Adress by the Queen of The Netherlands at the State Dinner given by the President of the Russian Federation, Moscow 5 june 2001
Mr President,
It gives me great pleasure to make this State visit to your country - the first in our history - and to be your guest here this evening together with our son. More than three hundred years lie between the almost legendary visit paid by Tsar Peter the Great to our country in sixteen ninety-seven and sixteen ninety-eight, and our presence here today. One should not therefore conclude that the relations between our countries could be described as cool. On the contrary, through the centuries our contacts have been varied, friendly and peaceful.
Our commercial ties, which centred on the Dutch trading post in Novgorod, date back to the time of the Hanseatic league. Many merchants and craftsmen settled here then. Moreover, during the reign of Catherine the Great, the Dutch made large investments in this country. Conversely, it was interest in the growing success and prosperity of our young Republic that brought Tsar Peter to the Netherlands. His visit continues to appeal strongly to the imagination in both our countries. A few years ago it was commemorated with a great number of programmes of lasting significance in the fields of cultural and scientific cooperation.
The increasing contacts with your country also inspired an interest in its people and culture. The flowering of the arts in nineteenth century Russia - and of literature in particular - made a great impression in the Netherlands and indeed throughout Europe. In the twentieth century, Russian cinema and visual arts also became a source of inspiration to Western Europe. The extraordinary explosion of creativity that followed the October Revolution fascinated many Western artists and intellectuals and left an indelible mark on our cultural life as well. The works of your famous composers are in the repertoire of all our great orchestras, which moreover include many Russian musicians and are often directed by Russian conductors.
Mr President, The Netherlands is small in size, Russia is as large as a continent. Nevertheless, there is one clear point of similarity: Russia is without doubt also a European country. In the last two hundred years in particular, it has played a major role in the history of Europe - and of the world.
The cordial relations between our royal families were reflected in the marriage of our King William the Second to the daughter of the Tsar of Russia, Princess Anna Paulovna. Later, Tsar Nicholas the Second initiated the Hague Peace Conference of eighteen ninety-nine, which was of lasting significance to us as it led to the establishment of the Permanent Court of Arbitration and the construction of the Peace Palace.
The twentieth century alas did not bring the peace that was envisaged, but devastating wars and dramatic social and political revolutions. During the First World War many Russians lost their lives and others endured great hardship. The Second World War brought even greater horrors. The suffering and the courage of the Russian people in those years are unforgettable. Unforgettable too is the contribution made by the Russian army to the final victory. For this, we shall always remain deeply grateful to Russia.
The revolution in nineteen seventeen created a completely new social, political and constitutional system, which heralded a new era for Russia, but at the same time brought a regime that was oppressive and coercive. The urge for freedom and economic reform finally put an end to this system. Now, more than ten years later, your country has grown used to having a head of state who takes office after democratic elections. This period is therefore unique in the history of your country.
Radical changes as have taken place in your country in recent years inevitably involve serious social and economic problems and very painful consequences for many people. The old certainties have been lost and new ones have yet to be established. You personally have indicated that you attach great importance to strengthening the rule of law, increasing legal certainty for citizens, and protecting freedom of expression as an indispensable element in society. In this way the Russian Federation has clearly shown that it subscribes to the principles of the European community of values. This provides a basis to work together further on building a secure, prosperous and democratic Europe.
This afternoon the Joint Russian-Dutch Action Programme for the years to come was signed. This agreement provides for permanent political and economic dialogue and for cooperation between our countries in such fields as peace and security, justice and law enforcement, education and culture, and the environment and water management. Perhaps the Netherlands will be able to offer support, through the many contacts and exchanges that will arise from the Programme, to the people of Russia in their search for new certainties and thus make a modest contribution to the further social and economic development of the Russian Federation. It would be gratifying if in this way our countries could further strengthen the cordial relations that exist between them.
Mr President,
Russia is essential to Europe. This is true for the past, the present and the future. The relations between our two countries are once again as they were in the past: good and varied. A Russian proverb says: "Stary droeg loetsje novych dvoech" (one old friend is better than two new ones). Looking back on our shared history of over three hundred years, the Netherlands can certainly count itself among Russia's old friends.
May I invite all those present to raise their glasses with me and drink to your health, Mr President, to that of Mrs Putina, and to the future of the great Russian people.