Putin urges religious leaders for responsibility and restraint

September 17

Russian President Vladimir Putin has called upon all world religious leaders to show responsibility and restraint.

"I am convinced that the leaders of mainstream religions will demonstrate enough commitment and wisdom to avoid religious excesses," he said during his meeting with the G8 parliamentary leaders in the Black Sea resort of Sochi.

 "We understand the sensitivity of this sphere and have been working hard to facilitate civilization dialog," the Russian President said, referring to the St. Petersburg summit of the Group of Eight whose leaders took into consideration the debates opened earlier in July at Civil G8 2006, the Moscow religious and civil forum.

Civil G8 was a Russian initiative, through which the G8 presiding nation seeks to expand dialog with civil society.

"Our today's meeting is yet another step in that direction," he said.