Russian President congratulates Rio Group summit

Russian President Vladimir Putin has sent a letter to participants of the 27th summit of the Rio Group member-states welcoming the initiative, the President's press service has reported.

While saying that the Rio Group is "an influential union of Latin American countries", the Russian Head of States also stressed in the letter that he "was satisfied with the constructive negotiations with the Rio Group's three Foreign Ministers held in April 2003 in Moscow.

"The Moscow declaration passed by the Russian and Rio Group Foreign Ministers proves the closeness of our countries' standpoints concerning the current key problems. I believe there is a firm basis for an increased political dialogue between Russia and the authoritative Latin American forum as well as for development of cooperation in both bilateral and multilateral format," the letter also reads.

He believes "the international community faces a task to strengthen the system of international security with the consolidating role of the UN as the main universal instrument to resolve global problems".

The President has confirmed Russia's readiness "for intensified cooperation with the Rio Group member-states for joint building of an international security system acceptable for all states and social and economic development in the 21st century".