MOSCOW — Amid the escalating violence in Syria and a diplomatic outcry over Russia’s actions blocking intervention by the United Nations, President Dmitri A. Medvedev bestowed a prestigious cultural award on a Syrian writer and poet who has publicly applauded the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, and expressed strong anti-Semitic views.

The writer, Ali Ukla Ursan, also known for close ties to Russia, was one of 11 foreign honorees to receive prestigious awards for their close ties to Russia at a ceremony last week at Mr. Medvedev’s presidential residence.

“I want to present each of you with Russian Federation state decorations, decorations awarded in recognition of your great services,” Mr. Medvedev said, according to a transcript posted on the president’s Web site. “Here today are people who have made a special and very valuable contribution to developing humanitarian relations and bring closer together everyone with an interest in Russia, its language, history and modern life.”

In accepting his prize, called the Pushkin Medal, Mr. Ursan, a former chairman and now adviser to the Syrian Writers Union, made pointedly political remarks. “I thank Russia for its wise policies,” he said, according to the transcript. “I thank this nation for its decisive and steady position against aggression, terrorism and attempts to meddle in the internal affairs of other states and people in the context of a unipolar world.”