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
