Two militants in Russia"s North Caucasus...

Sights of Moscow

South Ossetia has not imposed additional...

South Ossetia has not imposed additional travel restrictions for local ethnic Georgians, a government official told RIA Novosti.

MOSCOW, June 7 (RIA Novosti) - The European...

MOSCOW, June 7 (RIA Novosti) - The European Constitution does not take into account moral traditions which causes protests against this document, Patriarch Alexis II of Moscow and All Russia said. "In my opinion, protests against the European Constitution are caused by its failure to meet the interests, moral traditions and history of France and Holland," Alexis II said after the meeting with Speaker of the Italian Chamber of Deputies Pier Ferdinando Casini on Tuesday. "In this case, the Russian Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church have a common position. We believe that the European Constitution should mention common Christian roots as the basis of European culture," Alexis II said. "Ignoring this means countering the real truth," he added. Casini agreed with the churches" position on this issue. According to the patriarch, striving for bringing Europe back to common Christian roots will promote rapprochement of the Orthodox and Catholic Churches. "The return to common Christian roots, the basis of European culture, may promote rapprochement and ecumenical development between European churches," Alexis II said. The Moscow patriarchate said that "ecumenical development" meant "common interests of Christian churches against de-Christianization of Europe and solution of other problems." Alexis II and Casini agreed that the draft constitution "had no soul." The sides also discussed the problems of proselytism and sects, which destroy the Christian culture.

MOSCOW, February 13 (RIA Novosti) - The...

MOSCOW, February 13 (RIA Novosti) - The value of Russian art sold by Christie's in 2008 fell 59% compared with the year before to $59 million, the Kommersant business daily said on Friday, citing results issued by the auction house.