OREANDA-NEWS. November 4, 2008. At a reception in the Kremlin on National Unity Day, the President presented state awards to foreigners and compatriots living abroad for their contribution to the preservation, promotion and dissemination of Russian culture and art.

First Deputy of the President of the Bishops' Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad Archbishop Mark of Berlin, Germany and Great Britain, director of the Madrid Chekov Theatre Angel Jorge Guderres Ramirez, U.S. resident and painter and sculptor Ilya Kabakov, director and artistic director of Sevastopol's Lunacharsky Academic Russian Theatre Vladimir Magar, president of the Russian music society in France Petr Sheremetev and German director Peter Stein all received orders of friendship.

The Pushkin Medal was awarded to the President of Tokyo University of Foreign Languages Ikuo Kameyama.

Head of an Estonian company Edda Niyttee was thanked by the President and received a corresponding certificate of merit for his contribution to the preservation of Russian monuments and graves in Estonia.

Dmitry Medvedev thanked the award recipients for their huge contribution to the preservation and development of Russian national heritage and congratulated those present and all citizens of Russia on National Unity Day.

The awards ceremony took place in the Kremlin's St George Hall.