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It is heart-warming to see you all here. It feels like the family and clan have journeyed from afar to come together. The Finno-Ugric peoples are scattered across a vast area, far from each other. Since we have different histories and numerous other peoples and borders separate us, our opportunities to keep in contact with each other have varied over time. The cohesive force has long been Finno-Ugric linguistic research, which evolved into an independent discipline around the middle of the 19th century. However, observations concerning Finno-Ugric languages and the relationships between them had been published much earlier. Linguistic affinity provided a foundation on which cooperation in also other fields gradually developed. The inter-war period of the last century saw the arrangement of several Finno-Ugric cultural congresses, the first of which took place in Helsinki in 1921. When the third Finno-Ugric cultural congress took place in Hungary in summer 1928, a special "friendship train" was laid on to take 600 people there from Finland. That may seem like a small number now, but it is not. We can only imagine the kind of effort that had to go into arranging congresses in those days. The international congresses of Finno-Ugrists that have been arranged since 1960 have become important forums for researchers. Thus interaction between Finno-Ugric peoples has been growing again. The same applies to the outside world's knowledge of Finno-Ugric peoples; where they are located, how they cooperate and the problems they have to cope with. The items on the agenda for the III World Congress of the Finno-Ugric Peoples now opening are as topical as ever. They focus on questions associated with preserving and reviving one's own language and culture as well as with the rights of indigenous and minority peoples. It is gratifying to see such a broad attendance at the congress and that also very small peoples are represented here. Every person has a right to their own language and culture. It is a central human right, which is guaranteed in international conventions. That these conventions are respected is especially important from the perspective of small scattered peoples. Language is quite central as a factor underpinning national existence and identity. The preservation of one's own language is not something that can be taken for granted. The right to one's mother tongue or to be educated through its medium is equally important, irrespective of whether this applies to old indigenous peoples or immigrant groups who have come to be surrounded by a new culture. One of the central themes for the Latvian Presidency of the Council of Europe commencing at the beginning of next year is the status of minor languages. I am pleased that this matter so important to all of us will thus receive special attention right across Europe. Similarly, it has been regarded as important within the European Union that the official languages of all member states can be used. This is of central relevance to the legitimacy that the Union enjoys in the perception of citizens, besides which being able to use their own languages makes it easier for everyone to participate in meetings. In addition to people's right to their own language and culture, we can also speak of an entitlement to an unspoiled living habitat. Concern for the environment is something that we all share, but the concrete themes that are topical at any given time vary from one Finno-Ugric people's homeland to another. Other things that vary are the say that inhabitants have in planning concerning the environment in which they live, the degree to which they can participate in developing their living and working environment. The regions where the Finno-Ugric peoples live are rich in scenic beauty, the tranquillity of nature and untouched environments, many of the things that we would like to show also to others. When developing all of this, the public authorities must take the will of citizens and their organisations into account. A democratic civil society and the non-governmental organisations that go with it need official support. Cultural, economic and political cooperation, an interdependency of countries and peoples, has become more and more important. A framework for cultural exchange and trade is provided as official cooperation develops. But people's genuine and natural interest in each other and building friendship on a foundation of interaction between individuals, families and groups are likewise of great importance. There is plenty of positive experience of this among the Finno-Ugrian peoples. One of the points emphasised in the final document of the II World Congress is that joint measures should be directed towards the goal of promoting the development of the Finno-Ugric peoples without detriment to the rights and privileges of other peoples. It was also noted in the final document that "a right of national self-determination, membership of a national minority and special features of cultures and languages have begun to be recognised as belonging to human rights". Interaction and cooperation between the Finno-Ugric peoples, the mutual solidarity that their work for human rights demonstrate, could serve as a good and encouraging example also globally. At the same time as we emphasise the rights of the Finno-Ugric peoples, we must take care of the rights of those national and linguistic groups who live as minorities in our own midst. I wish the III World Congress of the Finno-Ugric Peoples the best of luck and success in its important work. I believe that after this gathering the world will again be a little better. |
