Medal Of Pushkin.

[Laurent]

Prague- Czech President Vaclav Klaus received the Pushkin Medal for the promotion of Russian culture bestowed on him by Russian President Vladimir Putin at a ceremony at Prague Castle today.

Klaus said the award was another proof of good Czech-Russian relations that "are starting acquiring their normality."

This year, Moscow expressed its disappointment at the planned stationing of a U.S. missile defence radar base in the Czech Republic, but the Czech government has made assurances that the radar would not be directed against Russia.

The Pushkin Medal is bestowed on personalities contributing to the spread and teaching of the Russian language, the promotion of Russian culture and the rapprochement and mutual enrichment of cultures of various nations.

The Pushkin Medal was presented to Klaus today by Russian Ambassador to the Czech Republic Alexei Fedotov who also gave Klaus a Pushkin's Eugene Onegin novel in verse in the Russian-Czech edition.

[Laurent]

Fedotov praised Klaus's knowledge of the Russian language. Part of the meeting Klaus and Fedotov spoke Russian and another part Czech.

While visiting Russia this year, Klaus also spoke Russian.

Some 300 renowned personalities, including 30 foreigners, have so far received the Pushkin Medal.

The Pushkin Medal was established in 1999 by former Russian president Boris Yeltsin to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the birth of Alexandr Pushkin, Russia's greatest poet.

Previously, the medal went, for instance, to George Soros, an American philanthropist.

Guyana President Jagdeo Bharrat, Mongolian President Nambaryn Enchbajar and Croatian President Stipe Mesic are among the winners of this year's award.