Serageldin received today an important decoration by the French Government, he is now an officer of the order of Arts and Letters. This order, created by President De Gaulle at the recommendation of eminent intellectual and minister of culture Andre Malraux, is intended to parallel the more famous “Légion d’Honneur”. The Légion d’Honneur can be offered to persons who have served the interests of France, or who have shown military valor, whereas the Arts and Letters order is given to people for their eminent international achievements in arts and letters. Serageldin was clearly recognized with a high-level decoration ranked “officier” which is higher than the more common “Chevalier”.