“People are the greatest asset of Estonia’s foreign policy. On the 103rd birthday of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, we would like to remember and thank our colleagues and partners, whose contribution to Estonia’s foreign service, implementing our foreign policy and thereby the statehood of Estonia is beyond remarkable. They have earned the highest recognition from the Foreign Ministry – the Order of Merit of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,” Eva-Maria Liimets said.
The Order of Merit, First Class is awarded for extraordinary services in raising Estonia’s profile in the world, and contributing to Estonia’s independence or international cooperation that holds importance for Estonia. This year, three people were awarded the Order of Merit, First Class.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is awarding the Order of Merit, First Class to Toomas Hendrik Ilves, one of the most influential foreign policy figures in Estonia following the restoration of independence, whose services in carrying out Estonia’s Euro-Atlantic integration and standing for Estonia’s interests as an ambassador, foreign minister and president have been extraordinary.
The foreign policy success story of a small country would not be possible without very good friends outside Estonia. This is why the council decided to award the Order of Merit, First Class to Christoph Heusgen, a respected diplomat and long-time foreign policy adviser of German Chancellor Angela Merkel, for his very efficient cooperation through the years in both bilateral relations and as the representative of Germany at the UN between 2017 and 2020.
For preserving Estonia’s continuity and for his dedicated and meaningful service, the Order of Merit, First Class is awarded to Jaak Treimann, who celebrated 35 years in office as Estonia’s honorary consul in Los Angeles, having contributed to both restoring as well as preserving Estonian statehood.
Four people were awarded the Order of Merit, Second Class this year. Marten Kokk is awarded the Order of Merit for his very active and notable work as an ambassador in the European Union’s Committee of the Permanent Representatives, and for his remarkable work in informing the Estonian public about the key issues of the European Union. Anett Kontaveit and Paavo Järvi are awarded the Order of Merit, Second Class for their exceptional contribution to raising Estonia’s profile in the world. Anneli Ohvril will receive the Order of Merit for successfully taking the concept of the World Cleanup Day to the world.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs awards the Order of Merit, Third Class to 14 people. Gert Antsu is awarded the Order of Merit for his remarkable work in shaping and implementing policies concerning Eastern Partners, both as the Estonian ambassador to Ukraine, as head of the Estonian Center of Eastern Partnership and the ambassador at large for Eastern Partnership. Celia Kuningas-Saagapakk is awarded the Order of Merit for her long and excellent work as a diplomat, including her remarkable work as the Estonian ambassador in Rome. Laura Pakaste is recognised with the Order of Merit for her work on launching the Estonian embassy in Abu Dhabi. Tanel Sepp is awarded the Order of Merit for his outstanding and effective work in challenging positions – Afghanistan and Ethiopia.
The Order of Merit, Third Class is awarded to the following people:
Pascale Bonnard for his effective work promoting Estonia’s interests globally and for his extremely efficient help in organising evacuations from Afghanistan;
Ulrich Holstein-Holsteinborg for his excellent and long-term work as Estonia’s honorary consul in Denmark and as the founder and president of the Danish-Estonian Society;
Kadri Humal Ayal for outstanding work as Estonia’s honorary consul in Kenya, and for promoting relations between Estonia and Kenya and Estonia and Africa;
Anne Jagminiene for her long-term contribution to the embassy in Vilnius and the restoration of Estonia’s foreign service in general, and for maintaining continuity at the embassy since 1993;
Aimar Köss for excellent cooperation as Estonia’s border representative on the Estonia-Russia border and on migration issues;
Merje Laht for preserving and promoting Estonian language at European Union institutions in Brussels;
Piret Noorhani for her excellent work in preserving Estonian heritage and promoting Estonian culture in Canada;
Peep Pillak for excellent and long-standing work as a researcher at the National Archives, including on issues related to cultural assets and war graves and mapping the burial sites of our diplomats;
Reka Putnoky for her services in preserving Estonian cultural identity and the continuity of Estonia in Hungary as a translator and promoter of Estonian culture;
Kristi Raik for her services and excellent cooperation as the Director of the Estonian Foreign Policy Institute and long-term opinion leader on foreign policy issues.
The Order of Merit decorations will be presented next year once the pandemic situation is safe enough for holding formal events.
Additional information:
Communication Department
[email protected]
