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Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulates His Holiness Patriarch Alexy on his birthday and nameday

23.02.2006 · Архив 2005-2009, События  

On 23 February 2006, His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia met President V.V.Putin of the Russian Federation. The head of the state congratulated His Holiness the Patriarch on his birthday and his forthcoming nameday, as well as with the Day of the Defenders of the Fatherland.

President Putin conveyed to His Holiness the Patriarch greetings and best wishes from the chairman of the Supreme Religious Council of Caucasian Peoples Sheikh-ul-Islam Allahshukur Pasha-zade with whom Russian President met during his visit to Azerbaijan.

During his visit to Azerbaijan, President Putin spoke in support of an initiative of the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church to hold a forum of religious leaders in Moscow. The head of the Russian state also touched upon this theme during is meeting with Patriarch Alexy. The President called an idea of the summit important and coming at the right time. ‘We see what is happening in some Muslim countries in connection with the so called ‘cartoon scandal’, he said and expressed his hope for this forum to bring its contribution in the improvement of cooperation among representatives of different nations, nationalities and religious beliefs’.

His Holiness the Patriarch informed the President about his recent meeting with Cardinal Roger Etchegaray, at which the preparation for the forum was also discussed.

The President of Russia noted with great regret that the holiday was darkened by an awful tragedy at the Basmanny market in Moscow killing many people. The rescue works continue and there is still a hope to find people under wreckage, but dozens of people are reported killed.

The Primate of the Russian Church expressed his condolences over.