President Arnold Rüütel thanked Ömer Altug for his remarkable contribution to enlivening Estonian-Turkish cooperation, and underlined several high-level visits that had taken place during the Ambassador's term of office. In the words of the President of the Republic, he has very pleasant memories of mutual state visits and he asked the Ambassador to extend his best greetings to the President of the Republic of Turkey, Mr Ahmet Necdet Sezer.
The Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey remarked that being the first Turkish ambassador residing in Tallinn he had committed himself to creating an embassy that would make an extra contribution to the existing relations between Estonia and Turkey. ''I am happy that I had an opportunity to live in Estonia for four years,'' Ambassador Altug added.
In recognition of the Ambassador's services, President Rüütel conferred on him the Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana, 1st class.
Public Relations Unit of the Office of the President
Kadriorg, November 8, 2005
