Spain’s King Juan Carlos made French President Nicolas Sarkozy a Knight of the Golden Fleece for his help in fighting armed Basque separatist group ETA.
King Juan Carlos said Mr Sarkozy had been a constant ally in the battle against terrorism as he bestowed the honour on the French leader at the Royal Palace in Madrid.
“In your relations with Spain, you have always contributed in a constant, effective and generous manner to the fight against terrorism, always making the victims the aim and end of your solidarity,” the king said.
“You have steadily and efficiently favoured political, legal and police cooperation between our countries so as to bring an end to terrorist violence.”
Spain credits Mr Sarkozy with giving crucial aid in the fight against ETA, both as President and previously when he was French interior minister from 2002-2004 and 2005-2007.
Spanish and French police cooperate closely in hunting ETA outlaws, who had once seen France as a safe haven. Only on Saturday, French police arrested three suspected ETA members near Auxerre in eastern France.
ETA announced on October 20 last year the end of more than 40 years of shootings and bombings that killed 829 people. Its operations have been hammered by Spanish police working closely with France.
At the end of the speech, the king pinned the insignia of the Order of the Golden Fleece on Mr Sarkozy’s blue suit.
Spain’s highest chivalric honour, the Order of the Golden Fleece was created in 1430 by Philip III, Duke of Burgundy, at the time of his marriage to Princess Isabella of Portugal.