the Estonian Sport Congress Nokia Concert Hall, 11 November 2010
October 2010
- 21.10.2010 Greeting of the President of the Republic at the ceremony to present the Farmer of the Year award in the Conference Centre of the Riigikogu on 21st October 2010
September 2010
- 29.09.2010 The President of the Republic on 31st Estonian Jurist´s Forum, Vanemuise Concert Hall, 30 September 2010
- 24.09.2010 President of the Republic of Estonia at the General Assembly of the United Nations in New York
- 13.09.2010 The President of the Republic in the Riigikogu, 13 September 2010
- 04.09.2010 The President of the Republic of Estonia at the funeral of Junior Sergeant Herdis Sikka killed in Afghanistan St. Charles Church, Tallinn 4 September 2010
August 2010
- 20.08.2010 President of the Republic of Estonia at the reception marking the anniversary of Estonian re-independence
June 2010
- 28.06.2010 Address of the President of the Republic at the official dinner in honour of Shimon Peres, President of the State of Israel, in Jerusalem
- 23.06.2010 President of the Republic at the Victory Day parade
- 22.06.2010 President Ilves at St. George's Church in Tori at the opening of the memorial tablet for the US citizens upon who the Cross of Liberty was bestowed
- 22.06.2010 President of the Republic at a reception honouring the best graduates
- 16.06.2010 President Ilves at the Conference on Cyber Conflict
- 14.06.2010 The President of the Republic on the Day of Mourning
- 10.06.2010 President of the Republic at the State Dinner in Reykjavik, Iceland
May 2010
- 26.05.2010 President Ilves on the convening of the Round Table of Nationalities convened by the Estonian Cooperation Assembly (Koostöö Kogu)
- 19.05.2010 President Ilves at the doctor honoris causa ceremony at the Lublin Catholic University
- 09.05.2010 President of the Republic of Estonia at the official Mother’s Day concert in the Estonia Concert Hall
- 06.05.2010 The President of the Republic at the Development Forum
March 2010
- 19.03.2010 Presentation at the Atlantic Council, Washington, on the security of NATO and Europe in the 21st century
February 2010
- 24.02.2010 President of Estonia at the official Independence Day concert, Vanemuine Theatre
- 02.02.2010 President of the Republic at the ceremony commemorating the 90th anniversary of the Tartu Peace Treaty, Vanemuine Concert Hall, Tartu
January 2010
December 2009
- 19.12.2009 President of the Republic at the government obsequy of Junior Sergeant Kristjan Jalakas in St. John’s Church, Tallinn
- 17.12.2009 The President of the Republic at the closing of the Year of Innovation in Tallinn
- 07.12.2009 President Ilves at the Natolin campus of the College of Europe in Warsaw
- 01.12.2009 Greeting of the President of the Republic at the ceremony to celebrate the 90th anniversary of Tartu University in the ceremonial hall of Tartu University
November 2009
- 08.11.2009 President Ilves at Freedom's Challenge Awards Ceremony, Berlin
- 05.11.2009 Video address of President Ilves at the gala night of the «Entrepreneur of the Year 2009» competition
October 2009
- 21.10.2009 President of the Republic at the meeting with the units of the Estonian Defence Forces, ESTCOY-9 and NSE-8, prior to their departure for Afghanistan, in Paldiski
- 05.10.2009 President Ilves at the State Dinner in Honour of Dr. László Sólyom, President of the Republic of Hungary, in Budapest
September 2009
- 25.09.2009 President Ilves at the 64th Session of the General Assembly of the United Nations in New York
- 18.09.2009 President Ilves at the Ministerial conference on the EU Baltic Sea Strategy in Stockholm, Sweden
- 14.09.2009 President Ilves at the Opening Session of the Riigikogu
- 09.09.2009 President Ilves at the International Cyber Conflict Legal and Policy Conference in Tallinn
- 01.09.2009 President Ilves to the students of Hugo Treffner Gymnasium at the opening of the academic year
August 2009
- 29.08.2009 President Ilves at the service for Warrant Officer Eerik Salmus and Sergeant Raivis Kang, killed in Afghanistan, in Charles XI Lutheran Church, Tallinn
- 27.08.2009 President of the Republic at the opening of the Cargotec Estonia AS factory in Narva
- 25.08.2009 President of the Republic at an International Scientific Conference on Organic Agriculture in Hotel Dorpat, Tartu
- 20.08.2009 President of the Republic on the Opening of Vabaduse väljak
- 20.08.2009 President Ilves at the reception of the Day of the Restoration of Independence of the Republic of Estonia
July 2009
June 2009
