Your Majesty King Frederik,
Your Majesty Queen Mary,
Excellencies,
Ladies and gentlemen,
It is a great pleasure to welcome you back to Latvia. I must admit, it is quite a challenge to say anything about Latvia that you do not already know, Your Majesty.
You became acquainted with Latvia and the Latvian people as Crown Prince in the early 1990s. You have often visited Latvia in an official capacity and privately. You spent time at the University of Latvia more than 30 years ago on an exchange programme. We still hear vivid recollections from students. The books you donated served as the foundation for the creation of the Political Science Library. Yet, what students remember most fondly are the informal intellectual discussions, sometimes accompanied by a pint or two of beer.
It is often said that Latvians are everywhere, including Aarhus University. Some of the Latvians you studied with are here with us today at Riga Castle. In a sense, we have arranged a small reunion for Your Majesty.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank Your Majesty for always being a staunch supporter of the independence of the Baltic states. You even wrote your master’s thesis on the foreign policy of the Baltic states.
We still fondly remember Her Majesty’s Queen Margrethe II, Prince Henrik, and Your Majesty’s visit to Latvia in 1992, when you arrived in Riga aboard the Royal Yacht “Dannebrog”.
It was a historic visit. The first royal visit to Latvia since the restoration of our independence. Please convey our warmest greetings and best wishes to Her Majesty Queen Margrethe on behalf of the people of Latvia and myself.
Both you and your family are very familiar with Latvia. However, this is your first state visit to Latvia as King and Queen of Denmark.
Velkommen til Letland!
Excellencies,
Latvia and Denmark have much in common. We are united by the Baltic Sea, a link that has connected us since the time of the Vikings as an important trade route. Today, Danish companies are significant investors in Latvian ports and among the most active partners in maritime freight transport.
Both Latvia and Denmark are renowned for their beautiful lowlands. In fact, we might even compete for the title of “the lowest peak”. Latvia’s highest peak reaches 312 metres, while Denmark’s is 171 metres.
We are united by our celebration of the summer solstice, when we spend the shortest night of the year gathered around a bonfire with family and friends, singing and rejoicing. We have unique festive traditions: leaping over bonfires, weaving flower crowns, and singing until dawn. We love to celebrate the spectacle of nature.
We also celebrate hockey, especially when we see the red-and-white jerseys on the rink. I would like to congratulate the Danish men’s national ice hockey team for their strong performance at this year’s Ice Hockey World Championship.
Latvia has left its mark on the history of Danish ice hockey. Jørgen Hviid, known as the “father of Danish hockey”, grew up in Riga. The founder of the Danish Hockey Federation, who was inducted into the International Hockey Federation and the Danish Hockey Halls of Fame.
Denmark will always be close to our hearts thanks to Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tales. After all, everyone in this room has been enchanted by his stories or read them to their children. Most of us have spent evenings building LEGO castles and flowers. Latvians also read Jussi Adler-Olsen’s crime novels and get so absorbed in his world that it can be hard to fall asleep afterwards.
Dear guests,
A sense of togetherness, a warm atmosphere, and an appreciation of the good things in life – that is the Danish hygge. The soft glow of candlelight is hygge. I am pleased to note that Latvia also contributes to creating this warm atmosphere. In fact, nearly one in every hundred candles found in Europe is produced in Latvia. Thanks in part to Danish investment.
Latvia can also be found in Denmark – Latvian design, Latvian literature translated into Danish, and even Latvian technology that helps maintain Denmark’s famous wind turbines. And, of course, you will find Latvian tourists in Denmark, especially in the capital, Copenhagen, and the 'LEGO capital', Billund.
Danish openness and sense of togetherness. The Danish royal family. Danish design. The colourful houses of Copenhagen. The Danish spirit of innovation and curiosity. The courage of the Vikings. The Olsen Brothers. That is what Denmark means to us.
Your Majesties, Ladies and gentlemen,
Denmark never recognised the Soviet occupation of Latvia. You gave refuge to Latvians after the war, among them, my grandfather, Edgars Liepaskalns. For this reason, I feel a personal and special bond with Denmark.
Denmark was among the first countries to recognise Latvia’s independence, and the first to open a cultural institute here. This year marks the 35th anniversary of its opening.
Denmark supported us on our path towards joining the European Union and NATO. Without your support, our road to the Euro-Atlantic family would have been far more winding.
Denmark has made, and continues to make, a significant contribution to the development of Latvia’s Armed Forces. Today, Danish soldiers stand shoulder to shoulder with Latvian forces and those of other NATO nations, strengthening Latvia's and the region's security. We highly appreciate the role of Major General Jette Albinus in leading Multinational Division North. Tomorrow, we will have the opportunity to learn more about the soldiers in the Ādaži base, the so-called “mini-NATO”.
We work side by side within the framework of Nordic–Baltic cooperation (NB8), which is increasingly important to us all.
Together, we stand for a free Ukraine and support it in its fight against Russian aggression. We support Ukraine bilaterally, as well as within NATO and the European Union.
Next year, we will also be working together in the United Nations Security Council. This will be our opportunity to stand together for Ukraine, for international peace, security, and resilience. It will be our responsibility to uphold the rules-based international order.
Your Majesties!
Please allow me to propose a toast to you and your health. To the people of Denmark. To the strong friendship between our nations. I invite you to raise your glasses to our mutual understanding and the trust we have in one another.
