French Ambassador to Serbia Jean-Francois Terral on Oct. 22 awarded the most distinguished French medal, the Legion of Honor, in the degree of Chevalier (Knight), to Ruzica Djindjic, the director of the Dr Zoran Djindjic Fund, and Veran Matic, the head of B92.

The ceremony, held in the French Embassy in Belgrade, was attended by President Boris Tadic, Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic, Deputy Prime Minister Ivica Dacic and other ministers.

Terral said that the award to Ruzica Djindjic was France's recognition of both her husband, the late Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic, and "her personal contribution to and dignity in carrying on his spiritual legacy."

"Awarding you this decoration today [Oct. 22], France is above all paying tribute to Zoran Djindjic, your husband. Alongside that, paying honor to you personally because of the dignity with which you have carried on his spiritual legacy and with which you continue to spread his values," said the French ambassador.

Awarding the Legion of Honor medal to Veran Matic, Terral said that Matic was a "humanist and an exceptional journalist and fighter for the freedom of the press" and recalled B92's efforts to create a democratic society in Serbia, particularly during the 1990s.

Ruzica Djindjic said that the medal she was awarded had "improved the meaning of her life because everything that had been done had not been without result."

Matic said that France, its institutions, media and non-governmental sector had offered significant support to the media, non-governmental sector and democratic parties in Serbia during the most difficult moments in the fight for democratic values and that he saw this recognition as a continuation of the promotion of those values.

President Boris Tadic said that the Legion of Honor awards given to Ruzica Djindjic and Veran Matic were of exceptional importance to Serbia and its recent history.