Russia Joined Democratic Community Forever: Putin

Russian integration into the community of free democratic countries is irreversible today, said President Vladimir Putin as he met at the Russian Embassy with top spokesmen of US political and business circles, Thursday night. Contemporary Russia, with its rapid changes, made its historic choice once and for all. Today, it is forming a mature democratic statehood and an efficient and up-to-date market economy, he pointed out. Russia and America always stood side-by-side in crucial days when their sheer survival was at stake. Now that our destiny once again stands face-to-face with history, we shall be more than partners--we can be friends, said the President.