RIGA, August 22 (RIA Novosti) - Latvian President Vaira Vike-Freiberga awarded Boris Yeltsin, Russia's first democratically elected president, the country's highest decoration, a RIA Novosti correspondent said Tuesday.
The decision to award Yeltsin the Order of Three Stars first class was made by Latvia's parliament.
"I deeply appreciate such a high award," Yeltsin said at the presentation ceremony in Riga Castle, the Latvian president's official residence.
Yeltsin's Protocol Chief Vladimir Shevchenko said the former president, who is in Latvia until August 24, would meet incumbent and former Latvian government officials, and would visit the country's ancient capital, Cesis, which marks its 800th anniversary this year.