- 23.06.2009 The President of the Republic at the Victory Day Parade in Jõgeva
- 22.06.2009 The President of the Republic at the unveiling of the Monument to the War of Independence
- 05.06.2009 President of the Republic at the Introduction of Technology Development Centres Programme in Tallinn
May 2009
- 28.05.2009 President of the Republic at the Presentation of Citizenship Certificates in Kumu Art Museum
- 12.05.2009 President Ilves at the Opening Ceremony of RFE/RL New Broadcasting Headquarters in Prague
- 10.05.2009 President of the Republic On the Festive Concert-Meeting Dedicated to Mother’s Day at Estonia Concert Hall
- 09.05.2009 President Ilves at the 39th St. Gallen Symposium on economics and politics: “20 Years after the Fall of the Berlin Wall – New Challenges Facing Europe”
April 2009
- 28.04.2009 President of the Republic at the Festive Dinner of the 26th European Executive Policing Conference of the International Association of the Chiefs of Police in the Estonia Concert Hall
- 27.04.2009 President of the Republic at the Development Forum: World – Choices – Decisions
- 23.04.2009 President of the Republic at the Session Dedicated to the 90th Anniversary of the Constituent Assembly in the Riigikogu
- 22.04.2009 Address by President Ilves in Turku University, Finland
- 14.04.2009 President of the Republic at the Celebration of the 100th Anniversary of the Estonian National Museum in the University of Tartu
- 08.04.2009 President of the Republic at the Estonian-Latvian Business Seminar
- 07.04.2009 President of the Republic at the state dinner in honour of the President of the Republic of Latvia and Mrs Lilita Zatlere
March 2009
- 29.03.2009 President of the Republic at the Opening of Lennart Meri Conference Estonia Concert Hall
- 25.03.2009 President of the Republic at the 60th anniversary commemoration conference of the March deportation Museum of Occupations
February 2009
- 24.02.2009 President of the Republic at the Festive Concert on the Independence Day of the Republic of Estonia Jõhvi Concert Hall
- 23.02.2009 President of the Republic at the State Decorations Award Ceremony in Kadriorg Art Museum
- 07.02.2009 Speaking notes of President Ilves at the Munich Security Conference
- 02.02.2009 President of the Republic at the Festive Concert-Meeting of the Anniversary of the Tartu Peace Treaty at the Estonia Concert Hall
January 2009
- 13.01.2009 President of the Republic at the Estonian-Azerbaijan Information Technology Forum in Baku
- 01.01.2009 Greetings of the President of the Republic on the Eve of 2009
December 2008
- 01.12.2008 President Ilves: "NATO in Estonia, Estonia in NATO. Our Common Security in the 21st Century", Helsinki
November 2008
- 26.11.2008 President of the Republic at Baltic Sea Region Programme Conference, Tallinn
- 21.11.2008 President of the Republic at the Conference "Different Memories – Common Future"
- 17.11.2008 President of the Republic at the conference "Is there another way?" of the Estonian Business Association, Tallinn
- 15.11.2008 President of the Republic on the 90th Anniversary of the Estonian Police
- 13.11.2008 President of the Republic at the Opening of the NATO-Ukraine High Level Consultations, Tallinn
- 07.11.2008 President of the Republic at the Public Servants Forum, Tartu
- 06.11.2008 XIII Open Society Forum "The European Union and Russia: What does the future hold?", Tallinn
October 2008
- 16.10.2008 President Ilves at the London School of Economics
- 15.10.2008 President Ilves at the National Assembly of Wales, in Cardiff
- 10.10.2008 President Ilves at the opening of the Estonian-Turkish Business Seminar in Tallinn, Estonia
September 2008
- 30.09.2008 President of the Republic at the Certificate of Citizenship Award Ceremony in the Kadriorg Museum of Art
- 23.09.2008 President of the Republic of Estonia to the 63rd Session of the General Assembly of the United Nations in New York
- 18.09.2008 President of the Republic to the Enterprise Estonia, Estonian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Estonian Employers Confederation enter prise awards ceremony Estonia concert hall
- 17.09.2008 President of the Republic on the Festive Assembly of the 90th Anniversary of Tallinn University of Techology, TTU Main Building
- 08.09.2008 President of the Republic in the Riigikogu
- 04.09.2008 President of Estonia at the opening of (innovation) conference "Baltic Dynamics" in Dorpat SPA Hotel, Tartu
- 02.09.2008 President of the Republic at the Reburial of the Remains of Jüri Uluots in Kirbla
