Patriarch Kirill to attend celebrations of Zadonsk Monastery anniversary.

LIPETSK, August 25 (Itar-Tass) -- Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia
Kirill on Wednesday will visit the Lipetsk region in central Russia to
take part in the celebrations of the 400th anniversary of the Zadonsk
Monastery of the Nativity of Our Lady, a source in the local
administration told Itar-Tass.
The Patriarch will serve an all-night vigil at the Lipetsk Cathedral
of Nativity and a Divine Liturgy at the Vladimir Cathedral of the Zadonsk
Monastery.
The town of Zadonsk is "one of Russia's biggest spiritual centres
annually visited by thousands believers from many cities and countries,"
said Oleg Korolyov, the head of the Lipetsk regional administration. "And
the Zadonsk Monastery founded 400 years ago is playing a special role in
the city's spiritual life."

.Russia to spend over RUB 7 bln to build new homes for fire victims.

VORONEZH, August 25 (Itar-Tass) -- Russia's budgetary expenditures on
the restoration of houses damaged by wildfires in the country will exceed
seven billion roubles, Russian Minister of Regional Development Viktor
Basargin told journalists on Tuesday.
"The exact figure was clarified only today after more detailed reports
came from the fire-hit regions," he said, adding that the initial figure
of some 5 billion roubles "was increased by 2.67 billion roubles." He also
said the money will also go to finance the restoration of the
infrastructure facilities damaged by wildfires. The sum, however, does not
include money paid to the fire victims as compensations for personal
property, he added.
According to the minister, new houses are to be built by November 1.

.Chief of General Staff of Russian Armed Forces to visit Czech
republic.

MOSCOW, August 25 (Itar-Tass) -- The Chief of General Staff of the
Russian Armed Forces, Army General Nikolai Makarov, on Wednesday arrives
on a working visit to the Czech Republic to discuss bilateral cooperation
in the defence sphere and issues of international security, the Russian
Defence Ministry's press service said.
According to the press service, General Makarov will meet with his
Czech counterpart and with the Czech defence minister and other
top-ranking defence ministry officials.
"The talks will focus on issues of the development of bilateral
cooperation in the defence sphere, and problems of international
security," the press service said.
"During his stay in the Czech republic, General Makarov will visit the
13th artillery brigade, where he will familiarize himself with the
organization of combat training, new weapons and hardware, such as Arthur
radar station and Pandur II wheeled armoured vehicles," the press service
reported. "The program of the visit also includes a tour of the museum of
the Czech Armed Forces and the Olsany Cemetery in Prague, where he will
lay a wreath to the monument to fallen Soviet soldiers."
The visit will last till August 27.

.Moscow mayor arrives in Latvian capital.

RIGA, August 25 (Itar-Tass) -- The mayor of the Russian capital city
of Moscow, Yuri Luzhkov, on Wednesday arrives on a one-day visit to the
Latvian capital Riga to meet his Latvian counterpart Nils Usakovs. The two
mayors will discuss a cooperation program till the year 2011, the press
secretary of the Riga mayor, Anna Kononona, told Itar-Tass.
According to Kononova, Luzhkov is expected to meet with the leaders of
the Riga city legislature. He will also have a meeting with compatriots at
the Moscow House cultural and business centre, will visit the AMO PLANT
car manufacturer in the town of Jelgava, in which the Moscow city
government holds the majority stake, and will meet with Jelgava mayor
Andris Ravins.
The Russian delegation includes 20 officials from the Moscow city
government.
During the visit, Leonid Bochin, a minister in the Moscow city
government, and Vyacheslav Stepanenko, the head of the housing committee
of the Riga legislature, will sign a cooperation protocol.

.French singer Charles Aznavour decorated with Russian award.

CANNES, August 25 (Itar-Tass) -- Renown French singer of the Armenian
origin Charles Aznavour on Tuesday received the highest award of the
Russian Art Festival in Cannes, the honorary award "For Outstanding
Contribution to the Strengthening of Cultural Relations between Russia and
France."
The ceremony was held during the Russian Night at the Cannes Palais
des Festivals.
The 13th Russian Art Festival, an event that comes within the
framework of the Russia-France Cultural Year, opened in Cannes on August
23 in. The festival is held under the auspices of Russian First Lady
Svetlana Medvedeva.
-0-ras


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