Speaking to reporters after meeting with his Russian counterpart, Viktor Khristenko, Plachkov said some progress has been made and that "compromises are possible. Prior to the 28 December talks, Plachkov expressed confidence saying: "We will reach a deal. Everything will be fine. The church treasures its freedom and it doesn't plan turning into a part of government machinery," he added. The U. We hope that actions will follow words," he added.
Aleksii rejected the idea of meeting with Pope Benedict XVI until outstanding disputes between the faiths are resolved. Just to show to the world that there are no problems between us? But we have problems, don't we? The problems worrying the Russian Orthodox Church and its flock should be solved for the meeting to take place," he added.
The patriarch condemned what he called efforts by Roman Catholics to win converts among the Orthodox faithful. Catholics, he said, are trying to convert "people, especially children, who are baptized as Orthodox Christians.
Iran said this week that it will consider the plan. He argued that "in terms of its significance and scope, the global weapons market is comparable with such segments of the global economy as energy and food. Competition here is extremely strong. President Putin signed a decree on 28 December "releasing Andrei Illarionov from his duties as a presidential adviser," Interfax reported. Putin's move came in response to a statement the previous day by the senior economics expert that he had submitted his resignation to the president "some time ago," "Vedomosti" reported.
In making his announcement, Illarionov charged that political as well as economic freedom is now gone, adding that he is no longer able to influence policy making in what he called a "corporate state. Such a policy, as discussed in the spring of , has never been implemented.
