Kazakh-Russian coop demonstrates that interaction potential not exhausted - Patriarch Kirill
ALMATY. January 18. KAZINFORM /Yelena Ilyinskaya/ Cooperation of Kazakhstan and Russia demonstrates that the interaction potential is not exhausted. Our states play important role in economic development of the Eurasian space. In the current conditions it is important to strengthen not only economy, but spiritual and cultural ties. Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Kirill said it at the meeting with the public in Almaty yesterday.
According to him, at present, when Kazakhstan is a dynamically developing country and the international community pays great attention to the country's chairmanship in the OSCE, I am pleased to note that the Russian Orthodox Church in Kazakhstan is actively developing. "I was in Kazakhstan 27 years ago and can tell that today much have changed beyond recognition", the Patriarch said. In his opinion, now the country develops educational elements of all main world religions.
Patriarch Kirill noted that experience of the local interfaith concord is invaluable. There were interethnic conflicts at the post-Soviet space after change of the political system. Kazakhstan was in exceptional position - the country, where many nationalities lived and are living, as many thought, could "explode". But owing to the course directed to the harmonization, nation's mentality, wise management of the country and special role of N.Nazarbayev, Kazakhstan was able to escape these problems, become a successful state and strengthen cooperation with Russia. According to him, the Kazakh President created such favorable climate for interethnic relations development. And it is an important political factor of the country's stability.
The head of the Russian Orthodox Church noted that Russia will never forget hospitality of the local population.