Upon directives of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the Saudi ambassador to France Dr. Mohammed bin Ismail Al Al-Sheikh decorated the French Minister of Culture and Communications Frederic Mitterrand with King Abdulaziz Order of Merit of the First Class in recognition of his efforts to promote cultural ties between the two countries. At a ceremony held at the residence of the ambassador in Paris today, Al Al-Sheikh expressed in his own name and on behalf of the people of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia thanks to France for its participation in the recently-concluded Al-Janadriyah National Festival for Heritage and Culture in Saudi Arabia. For his part, Mitterrand expressed thanks to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud for decorating him with this high-level and prestigious honor. He considered this decoration as embodying the call of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud for rapprochement among different peoples and civilizations. The event was attended by senior government officials and a host of diplomats, intellectuals and media representatives.
