MOSCOW, June 12 (RIA Novosti) - President Dmitry Medvedev conferred a Russian state award on former French president Jacques Chirac on Thursday, and thanked him for his contribution to humanitarian work and to improving ties with Russia.
Medvedev led a state award ceremony in the Kremlin on Russia Day, which marks the June 12, 1990 declaration of sovereignty by the Russian Soviet Republic's parliament, a key step toward the breakup of the Soviet Union.
Medvedev said: "I am sincerely glad to welcome Mr. Chirac to the Kremlin. His Russian Federation State Award is a recognition of his outstanding achievements in humanitarian work."
"His enormous personal contribution to integration processes in Europe and the development of Russian-French relations is well known," Medvedev said.
