During a gala ceremony at the Spanish Embassy in Cairo, Spanish ambassador to Egypt Antonio López Martinez presented to Dr. Zahi Hawass, Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA), the “Golden Medal of the Royal Band,” in recognition of his devotion and untiring efforts to promote and protect Egypt’s cultural and archaeological heritage. This award is given by the government of the Spanish province of Ourense to honor cultural personalities around the world.

France has decided to bestow its top civilian award, the Legion of Honour to Egyptologist Christiane Desroches-Nobelcourt.

Jan Assmann receives the Charles Veillon award for his essay "Die Mosaische Unterscheidung oder der Preis des Monotheismus" (German article).