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AFP (France)
October 5, 2006
Sylvie Vartan decorated with the National Order of Merit
Sylvie Vartan and the French minister of Culture.
Thanks to Helene for the article and translation!
Sylvie Vartan was awarded the rank of Officer in the National Order of Merit on Thursday, by the Minister of Culture and Transport, Renaud Donnedieu de Vabres, who greeted "one of the most prestigious ambassadresses of singing as well as French elegance".
"You carry the colors of France high, our language, our culture but also our values of solidarity and fraternity", underlined the minister, recalling that Sylvie Vartan is ambassadress of the World Health Organization concerned with the children of the world.
"You are first and foremost a noble-hearted woman who made her worldwide fame the spearhead of her fight against misery, in particular in Bulgaria with the creation with your brother (Eddy Vartan, Michael's father) of an association in favour of children ", added the minister.
Very moved, Sylvie Vartan, accompanied by her husband the American producer Tony Scotti, declared herself "definitively grateful towards the French Republic".
"I was born in the Balkans at a very difficult time and it is thanks to the courage of my parents and with the love of France that all was possible", she said.
To learn more about what this award is, go to Wikipedia.
The Ordre National du Mérite (in English: The National Order of Merit) is an Order of Chivalry awarded by the President of France. It was founded on December 3, 1963 by President Charles de Gaulle. The reason of the Order's establishment was twofold: to replace the large number of ministerial Orders previously awarded by the ministries; and to create an award that can be awarded more liberally than the prestigious Légion d'honneur.
The Order can be awarded to French nationals, men and women, for distinguished civil and military achievements, though of a lesser level than that required for the conferrment of the Légion d'honneur.
Foreigners are not admitted into the Order as such, but may receive the insignia of the Order as a mark of respect. The President of France is the Grand Master of the Order and appoints all other members of the Order--by convention, on the advice of the Government.
The Order has a common Chancellor and Chancery with the Légion d'honneur. Every French prime minister is made a grand cross of the order after six months of service.
Grades
The Order has five classes, the same as the Légion d'honneur:
-- Grand Cross (grand-croix) - wears the badge on a sash on the right shoulder, plus the star on the left chest;
-- Grand Officer (grand officier) - wears the badge on a ribbon with rosette on the left chest, plus the star on the right chest;
-- Commander (commandeur) - wears the badge on a necklet;
-- Officer (officier) - wears the badge on a ribbon with rosette on the left chest;
-- Knight (chevalier) - wears the badge on a ribbon on the left chest.
© AFP 2006
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