Official website of the President of Russia

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President of Russia Dmitry Medvedev: Mr President, colleagues,

It is my great pleasure today to present this Russian state award to our friend, President Christofias, for his continuing and very significant contribution to out interstate relations.

President Christofias is a great friend of our country, and this manifests itself in many different spheres. Mr Christofias has very close links with the history of our state, and we realise that the dynamics of interstate relations, the success of our economic ties and other contacts between our countries, including in the humanitarian sphere, all depend on Mr President’s position. I always enjoy my meetings with Mr President, all the more so as he communicates brilliantly both in Greek and in Russian.

During our conversation today Mr Christofias told me that he was very happy that the first official visit of the Russian President took place during his presidency. And I am especially pleased to do what I have just done: present a state award of the Russian Federation to our friend, President Christofias, and to wish Mr President the best of health and success in leading the Republic of Cyprus and strengthening of Russian-Cypriot cooperation.

Once again, I offer you my warmest congratulations.

President of Cyprus Demetris Christofias (retranslated): President Medvedev,

I cannot hide the excitement I feel about being awarded the  Background information Order of Friendship Order of Friendship. The Russian people and Russia are always in my heart. I learned my spiritual values in Moscow, and in the course of my political career I have always tried to develop friendly relations with both your country’s youth and later with its leaders.

I always tried to humbly serve the development of friendly, fraternal contacts with the Russian people. And now, receiving this order imposes on me an additional commitment to continue promoting the all-round development and strengthening of relations in all spheres, both at the bilateral and multilateral level, and to do my best to make our interstate relations an example for other nations.

I am sincerely grateful to you for this great honour. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Dmitry Medvedev: Thank you.