Order "For Merits To The Homeland".

[Laurent]

President Vladimir Putin awarded President of the Russian Academy of Sciences Yury Osipov the Order for Services to the Fatherland, first degree.

The President invited Mr Osipov to his residence near Moscow to award the decoration.

Mr Putin congratulated Mr Osipov on the award and on his seventieth birthday, thanking him for his immense contribution to organising science and to scientific work itself. The President presented Mr Osipov with a painting by a Russian artist.

Earlier, Mr Putin sent Mr Osipov a message of congratulations on his seventieth birthday:

“You have devoted your life to science and to preserving the rich historic traditions and potential of the Russian Academy of Sciences”, the President wrote. “Your fundamental works and research in mechanics and mathematics are known throughout the entire world. I am sincerely happy to see that today you are in fine creative form, successfully combining fruitful research and organisational work, and devoting much time and attention to publishing, educational and public work. Your colleagues value you for your competence, truly limitless energy, for your devotion to your chosen cause and your attentive attitude to others.”