Russia Honors Chirac With Top State Award Yeltsin Thanks French Leader For Boosting Russia’s Status
Boris Yeltsin awarded French President Jacques Chirac a top state honor Thursday, a likely thanks for helping Moscow gain a voice in NATO and a seat with the Group of Seven.
The Russian president, who enjoys a close friendship with Chirac, presented him with the Order for Service to the Fatherland. It’s the first time a foreigner has ever received the state honor.
Yeltsin placed a red ribbon on Chirac’s shoulder and fastened the star-shaped order in his lapel, setting a warm tone for a three-day trip intended to show strong backing for Yeltsin’s reforms and boost trade.
He told Chirac that the transformation of the richest industrialized countries from the Group of Seven to the soon-to-be Group of Eight is “mostly to your credit.”
Observers said the award also has much to do with France’s tough stance on NATO expansion.
“It’s an act of gratitude to Chirac because of his position on the issue of NATO enlargement,” said Yevgeny Volk, a political analyst in Moscow for the Washington-based Heritage Foundation.
“He was one of those people who very much lobbied against expansion and for giving Russia a bigger role.”
The French leader, who speaks Russian well enough to translate a book by Alexander Pushkin into French years ago, said he was honored to be considered a friend of Russia. He called Yeltsin “my friend” several times.
“Yeltsin will go down into the history of Russia and the world as the man who succeeded in restoring freedom, honor and might to his country,” Chirac said.
No agreements are expected to be signed during Chirac’s two days of meetings with top Russian officials in Moscow and a stop Saturday in St. Petersburg.
Instead, French officials said his visit is intended as a show of support to his counterpart as Russia tries to secure a more prominent place in the international community.
Chirac also will focus on French-Russian trade relations. France ranks only eighth among Russia’s foreign trade partners.