Ambassador Ivan Mrkic was awarded the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun, the highest Japanese decoration that a foreign national can receive in Japan for outstanding services. Emperor Akihito conferred the honour on our diplomat in a ceremony at the Imperial Palace on 8 May. The decoration is very important recognition for our country.

Out of the 12 foreign citizens who were awarded this year with the decoration of the highest order, the ceremony was attended by Ambassador Ivan Mrkic, Minister of Energy and Industry of Saudi Arabia Khalid A. Al-Falih and President of the Japan-Republic of Korea Economic Association Jon Kim.
On that occasion a cocktail reception was held at the Serbian Embassy after the ceremony, attended by a large number of representatives of the cultural and public life of Japan.

The reception was, among others, attended by: President of the Japan-Serbia League of Friendship Ichiro Aisawa, Yasushi Akashi, Honorary Consul of Serbia in Osaka Nahida Ueyama, former Ambassador of Japan to Serbia Toshio Tsunozaki with a spouse, Vice-Chairman of the Japan-Serbia Association Osama Harishito, etc.