TOKYO, November 20 (RIA Novosti) - Russian President Vladimir Putin, who is staying in Japan on an official visit, telephoned veteran Russian ballet dancer Maya Plisetskaya to congratulate her on her eightieth birthday Sunday, the presidential press secretary said.
According to Alexei Gromov, the president told Plisetskaya that he had signed a decree to give her a state award, and that he hoped to be able to present the award before the end of the year at a Kremlin ceremony.
The president said he was among "thousands, or probably millions of people" who love Maya Plisetskaya and admire her talent.
