Moray MP Angus Robertson has been presented with one of Europe’s most prestigious awards.
Mr Robertson was invited to a ceremony in the Austrian parliament in Vienna, where he was given the Grand Decoration of Honour in Gold for Services to the Republic of Austria.
The prize is Austria’s highest honour, which is given to people who have served to benefit the nation.
Mr Robertson worked for the Austrian Broadcasting Corporation and as BBC correspondent in Vienna during the 1990s, and has served as chairman and secretary of the Austrian Parliamentary Group at Westminster since 2001.
He is a regular German-language commentator on the Austrian media.
The MP, who is also the SNP’s Westminster leader, said: “It is a huge honour to be granted this award by the Austrian president and to receive it in the Austrian parliament.
“Co-operating between European nations is really important to me, and I have worked to foster relations between Austria and the UK in the Westminster parliament since 2001.”
The ceremony was attended by Austrian interior minister Wolfgang Sobotka, senior diplomats and former journalist colleagues of Mr Robertson from the Austrian media.
The award was decreed by outgoing Austrian president Heinz Fischer, and presented by the parliamentary leader of the governing coalition People’s Party, Reinhold Lopatka and the Austrian Ambassador to the UK, Martin Eichtinger.
Mr Eichtinger, said: “Angus Robertson is a good friend of Austria and Europe.
“This award is a valued token of our appreciation for his work as well as his promotion of Austria at home and abroad.”
