France awards Turkish businesswoman order of merit

Turkish-French Chamber of Commerce Chairwoman Zeynep Necipoglu has beenawarded the National Order of Merit, one of France's highest honors, by the Frenchgovernment.Speaking at a ceremony in Istanbul, Necipoglu - the daughter of Ismail Hakki Batuk,one of the advisers for former President Turgut Ozal - said: “I am very happy as apresident in the association, which has 129 years history. During my time, I haveworked for the interests of Turkey and France by taking sustainable and correctsteps," according to a statement by Necipoglu´s public relations company.The National Order of Merit -  which was founded in 1963 by President Charles deGaulle to reward French and foreign nationals for distinguished achievements - isan order of the French state awarded by the President of the French Republic.