PUTIN CONGRATULATES CANADA GOVERNOR GENERAL AND PRIME MINISTER
MOSCOW, July 1 (RIA Novosti) - Russian President Vladimir Putin has sent congratulatory messages to Canadian Governor General Andrienne Clarkson and Prime Minister Paul Martin on the national holiday - Canada Day, the Kremlin press service reports.
In his message, the Russian president was pleased to point out that Russia highly valued good-neighborly, friendly relations between the two countries. He particularly noted that Russian-Canadian relations were developing consistently on the basis of partnership and mutual understanding.
"This is a firm basis for our close cooperation in such essential areas as the fight against international terrorism and WMD proliferation, development of trade and investment ties, and exploration of the Arctic," stressed the Russian leader.
Putin expressed confidence that multifaceted Russo-Canadian cooperation would gradually advance in the interests of both peoples, security and progress in the world.
