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The President of the Republic altered his resolution on awarding decorations06.02.2002
President Arnold Rüütel today amended and supplemented his resolution on conferring state decorations, signed on February 4.
According to the President's resolution of this day, Vello Lind is excluded from those having been awarded the IV Class Order of the National Coat of Arms.
Concerning Jaan Anvelt and Heino Tammemäe, the original resolution has been supplemented by the word "posthumously".
To explain his resolution of this day the Head of State said that, as for Vello Lind, he had corrected a mistake caused by human error. The regrettable information of the demise of Jaan Anvelt, presented for awarding by the the Committee on Decorations, and Heino Tammemäe, presented by the Estonian Union of Freedom Fighters, had not reached the President prior to signing the resolution.
The President thanked all those having rightly pointed out the mistakes occurred. However, he also expressed his regrets that attempts to mislead the public by misjudging the legitimacy of the Presidents resolution had been made, amongst others by some civil servants.
Pursuant to § 78, subparagraph 15 of the Constitution, the President of the Republic has been granted the exclusive power to confer state awards to persons having rendered services to Estonia. In compliance with the Decorations Act, the Chairman of the Riigikogu, the Prime Minister, the ministers, the county governors, and other persons authorised by law, submit their relevant proposals to the President through the Committee on Decorations. President Rüütel accepted the proposals made.
In general, applications are submitted until October 1. Yet, as President Rüütel took office on October 8, it was not possible to meet the given deadline. The Committee on Decorations and its Chairman were informed of this objective circumstance. Neither do the details of procedure affect the legitimacy of the President`s resolution. Nevertheless, the deadline established by law to proclaim the resolution on awarding decorations a fortnight prior to the presentation of decorations, taking place on February 23 was met.
Due to the fact that ten years have passed since the independence of the Republic of Estonia was restored, the President decided that this year special tribute will be paid to these Members of the Supreme Council who, in August 1991, had voted for the restoration of Estonia's independence. Tribute to a no lesser degree goes to the Members of the then Government and those who reinstated our local governments: relevant proposals to honour them have been submitted to the President by the Head of the Government of that time and the Estonian Association of Rural Local Governments. In his resolution, the President endeavoured to take into consideration all well-founded proposals.
Press Service of the Office of the President
Kadriorg, February 6, 2002
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