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Mr Putin met with Patriarch Alexii II of Moscow and All Russia, Patriarch-Catholicos of All Georgia Ilia II, Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II and Chairman of the Caucasus Muslim Board Sheikh-ul-Islam Allahshukur Pasha-zade at Novo-Ogaryovo, a presidential country residence.

Mr Putin highly assessed the diversity at the gathering of leaders of the principal Caucasian religions and denominations to discuss peacekeeping, and thanked the hierarchs for their efforts aimed towards regional stability and security.

These efforts promoted understanding between Caucasian nations and helped politicians with the peace dialogue.

Mr Putin spoke about the telephone conversation he had that day with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and the upcoming talks with Armenian President Robert Kocharian in St Petersburg.

He said he hoped that the political process gaining momentum in Georgia would finish with a newly elected President and national developments acquiring a legal footing.

Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia said, in turn, that the clergy were willing to help statesmen settle relevant regional problems. He gave the President a joint statement the hierarchs had made at their meeting at St Daniel’s Monastery in Moscow. The statement called on politicians, the mass media and community activists to settle all disputable issues in the Caucasus by peaceful means alone.

Mr Putin approved the idea that the statement advanced for an interreligious council and said that it was the right step since all world religions are based on similar values.