The President of the Republic conferred the I Class Order of the Cross of St. Mary's Land on Pekka Artturi Oinonen, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Finland who is concluding his service in Estonia, in recognition for his services to the Republic of Estonia in the presidential palace of Kadriorg today.

When conferring the decoration, President Meri expressed his hope that Finland would continue its strong support to the attainment of Estonia's foreign policy goals, and that Ambassador Oinonen's contacts with Estonia would last. The President thanked the Ambassador for his support to Estonia's accession negotiations with the European Union, to the training of the defence forces officers, and to the development of economic cooperation. Pekka Oinonen, who held the post of Finnish Ambassador to Estonia in 1996-2001, assured the Estonian Head of State that the ties secured with Estonia in five years' time would never be severed.


Press Service of the Office of the President
Kadriorg, March 16, 2001

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