Speech of President of Latvia Raimonds Vējonis at the conference “Towards a State of Latvia. The Latgale Centenary Congress. Peoples’ Forum in Daugavpils” in Daugavpils on 6 May 2017

Good morning in Daugavpils! Dear participants of the Peoples’ Forum, It is a great pleasure for me to welcome you in Daugavpils, where you have gathered to discuss the contribution of residents of Latvia representing various nationalities for Latvia, especially emphasising their role in the formation and development of our country! The Daugavpils Unity House marks its 80th anniversary this year, but our Latvia will mark its first centenary next year. May the Peoples’ Forum today be an essential beginning of those remarkable centenary celebrations of Latvia! It is deeply symbolic that we meet in Daugavpils, a city that always has been proud of its multicultural traditions. There is the famous Church Hill located in Daugavpils, where churches of four different confessions cohabit. The churches are attended by the people belonging to different religions and different nationalities, but they have always esteemed and respected different religious and ethnic belonging. Daugavpils symbolises our ability to be united in our diversity and work together to build the future of Latvia, with everyone preserving and tending his or her own traditions, language, and culture. On the territory of Latvia, people of many nationalities have lived next to each other over the centuries. The tolerance witnessed on the Church Hill has always existed among them that also laid the foundations of our independence. The act on the proclamation of the Republic of Latvia emphasised that everyone was invited to participate in the formation of the new state, where was no room to oppression and injustice. Dear audience, Awareness of one’s ethnic background and the desire for preserving the mother tongue and culture are the roots of a human identity affecting his or her attitude towards other people and determining his or her fate. These roots allow a person setting in his or her native land and inspire to do the seemingly impossible things in seemingly hopeless conditions. Moreover, there are people living in Latgale actually capable of accomplishing great things. Now I wish to interpose. The topic of Latgale is very important these days. I wish to mention the fact that is not often talked about. In 1270, Latgalian priest from Jersika, Latvian Jurģis translated the Gospel into Old Russian language. This Gospel further on was called the Jersika’s or Latvian’s Gospel. In my opinion, Latgale also had a very significant role by giving the word “Latvian” to Latvia. Latgale is both the homeland of the red-white-red flag and the homeland of word “Latvian”. Aspiration of peoples for freedom was the reason why the Soviet empire ceased to exist. National minorities had very large merits in the restoration of the independence of the Republic of Latvia, because we united in a common struggle for the values we shared, that is, for Latvia and freedom. Today I wish to commemorate the legendary president of the Latvian Polish community, one of the leaders of the Latvian Popular Front, Ms Ita Kozakēviča in particular. Being a convinced carer of her folk tradition, she represented all those people, who cherished freedom of Latvia. Unfortunately, the fate did not allow Ita Kozakēviča to live in the independent Latvia, but her position will always remind of the values that are shared by all the peoples living in Latvia and the lay basis of an independent state of Latvia. People are the largest treasure of a country. Therefore, it is very important that every resident of Latvia would feel belonging to it, regardless of his or her nationality or religion. Using the opportunity, I invite those residents of Latvia who are not citizens of Latvia, consider opportunities to be admitted to citizenship. It is particularly important for parents to register their newborn children as citizens of Latvia. The procedure is very simple. I am convinced that it is high time to stop issuing the status of non-citizen to the children born in Latvia. The diversity of the population in Latvia is our strength and treasure. Our world- renowned celebrities, which Latvia has always been proud of, include representatives of all the nationalities living in Latvia. I wish to thank many associations of national minorities and artistic collectives, whose enthusiasm enriches our Song and Dance Festival every time. Being diverse, we can be more open to the world and take advantage of all the new and progressive things it offers. Let us respect each other in our diversity and let us all together honour our homeland, Latvia! May the Peoples’ Forum inspire us for new ideas and achievements for the growth of Latvia! I welcome you to the Peoples’ Forum in the Riga Castle next year that will mark the Centenary of Latvia!