In his Certificate of Merit, President of Latvia congratulates professor, former ombudsman and justice of the Constitutional Court, Dr. iur. Romāns Apsītis, on his 82nd birthday and points out: ‘You have always been a man of duty. A man of conscience. And a man of honour. Wherever you served. In everything you did for Latvia and our Constitution. Our national history will always speak about the Declaration of Independence in your voice. The voice that read our jointly drafted Declaration at the Supreme Council on 4 May 1990. Thank you for playing an enormous role in restoring our independence! I can only admire your prowess and huge dedication to strengthening of justice and the rule of law in Latvia. Congratulations on your big birthday!’
Egils Levits also presented Certificate of Merit to prose writer, novelist and author of children’s books, Juris Zvirgzdiņš, who turns 80 today. ‘Mind, open-mindedness and uniqueness are the distinct features of your character and creative work. You managed to hone these qualities despite the pressure of totalitarian Soviet regime and being separated from Western culture for so long. You managed to create an uncensored or alternative culture in Latvia. I admire your impact on contemporary Latvian literature and the way you enriched it with your works in one of your favourite genres – the grotesque. Congratulations on the big birthday!’
Special ceremony for Romāns Apsītis and Juris Zvirgzdiņš will take place when virus restrictions are lifted.
