FRENCH LEGION OF HONOR AWARDED TO ARA ABRAHAMYAN

PanARMENIAN.Net - French President Jacques Chirac has signed a decree on awarding well-known public figure, businessman, President of the Union of Armenians of Russia and UNESCO Good Will Ambassador Ara Abrahamyan with the highest decoration of the French Republic - the Legion of Honor. "Ara Abrahamyan has done much to develop the Russian-French relations," Russian Ambassador to France Aleksandr Avdeyev said. "He co-chairs the Russian-French Dialogue non-governmental association, sponsored by Presidents V. Putin and J. Chirac," the Ambassador said. "Ara Abrahamyan has assisted in the erection of the monument to the Soviet Soldier at Pere Lachaise French Cemetery marking the 60th anniversary of the Great Victory. He has organized productive bilateral business meetings, as well as a Russian Film Festival in Onfler Norse city," Avdeyev remarked. "I think Ara Abrahamyan has deserved the French awarding him the highest decoration," he said. Napoleon has established the Legion of Honor in 1802. The decoration is awarded for outstanding services to France and has 5 degrees, Itar-Tass reported.