11.   It was the first time that Habibie has bestowed the awards for service to the nation since he replaced former President Suharto after riots and protests in May.

12.   The foundation also bestows awards in the fields of communication, social science, arts, literature, international cooperation, concord and sports.

13.   The Southern Christian Leadership Conference and the National Council of Negro Women also have bestowed awards.

14.   Their duties now center on bestowing cultural awards, throwing banquets for visiting dignitaries and making occasional goodwill appearances.

15.   Chirac also bestowed awards on French actor Jean Marais and Gilles Jacob, the organizer of the Cannes Film Festival which opens in the riviera resort next week.

16.   King Hussein is to bestow the award on the head of the Israeli negotiating team, Eliakim Rubinstein, and his Jordanian counterpart, Favez Tarawneh.