President Vladimir Putin, during a meeting with Pope Tawadros II, Patriarch of the Coptic Church of Egypt, stressed on the relations between Russia and Egypt, on leadership and people levels.
“Of course, our relations are very good with all the Egyptian people, regardless of their religious affiliations,” Putin said at the meeting.
The Russian president asked Pope Tawadros II to convey to President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and the Egyptian people his warmest good wishes, noting that communicating with the Coptic patriarch who represents Christianity in Egypt is a happy occasion for Russia.
For his part, the Patriarch of the Coptic Church expressed his gratitude to Vladimir Putin for holding this meeting, pointing to the good relations between the two countries. He said that the Coptic Church is making efforts to preserve national unity between Christians and Muslims in Egypt.
Earlier, Egyptian media quoted Russian informed sources as saying that Pope Tavadros II will discuss with the Russian president the affairs of Christians in the Middle East and cooperation between the Russian and Egyptian churches.
The Russian Church, headed by Patriarch Kyrill, Patriarch of Moscow and the rest of Russia, honored Pope Tawadros II by granting him the award of the Fund for the Unity of the Orthodox Peoples, in order to strengthen the bonds of love among the Orthodox Churches in the world.