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Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia was also present at the meeting.

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President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Your Holiness, I am very happy to see and to have this chance to congratulate you in person on your recent birthday, on the 35^th anniversary of your service, and now on receiving this award from the Foundation for the Unity of Orthodox Peoples. But I especially want to thank you for doing everything you can to maintain the humanitarian, spiritual and cultural ties between our fraternal peoples in these difficult circumstances. By difficult circumstances, I am referring to the complicated interstate relations between Russia and Georgia. I say these words without any exaggeration. Thank you very much. 

It is a great pleasure to see you in Moscow. Welcome!

Catholicos Patriarch Ilia II of All Georgia: Your Excellency Mr President, on behalf of the Georgian Orthodox Church I offer my warmest greetings.

I pass on our Prime Minister’s warm greetings too. He is doing everything possible and necessary to improve relations with everyone. I think that we will be able to settle the problems between us and will be brothers once again.

Thank you for your congratulations.

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