Given the task definition and input, reply with output. In this task, we ask you to elaborate the sentence without changing its general meaning. You can do so by explaining further the input sentence, using more precise wording, adding qualifiers and auxiliary information etc.

In 1996 , he was honored with the Honorary Medal of Freedom of the Republic of Slovenia .

Among his awards is the Honorary Medal of Freedom of the Republic of Slovenia ( , 1996 ) , which is the highest award in Slovenia and is conferred by the president of Slovenia .