U.S. President George W. Bush hailed Latvia's young democracy on Saturday, Reuters reported. "It's such a joy to come to the country that loves and values freedom," Bush said after receiving the "Three Star Order" that is Latvia's highest honor -- from President Vaira Vike-Freiberga at Riga's 14th century castle. Bush will tour the Latvian capital, hold a summit with Baltic leaders and give a speech at the start of a visit to Europe centered on celebrations in Moscow on Monday to mark the end of World War Two in Europe. Vike-Freiberga welcomed Bush as a champion of freedom in awarding him the "Three-Star Order", set up in 1918 to celebrate the founding of the Latvian state. Past winners include French President Jacques Chirac and Britain's Queen Elizabeth. Bush also praised Vike-Freiberga as a woman "who speaks so clearly about the need for people to be free and the recognition that a free world will lead to peace." Bush will leave Latvia later on Saturday for the Netherlands and then visit Russia and Georgia.
