Putin sends congratulatory message to German leadership - 3 October, 2002

Russian President Vladimir Putin has sent a message of congratulations to Federal German President Johannes Rau and Federal Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder on the occasion of the national holiday of the Federative German Republic's Reunification. According to the press service of the Russian head of state, the message in particular reads that in the past years "Russia and Germany have accumulated a unique experience of multi-faceted effective co-operation." "In the face of re-united Germany Russia found a reliable and promising partner, with whom we have a common task of building a truly united, secure and prospering Europe and of finding adequate answers of the international community to global challenges and threats of the 21st century," noted Vladimir Putin.

The Russian president expressed confidence that "fruitful interaction between Russia and Germany meets our national interests and helps foster international stability and progress."