Mart Laar receives high Finnish decoration
11.12.2009 | Mart Laar | English news
Finnish President Tarja Halonen has awarded Mart Laar, historian and chairman of the Estonian Pro Patria and Res Publica Union (IRL) party, the Knight of the Order of the White Rose, first class.
Laar was nominated for the honour by Finnish war veterans in recognition of his research into the history of World War II. The decoration was handed over by Finnish Ambassador to Estonia Jaakko Kalela, spokespeople for IRL said.
"It certainly would not have been possible to receive this decoration without the Estonian men who, fighting for the freedom of Finland and for the honour of Estonia, showed that Estonia's goal in World War II was to support neither of the two totalitarian great powers," said Laar.
Last year the man of letters Rein Veidemann received the same decoration.
Source: www.balticbusinessnews.com
