Latvian President Predicts Success

President Vaira Vike-Freiberga of Latvia delivered her thoughts on her nation's history, future, and role in the world to a sizeable audience in Low Library Rotunda yesterday during the fourth day of Columbia's World Leaders Forum.

In the course of her speech, she spoke of the hardships endured by the Latvian people, the nation's transformation into a free market democracy, and her optimistic vision of its future.

The event began with brief opening remarks by University President Lee Bollinger, who emphasized Columbia's eminence and commitment to the academic study of the Balkans region.

Vike-Freiberga opened her remarks with an affirmation of the importance and value of higher education, which she called "the key to more civilized society and for a better world for all of us to live in." She cited reason, fairness, understanding, and mutual respect as guiding principles of such a society.

She was also quick to contrast the open inquiry of academia with the repressive environment that had long dominated her own country. For much of her speech she spoke of her own nation's history, beginning with World War II and continuing through Latvia's declaration of independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.

In particular, she called for more attention to be devoted to the suffering of Eastern Europe during that time--a facet of history that she said has often been overlooked. She condemned the cruelty of Stalin's regime, drawing parallels between Stalin and his fascist enemies. She spoke of the repression endured by all people living under the Soviet Union, and she noted that she had predicted the Soviet Union would not fall from without, but implode--just as it did.

Once she turned to events following Latvia's independence, the tone of Vike-Freiberga's address became markedly more hopeful.

She spoke of Latvia's rapidly rising GDP, its embrace of free market economics, and its implementation of a parliamentary democracy. She trumpeted Latvia's emerging role as a player on the international stage, and the importance of openness with nations emerging from the former Soviet Union.

"The world is changed," she said, "and I think it's important that the countries get to know each other."

She did not claim, however, that Latvia's development has been effortless. "It's been a substantial change, and it's not been without its costs," she said. She spoke of the "psychological scars" that the country has overcome, and of the difficulty in building a social infrastructure from an economy left destitute by decades of tyranny and mismanagement.

She expressed a strong faith in the ability of the Latvian people, praising their willingness to embrace democracy, and their ability to learn from their "experience of tyranny"--something to which they would never return.

The prevailing theme of her speech was optimism. She called Latvia "a success" and ended by emphasizing its growing role in the world, citing its contributions to the American-led war in Iraq and its emerging prominence in the fields of culture and athletics.

"We have something to contribute," she said. "Keep your eyes open, and watch out for Latvia."