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Mr Putin congratulated Mr Mubarak on his birthday. The President said that it has now been more than 25 years that Mr Mubarak has been at the head of Egypt, a country with considerable influence in world affairs and which has made great progress in carrying out social and economic transformation.

Mr Putin informed Mr Mubarak that an Arabic-language Russian television channel, Russia Today (Rusia al-yaum), has begun broadcasting. “I think it very significant that Russia is beginning its Arabic-language broadcasts precisely with our present conversation. In this way, we want to demonstrate Egypt’s importance in international affairs and in the Middle East, and your personal role too”, Mr Putin said.

This new media project, aimed at the Arab countries, will have a large audience in Egypt, the President said.

Mr Mubarak, for his part, thanked Mr Putin for his congratulations and noted the high level of relations between Russia and Egypt. The Egyptian President also said he was sure that Russia’s new television channel would become known throughout the world and would be broadcast widely in Egypt.

Rusia al-yaum, Russia’s new Arabic-language news and information satellite channel started broadcasting from Moscow today. More than 350 million viewers in the Middle East, North Africa and Europe will freely receive the satellite signal. Internet users will also have access to the new TV channel.

The channel will broadcast 20 hours a day, seven days a week. Along with coverage of the most important international events, the channel offers viewers detailed information on social, political, economic, public and cultural life in Russia today. Programmes include business, cultural and sports updates, press reviews, special reports, thematic series and documentary films on a diverse range of subjects.