Putin awards Order of Friendship to UN Secretary-General

- Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday signed a decree awarding the Order of Friendship to United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

The decoration was awarded to Ban for "special merits in strengthening peace, friendship, cooperation and mutual understanding between peoples," the officially published decree said.

Ban first took office as the UN chief on Jan. 1, 2007, and he was re-elected for another five-year term in office starting from Jan. 1, 2012.

The order, set up in 1994, is meant to reward Russian citizens and foreign nationals for outstanding accomplishments in strengthening peace and cooperation with Russia, as well as for charity activities.

Among those awarded are Prince Michael of Kent, Oscar Niemeyer, the architect of the Brazilian capital, and former President of the International Olympic Committee, Jacques Rogge.

source : xinhuo