- 01.09.2008 President of the Republic at the Inauguration of the New Barracks of the Kuperyanov Infantry Battalion, Võru
August 2008
- 24.08.2008 President of the Republic at the Closing of the Home Decoration Year, Tallinn
- 21.08.2008 President of the Republic at the Night Song Festival “Märkamisaeg” on the Tallinn Song Festival Ground
- 20.08.2008 President of the Republic To the Representatives of Creative Artists’ Unions On the Day of the Restoration of Independence at KUMU Art Museum
June 2008
- 28.06.2008 President of the Republic at the 5th World Congress of Finno-ugric Peoples in Khanty-Mansiysk, 28 June 2008
- 23.06.2008 President of the Republic Victory Day, 23 June 2008 Tallinn, Pirita tee
- 13.06.2008 President of the Republic at the State Dinner in Honor of the King of Belgium, 10 June 2008
May 2008
- 26.05.2008 President of the Republic at the Festive Dinner in the Estonian House in Toronto, 27 May 2008
- 15.05.2008 President of the Republic at the State Dinner in honour of Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands in Tallinn, 14 May 2008
- 12.05.2008 President of the Republic At the Festive Concert Meeting on Mother’s Day, 11 May 2008, Estonia Concert Hall
April 2008
- 30.04.2008 President of the Republic at the State Dinner in honour of the President of the Republic of Lithuania Valdas Adamkus and Mrs. Alma Adamkiene in Tallinn, 29 April 2008
- 24.04.2008 President of the Republic at the U. S. – Baltic Foundation Awards Dinner, 19 April 2008
- 18.04.2008 President of the Republic at the State Dinner hosted by President T. E. Mary McAleese and Dr. Martin McAleese, 14 April 2008, Dublin, Republic of Ireland
March 2008
- 11.03.2008 President of the Republic of Estonia At the Plenary Assembly of the European Parliament 11 March 2008, Strasbourg
February 2008
- 24.02.2008 President of the Republic of Estonia at the Festive Concert Assembly dedicated to the 90th Anniversary of the Declaration of the Republic of Estonia 24 February 2008, Estonia Theatre
- 23.02.2008 President of the Republic upon conferring state decorations at the ceremony ''Estonia is Grateful 2008'', 23 February 2008, Pärnu
- 23.02.2008 President of the Republic Opening the Monument to the Proclamation of the Republic of Estonia Pärnu, 23 February 2008
- 22.02.2008 President of the Republic At the Festive Assembly of the Three Schools who Participated in the War of Freedom Tallinn Secondary Science School, 22 February 2008
- 16.02.2008 President of the Republic of Estonia on the Defence Forces Parade on the 90th Anniversary of the Republic of Lithuania 16 February 2008, Vilnius
- 14.02.2008 President of the Republic At the Opening of the Exhibition of the Busts of the Members of the Provisional Government 14 February 2008, Bank of Estonia
- 02.02.2008 President of the Republic On the Anniversary of the Tartu Peace Treaty Vanemuine Concert Hall 2 February 2008, Tartu
January 2008
- 24.01.2008 President of the Republic on the Inauguration Ceremony of the Rector of Estonian University of Life Sciences, 24 January 2008 in Tartu
- 05.01.2008 President of the Republic Eulogy to Jaan Kross in the Kaarli Church, 5 January 2008
December 2007
- 31.12.2007 President of the Republic, New Year Address 2008, 31 December 2007
- 21.12.2007 President of the Republic at the Celebration of the Accession to the Schengen Visa Space, Tallinn Passenger Port, 21 December 2007
- 21.12.2007 President of the Republic on the Festive Meeting on the Occasion of joining the Schengen Visa Space in Valga/Valka, 21 December 2007
- 11.12.2007 President of the Republic on the Conference in Honour of the Finnish Boys 7 December 2007
November 2007
- 28.11.2007 President of the Republic Addressing the Inauguration Event of the 90th Anniversary of the Republic of Estonia Estonia Concert Hall, 28 November 2007
- 22.11.2007 President of the Republic at the Civic Society Conference on 22 November 2007 Hotel Viru Conference Centre
- 13.11.2007 President of the Republic at the Monument of the Student-Soldier of the War of Freedom at Tallinn Secondary Science School on 13 November 2007
- 05.11.2007 The President of the Republic at the opening of Baltic Development Forum on 4 November 2007
October 2007
- 31.10.2007 President of the Republic on the Meeting with the Infantry Company Estcoy-5, 31 October 2007, Paldiski
- 18.10.2007 President of the Republic Receiving of the Badge of the North Eagle, The Highest Award of Noored Kotkad (the Young Eagles) conferred upon him on 18 October, 2007, in Kadriorg
- 05.10.2007 President of the Republic on the Festive Assembly of the 375th Anniversary of the Foundation of Tartu University on 5 October 2007
