Mr. Asmus,
Ambassador,
Ladies and Gentlemen.

It gives me great pleasure that I can today award the Cross of St. Mary's Land to Ronald Dietrich Asmus, who in many ways has been the ideologue of United States' policy towards the Baltic states and who advocated NATO enlargement a long time before others started talking about this possibility. You have earned our gratitude.

I believe that I am not exaggerating if I say that Ron Asmus has been a major driving force for popularizing NATO enlargement and for building closer ties between Estonia and our Baltic neighbours on the one hand and the United States on the other. He is a true friend of Estonia. The awarding of this decoration is a tribute to his great personal services to Estonian-US relations and through his person it is a tribute to the strong ties that exist between our two countries.

But this decoration is about more than past services rendered and to the state of things at present. It is also about the future. I know that Ron Asmus is presently writing a book, which is bound to have a major impact on future United States policy just as his past writings have helped shape present policies. I would be more than happy if you would find time here in Tallinn to write or at least to conceive my speech I have to deliver in a few days' time at the Charles University in Prague. We count on you to further the cause of European security, which is so closely intertwined with the security of the Baltic states. In many ways Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania have been and indeed still are lithmus papers, which indicate the level of security of our continent. I am certain that Ron Asmus' wide-ranging vision - whether he is in or out of office - will contribute to achieving the goals we all desire; Baltic NATO membership and an even stronger US-Baltic partnership.

In recognition of this visionary work I hereby present you, Ronald Dietrich Asmus, with the Cross of St. Mary's Land.

Thank you.

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