Mart Laar receives high Georgian decoration from president Mikheil Saakashvili
Today, January 20, 2010, the president of Georgia, Mikheil Saakashvili awarded the Chairman of Pro Patria and Res Publica Union Mart Laar the St. George's Victory Order, which is the highest state decoration a foreigner can receive.
Laar was awarded for his activities in pulling Georgia out of economic crisis into which the country had sunk in the beginning of the 21st century.
By applying Estonia's experience in carrying out economic reforms, Laar helped to raise Georgia's competitiveness and decrease significantly corruption.
Mart Laar stated that while he is extremely honored to receive this award, he feels that the real honor belongs to the Georgians. As the economic adviser to the President it was his task to suggest several measures for pulling Georgia out from its difficult economic situation and for creating a favorable environment for investments.
„The situation in Georgia was indeed depressing, I have to admit that I've never seen a country economically so collapsed. Georgia has carried out a miracle and it is almost impossible to recognize this country any more," said Laar.
„My role in Georgia has been to give advice, but the real honor belongs to the Georgians who had courage to follow the direction of radical reforms and to achieve success on this road".
The very first St. George's Victory Order was awarded to U.S. president George W. Bush in 2005. The President of Poland Lech Kaczyński and the President of Lithuania Valdas Adamkus were the next recipients of the order.