September 2007
- 27.09.2007 President Ilves at the Göteborg Book Fair on 27 September 2007
- 25.09.2007 President of the Republic to the 62nd Session of the United Nations General Assembly UN Headquarters, New York, 25 September 2007
- 24.09.2007 President Ilves at the UN conference on climate "The Future in our Hands: Addressing the Leadership Challenge of Climate Change" in New York, 24 September 2007
- 18.09.2007 President Ilves at the Opening of the Photo Exhibition of the Members of Otto Tief’s Government, Eesti Pank, 18 September 2007
- 10.09.2007 President Ilves at the Opening Session of the Riigikogu on 10 September 2007, at Toompea Castle
- 07.09.2007 President Ilves at the Danish Institute for International Studies in Copenhagen, on 7 September 2007
- 01.09.2007 President Ilves on Estonian Television on 1 September 2007
August 2007
- 31.08.2007 President Ilves at the Inauguration of the Rector of Tartu University 31 August 2007, Assembly Hall of Tartu University
- 23.08.2007 President Toomas Hendrik Ilves on the 20th Anniversary of the Hirve Park Demonstration, 23 August 2007
- 20.08.2007 President Ilves on the Independence Restoration Day, 20 August 2007, at Kadriorg
July 2007
- 04.07.2007 President of the Republic at the farewell ceremony for Sergeant Kalle Torn and Junior Sergeant Jako Karuks, who were killed in Afghanistan, in Tapa on 4 July 2007
- 01.07.2007 President of the Republic at the closing of the 10th Youth Song and Dance Festival 1 July 2007
June 2007
- 27.06.2007 President Ilves at CSIS Statesmen's Forum in Washington, 27 June 2007
- 23.06.2007 President of the Republic On Victory Day 23 June 2007, in Rapla
- 12.06.2007 President of the Republic at the first reading of the draft to amend the Constitution in Riigikogu 12 June 2007
- 04.06.2007 President Toomas Hendrik Ilves on a conference "Democracy and Security: Core Values and Sound Policies", Prague, 4 June 2007
- 02.06.2007 President of the Republic on the 90th Anniversary of Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church at St. John’s Church, Tartu, 2 June 2007
May 2007
- 30.05.2007 The President of the Republic at the opening of the East Capital Summit on 30 May 2007
- 23.05.2007 President of the Republic On the Conference Dedicated to the 15th Anniversary of the Re-Adoption of the Estonian Kroon "Opportunities of the European Economy in Global Competition" Tallinn, Estonia Concert Hall, 23 May 2007
- 16.05.2007 President of the Republic at the opening of the Jewish Synagogue 16 May 2007
- 15.05.2007 President Ilves at the Session of Riigikogu, 15 May 2007
- 13.05.2007 President of the Republic on Mother’s Day Concert 13 May 2007, Estonia Concert Hall
- 08.05.2007 President Toomas Hendrik Ilves at Tbilisi University on 8 May 2007
April 2007
- 03.04.2007 President Ilves at the European College of Natolin, Poland, 3 April 2007
- 02.04.2007 The President of the Republic at the opening session of the 11th Riigikogu 2 April 2007
March 2007
- 29.03.2007 President Ilves at the opening session of the first Lennart Meri commemorative conference “Remember the Future”, 29 March 2007
- 16.03.2007 At the luncheon hosted by the President of Estonia at the Oulu City Government on March 15, 2007
- 14.03.2007 President Ilves at the University of Helsinki 14 March 2007
February 2007
- 24.02.2007 President of the Republic On the 89th Anniversary of the Republic of Estonia 24 February 2007, Vanemuine Theatre, Tartu
- 23.02.2007 President of the Republic upon conferring The Decorations of the Republic of Estonia 23 February 2007
- 23.02.2007 President of the Republic On the Ceremony of the 89th Anniversary of the Republic of Estonia At Tallinn University on 23 February 2007
- 10.02.2007 The President of the Republic at the 43rd Munich Conference on Security Policy, February 10, 2007
- 02.02.2007 The President of the Republic On the Anniversary of the Tartu Peace Treaty, 2 February 2007 Estonia Concert Hall
December 2006
November 2006
October 2006
- 30.10.2006 The President of the Republic at the Riigikogu conference Values and Interests in International Relations on October 30 2006 in Tallinn
- 19.10.2006 The President of the Republic at the State Dinner in honour of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and His Royal Highness Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh on 19 October 2006 at the House of the Brotherhood of the Black Heads
- 09.10.2006 President of the Republic at the Inauguration Ceremony on 9 October 2006