ASTANA (Interfax-Kazakhstan) – President of the Congress of Deputies of Spain Ana Pastor on behalf of King Felipe VI handed Kazakhstan’s President Nursultan Nazarbayev the Order of Isabella the Catholic in appreciation of the Kazakh leader’s activity, the press office of the head of state said on Monday.

Grand Cross Sash and Star of the Order

Ms Pastor who attended the solemn ceremony on the occasion of the National Day of Spain at Astana EXPO-2017 on Monday said that 2017 was a historical milestone for Kazakhstan.

The Order of Isabella the Catholic is a civil order granted in recognition of services that benefit Spain. It can be awarded to foreigners. It was founded on March 14, 1815 by King Ferdinand VII in honour of Queen Isabella I with the name of Royal and American Order of Isabella the Catholic with the intent of “rewarding the firm allegiance to Spain and the merits of Spanish citizens and foreigners in good standing with the Nation and especially in those exceptional services provided in pursuit of territories in America and overseas. The Order was reorganized by royal decree on July 26, 1847 as the modern "Royal Order of Isabella the Catholic”. Notable members of the Order include Russian former Prime Minister of Hungary Ferenc Gyurcsany, conductor Mstislav Rostropovich, French writer Alexandre Dumas, Spanish opera diva Montserrat Caballe, Russian ballet dancer Maya Plisetskaya and many others.