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#18 - JRL 9130 - JRL Home
PATRIARCH LIKES PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS

MOSCOW, April 25 (RIA Novosti) - The current address by the President of Russia to the Federal Assembly differs from the previous messages as it pays close attention to society's spiritual and moral state, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Alexis II told journalists this Monday in Moscow.

"The current address by the President of Russia to the Federal Assembly differed from the previous themes as the President spoke more about the need to build our life on the principles of democracy, the freedom of speech, religion and the press than about economic and political matters. The address also paid special attention to the spiritual state of society," Alexis II said.

The Patriarch stressed that the head of state "spoke toughly about officials who must be closer to people and think, in the first place, about the people than about their own well being."

The Patriarch also said that reform, in particular, education reform, must not be for the sake of reform. "Life shows that reforms are not always justified," the Patriarch said.

"I liked the address, which I heard, but still I have to read it carefully," Alexis II said in conclusion.