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Putin awards Singapore economic miracle author Lee Kuan Yew

The Russian president also gave the high award to other foreign citizens

MOSCOW, September 11 (Itar-Tass) - President Putin has signed a decree, awarding the Russian Order of Honor to Singapore Economic Miracle Author Lee Kuan Yew, who was the prime minister of Singapore in 1959-1990.

"The award goes to the prominent scholar and economist for his big contribution to the development of friendship and cooperation with the Russian Federation and development of scientific and cultural contacts," the decree said.

The Russian president also gave the high award to other foreign citizens, using the same expression of gratitude in his decree. The Order of Honor goes to Director of Prado Museum (Spain) Miguel Zugaza, Professor of Russian studies of Helsinki University Timo Juhani Vihavainen, Rector of Granada University Prof. Lodeiro Gonzalez and Diplomatic Advisor to the President of the Italian Republic Antonio Zanardi Landi.

The CIS laureates of the Russian Order of Friendship include Chief Artistic Director of Brest Drama Theatre (Belarus) Aleksander Zhukov, head of the South-Kazakh region Askar Myrzakhmetov, Vice-rector of Kharkov Polytechnic Institute Alexander Romanovsky and chief conductor of the symphony orchestra of Ukarine's radio Vladimir Sheiko.

The president also awarded the Aleksander Pushkin medal to Polish translator and literary scholar Alicja Wolodzko-Butkiewicz, expert in Russian language at University of Bamako (Mali) Nene Diakite and chief researcher of the V.G Korolenko Poltava Literary-Memorial Museum Lyudmila Olkhovskaya.

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