Russia has honoured UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon with Order of Friendship Award.
He was bestowed with this award for his special merits in strengthening peace, friendship, cooperation and mutual understanding between peoples.
In this regard, Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree awarding the Order of Friendship to Ban Ki-moon.
Ban Ki-moon is eighth secretary-general of the United Nations. He had entered into the office for the first time on 1 January 2007.
He as re-elected in June 2011 and shall remain in office till 31 December 2016.
Prior to becoming Secretary-General of UN, he was working as diplomat in Ministry of Foreign Affairs of South Korea and in the United Nations.
He also had served as the foreign minister of South Korea from January 2004 to November 2006.
The Order of Friendship established in 1994 is a state decoration of the Russian Federation. It is awarded to Russian citizens and foreign nationals for their outstanding work, deeds and efforts for betterment of relations with the Russian Federation and its people.