Finnish Ambassador to Indonesia Kai Sauer honored on Friday two Indonesians with first class medals for their meritorious service to the Finnish government.
“Our government decided to award the Medal First Class with Golden Cross of the Order of the White Rose of Finland to Elizabeth De Lima and Agus Nurkarya for their long, dedicated and meritorious service to the Finnish government,” Ambassador Sauer told The Jakarta Post after presenting the medals at his residence.
Both Elizabeth and Agus have worked as local staff at the Embassy of Finland in Jakarta for a long time.
Established in 1919 by former Finnish president Karl Gustaf Mannerheim in his capacity as regent at the time, the Order of the White Rose of Finland is usually awarded to people for merit. There are eight classes in this order, the highest of which is the Commander Grand Cross of the Order of the White Rose of Finland, which the Finnish president wears on a neck chain. Elizabeth and Agus received the seventh-highest order in the Order of the White Rose of Finland.
Elizabeth, who has worked at the embassy for 16 years, said she was extremely happy and thanked the ambassador for recommending that she receive this honor.
“It will motivate me to work even harder,” she said.
