The President of the Republic thanked Sweden and personally Elisabet Borsiin Bonnier for their support to the process of Estonias accession to the European Union and NATO.
In recognition of her services, President Rüütel conferred on the Ambassador the 1st Class Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana.
Expressing her thanks, the Ambassador said that this decoration had a special meaning for her: "These five years in Estonia have made up a large and essential part of my life. When I arrived here, Estonia was on the point of beginning its accession talks with the European Union and NATO, and I have done my utmost to ease this process for Estonia. It was also an interest of mine that Estonia became an active participant in the cooperation of the Baltic Sea region, that this sea would not separate us but enabled all peoples around it to live friendly together."
The Swedish Ambassador confirmed that she had felt very much at home in Estonia and almost all her wishes had come true. "I am glad that Swedish businessmen have understood that investing in Estonia means investing in the future, that Sweden is the biggest investor in Estonia and trade between us is growing steadily," she concluded.
Office of the President
Kadriorg, June 26, 2003
