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The President of the Republic was given the Rotary Foundation Distinguished Service Award17.05.2002
President Arnold Rüütel today at Kadriorg received the Rotary International World President, Richard D. King.
R.D. King recalled that President Rüütel had visited the headquarters of their organisation in the USA ten years ago and this visit was remembered there up to this day. Our Head of State admitted that this very visit to the USA had inspired him to initiate the Rotary movement in Estonia too; he himself had participated in forming the Rotary Club of Saaremaa.
During his presidency, R.D. King has visited 74 countries out of 204 in which Rotary clubs are active, and he views the expansion of the movement as his mission. ''We have understood that after the events of September 11 in New York people across the world must join forces to make the world better and happier,'' Mr King argued for his aspirations. Every eight hours a new Rotary club is established in the world prioritising in its activities promotion of education and charity.
The President of the Republic acknowledged the Rotary movement in Estonia and in the world in general and the activities of the Rotary clubs in the co-operation district of South Finland and Estonia in particular.
R.D. King said that before long he was going to meet the President of the United States of America, Georges W. Bush, and that he would suggest him to visit in any case Estonia a country of rapid advancement and of beautiful nature. President Rüütel recollected his meetings with Ex-President Georges Bush who those days had unambiguously expressed his support to the Estonia's aspirations to regain its independence.
Rotary International President R.D. King noted at the end of today's meeting: ''Yoy are a man with a happy face, Mr President. This attests to your high moral standards. Estonia can be happy for having such a President!''
R.D King presented President Arnold Rüütel with the Rotary Foundation Distinguished Service Award and a plaque going with it. The same Distinguished Service Award has been given to the Pope and to the King of Thailand, and shortly, the President of the United States will be presented with it.
The meeting was attended by Mrs Cherie K. King, the prospective Governor of the Rotary District of Finland, Karl Tallberg, the President of the Rotary Clubs of Estonia, Andres Sauter, and the President of the Rotary Club of Tallinn, Hans Sittnikow, with his his spouse.
Press Service of the Office of the President
Kadriorg, May 17, 2002
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