PUTIN AWARDS ORDER OF FRIENDSHIP TO ARMENIAN CATHOLICOS GAREGIN II

Interfax, Russia
Aug. 8, 2006

Moscow, August 8, Interfax – Russian President Vladimir Putin has
awarded an Order of Friendship to Supreme Patriarch-Catholicos Karekin
II of All Armenians.

The Order of Friendship was conferred on Karekin II "in recognition
of his great contribution to the development and strengthening of
Russian-Armenian friendly relations," the Kremlin press service told
Interfax on Tuesday.

Karekin II is the 132nd Supreme Patriarch-Catholicos of All
Armenians. He is an honorary member of the Armenian Academy of Sciences
and holder of national awards of the USSR, Jordan, Rumania, Ukraine
and France.