Estonian PM delivers official insignia to president

22.02.2008

The badge was handed over at Kadriorg Palace, the seat of the presidency.

Under a new service badges act passed by the parliament in December, the president of the republic is bearer of the Collar of the State Coat of Arms service badge. A single copy of the gold chain of the collar exists and it will be passed on together with the president's office.

The State Coat of Arms Collar was made by the Estonian companies ARS Vasetood, Miniplast Pluss and Roman Tavast at the cost of 624,000 kroons (EUR 40,000).

Before the Soviet occupation the Collar of the State Coat of Arms was the official badge of office of the Estonian president. When Soviet occupation authorities arrested President Konstantin Pats in 1940 they also robbed the collar.

It was kept in a Soviet Finance Ministry precious metals coffer until 1963 when it was handed over to the Kremlin armory where it is kept until today.

In connection with the completion of the new copy of the highest Estonian state award the Moscow collar will become a museum item.

The designer of the service badge is Paul Luhtein.

His work was chosen from among five entries in a 1936 competition to create a service badge to be awarded in memory of the anniversary of the proclamation of the Republic of Estonia.

According to a law issued in 1938 the president was designated as the bearer of the highest service badge of the country.

President Konstantin Pats wore the badge on festive occasions.

The Collar of the State Coat of Arms is a gold chain 30 mm wide and four millimeters wide, consisting of 48 gold links, one ruby, three sapphires and 96 diamonds.

Hanging from the chain is a gold pendant 69 mm in diameter bearing the image of the large coat of arms of Estonia and the date 24. II 1918 in relief on its back side.

(EUR 1 = EEK 15.65)

Tallinn newsroom, +372 610 8814, sise@bns.ee