Moscow Times - 07.02.2002

The Moscow Times

Putin Welcomes Jews

The Associated Press

MOSCOW - President Vladimir Putin on Monday welcomed Russian- speaking Jewish leaders from around the globe who are gathering in Moscow to take part in the new World Congress of Russian Jewry. 

"For the first time, an international organization is being created of Russian-speaking Jews, people who belong to two great cultures: Jewish and Russian," Putin said in a statement released by the presidential press service. 

Delegates from Jewish communities in Russia and across the former Soviet Union are taking part in the four-day congress, along with those from Israel, the United States, Canada, Europe and Australia. Their goal is to build cooperation between Jewish organizations, support Jewish culture, support the people of Israel and the global anti-terrorist coalition.