President decorates Moscow governor, French museum director

Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic has decorated Governor of the Moscow Region Sergei Shoigu with the Order of the Serbian Flag, First Class, it was announced. Frenchman Jean-Pierre Verney will receive the Order of the Serbian Flag, Third Class, the president's press office said in a release Tuesday. President decorates Moscow governor, French museum director According to the release, Shoigu was awarded for outstanding merits in developing international relations and friendship between the Serbian and Russian peoples, while Verney was awarded for his achievements in the development and consolidation of peaceful cooperation and friendly relations between the peoples of Serbia and France, at the proposal of the Center of Emigrants of Serbia. Through his professional commitment, Shoigu made an outstanding contribution to the advancement of overall bilateral relations, especially in the development of economic and trade cooperation between Serbia and Russia, the release reads. It is particularly important, says the release, to emphasize his personal contribution to overall efforts in providing protection and all-encompassing material assistance and support to the Serbian people in Kosovo and Metohija, and to the implementation of assistance programs and cooperation with Serbia in the field dealing with emergencies - floods and fires, said the president's office. Conferring the Order on Shoigu, who until recently served as Russian minister for civil defence, emergencies and elimination of consequences of natural disasters, is a sign of gratitude and recognition on the part of Serbia for his longtime commitment to the development of cooperation between the two countries, and for all that he has done for the welfare of the citizens of Serbia, said the statement. Jean-Pierre Verney, meanwhile, dedicated more than 30 years to fostering the memory of World War I and the 1912-1918 Serbian Liberation Wars, according to the release. Since 2005, Verney has been the executive director of the Museum of the Great War in the city of Meaux, which is entirely dedicated to World War I and offers the best possible tribute to Serbia's participants in the war. In his capacity as the personal secretary of the then French President Jacques Chirac and as an official in the country's Defense Ministry, he made "great efforts to present Serbia in a positive light and stood out and defended the old friendship between the two nations". He is credited with personally enriching the collections of artifacts of historical museums in France and Serbia on several occasions, and for promoting the image of Serbia at events and exhibitions dealing with World War I. Awarding Verney was a sign of Serbia's appreciation for his commitment to preserving the traditional image and position of Serbia, and for fostering positive feelings of friendship towards the Serb people in France, according to the release. Tanjug

President decorates Moscow governor, French museum director

According to the release, Shoigu was awarded for outstanding merits in developing international relations and friendship between the Serbian and Russian peoples, while Verney was awarded for his achievements in the development and consolidation of peaceful cooperation and friendly relations between the peoples of Serbia and France, at the proposal of the Center of Emigrants of Serbia.

Through his professional commitment, Shoigu made an outstanding contribution to the advancement of overall bilateral relations, especially in the development of economic and trade cooperation between Serbia and Russia, the release reads.

It is particularly important, says the release, to emphasize his personal contribution to overall efforts in providing protection and all-encompassing material assistance and support to the Serbian people in Kosovo and Metohija, and to the implementation of assistance programs and cooperation with Serbia in the field dealing with emergencies - floods and fires, said the president's office.

Conferring the Order on Shoigu, who until recently served as Russian minister for civil defence, emergencies and elimination of consequences of natural disasters, is a sign of gratitude and recognition on the part of Serbia for his longtime commitment to the development of cooperation between the two countries, and for all that he has done for the welfare of the citizens of Serbia, said the statement.

Jean-Pierre Verney, meanwhile, dedicated more than 30 years to fostering the memory of World War I and the 1912-1918 Serbian Liberation Wars, according to the release.

Since 2005, Verney has been the executive director of the Museum of the Great War in the city of Meaux, which is entirely dedicated to World War I and offers the best possible tribute to Serbia's participants in the war.

In his capacity as the personal secretary of the then French President Jacques Chirac and as an official in the country's Defense Ministry, he made "great efforts to present Serbia in a positive light and stood out and defended the old friendship between the two nations".

He is credited with personally enriching the collections of artifacts of historical museums in France and Serbia on several occasions, and for promoting the image of Serbia at events and exhibitions dealing with World War I.

Awarding Verney was a sign of Serbia's appreciation for his commitment to preserving the traditional image and position of Serbia, and for fostering positive feelings of friendship towards the Serb people in France, according to the release.