Dear Ladies and Gentleman,

It is honour and privilege to be here today at the official opening of the monument, commemorating Russia Grand Duke Nicholas, later Tsar Nicholas I of Russia, who 200 years ago during his tour of Scotland stayed here – at this very same hotel.

It is not the first time I am visiting Moffat myself, and each time with greater astonishment I discover how many links exist bonding the Scottish and Russian culture and history.

I was recently told a riddle – what could possibly connect the Russian Tsar, Robert Burns, Napoleon, stolen kisses in a Borders wood, the mediaeval Scottish wordsmith Thomas the Rhymer and Russian Poet Lermontov?

And the answer is – the town of Moffat with its fascinating history, legends and Russian connections.

It took me some time to put the puzzle together, and I am not going now to ease your task. But I am sure you would appreciate – what a diverse tapestry!

Grand Duke Nicholas was a young man of 20 when he came to Scotland. The goals of his visit were set up in a special Memorandum prepared by the outstanding Russian Diplomat, Head of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Count Karl Nesselrode, and they were focused on making acquaintance to people – excellencing in science, arts and literature. Karl Nesselrode noted the necessity of judging every foreign country in the context of its history and raised the idea that the social institutions never appear as the result of the will of man alone, but are the fruit of time, events and the very nature of circumstance. Good educational aspect to his trip, wasn’t it?

As we could judge now – Nicholas I learnt the lesson and kept some of these connections through all his life as well as his love to Robert Burn’s poetry (this is just one of the clues for the riddle that I told you).

Here I suppose lays a thought which we modern people should probably bear in mind – fruitful relations between us, as well as between different countries and cultures is based on deep interest and respect as well as the sincere intention to learn from each other and share.

And let this plaque that we are inaugurating today be the reminder and a sign of a good bonds between Scotland and Russia.

Thank you!