French ex-president Chirac given Russian award

Former French President Jacques Chirac received an award from Russia on Thursday for his contribution to promoting Russian culture.

Chirac was the only foreigner among nine figures from the worlds of science and culture to receive the State Award from President Dmitry Medvedev. Medvedev said Chirac -- who as a young man translated Russian poet Alexander Pushkin's verse novel "Eugene Onegin" into French -- was "capable of bringing people together from different nationalities".

"His interest in Russian culture has had a positive impact on developing the relationship between our countries," Medvedev told an audience of prominent Russian film directors, artists, businessmen and ministers.

-Reuters