At a solemn ceremony, Russian President Vladimir Putin awarded the Order of Merit for the Fatherland, IV degree, to the director of the Directorate for Information and Press of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Maria Zakharova, TASS reported, BTA reported.
The decree of the head of state is to award her with an order for "contribution to the implementation of the foreign policy course of the Russian Federation and long-term conscientious diplomatic service".
At the ceremony of presenting state awards in the Kremlin, Zakharova thanked her parents for instilling in her a love for Russia.
"I am grateful to my father, Vladimir Yuryevich Zakharov, and my mother, Irina Vladislavovna Zakharova, for many things, but most of all I want to thank them and bow to them for discovering in me, educating me and teaching me to love my country, my Motherland - Russia", she noted.
According to her, her parents told her about the history of Russia, the beauty of its nature, the greatness of its culture and art. "And they also said that there is no country without its people. And they revealed the secret of success. I share this secret knowledge with you: all achievements, all successes that are achieved, we must dedicate to our country and give ourselves many times more to the people," added Zakharova.
The official representative of the Russian diplomatic service also expressed gratitude to the ministry for the trust and mentorship.
Zakharova celebrates her 50th anniversary today. Putin sent her a congratulatory telegram.
After graduating from the Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO) in 1998, she began working at the Russian Foreign Ministry. She was the editor of the monthly publication "Diplomatic Gazette". She performed the duties of head of the directorate for operational monitoring of the media in the information and press department. In 2005-2008, she was the head of the press service of the Permanent Mission of Russia to the UN in New York. In 2008-2011, she held various positions in the central apparatus of the ministry. In 2011-2015, she was the deputy director of the "Information and Press" Directorate of the Russian Foreign Ministry. In August 2015, she was appointed director of this directorate.