Russia, Guyana presidents to discuss interaction Tue.

MOSCOW, February 2 (Itar-Tass) - President Dmitry Medvedev of the
Russian Federation (RF) meets with Bharrat Jagdeo, President of the
Co-operative Republic of Guyana, here on Tuesday to discuss interaction
between the two countries, primarily that in the economic sphere, a
Kremlin official has told Itar-Tass.
"During a brief meeting, the leaders of the two countries will discuss
matters aimed at furthering the bilateral political dialogue, at stepping
up trade, economic and humanitarian cooperation, and at strengthening the
legal-treaty basis," the Kremlin administration official said.
"Special attention is to be devoted to the tasks of broadening and
diversifying bilateral trade and to inviting state-run and private-owned
businesses entities to participate in the (interaction) process," the
Kremlin official pointed out, recalling that the United Company RUSAL
actively operates in Guyana. In 2004 RUSAL established a Russo-Guyanese
joint-venture enterprise for the mining and processing of bauxites. The
company plans to implement projects to build processing facilities and a
hydropower station in Guyana.
RF presidential administration analysts believe that "There is also a
considerable potential in other areas of cooperation, specifically that in
the fields of energy, agriculture, and the mining of minerals".
"During the upcoming conversation, the Heads of State will also touch
upon interaction in the international arena, primarily that in Latin
America and the Caribbean," the Kremlin official said.
The 40th anniversary of the establishment of Russo-Guyanese diplomatic
relations is to be marked in 2010. An important role in them is being
played by interaction in the sphere of humanitarian contacts, first of all
those in the field of education. Over 200 Guyanese specialists have been
trained at Soviet and Russian institutions of higher learning. More than
100 of them underwent training at the Russian University for Friendship
among Peoples. Jagdeo is also an alumnus of the Friendship University. His
present private visit to Russia is timed to coincide with participation in
ceremonies marking the 50th jubilee of the University.
Jagdeo's present visit to Russia in his capacity of the President of
Guyana is already a third one. He visited Moscow in 2003 and 2007.
Russia's President received him on both occasions.

.Patriarch to meet bishops in mini-assembly of hierarchs.

MOSCOW, February 2 (Itar-Tass) - A meeting of hierarchs will be held
at the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour for the first time here on Tuesday.
The bishops will discuss ways to raise the effectiveness of the activities
of the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC).
The meeting will be attended by 170 ROC bishops who arrived in Moscow
for festivities marking the anniversary of the enthronement of Patriarch
Kirill, a clergyman in the patriarchal press service has told Itar-Tass.
"This is a new format for meetings between the ROC Primate and the
episcopate. Previously only Assemblies of Hierarchs provided such an
opportunity. Provision is now made for regular meetings, at least on the
enthronement anniversary," the press service clergyman explained.
The Patriarch himself referred to such a format as a "mini-Assembly of
Hierarchs". He made a suggestion to this effect at a session of the Holy
Synod on December 25, last year.
"On February 2, on the second day of the patriarchal enthronement, we
shall hold a meeting of hierarchs in Moscow. This will be a mini-Assembly
of Hierarchs, one may say.... We shall be able not only to celebrate the
joy of our fellowship in a liturgy, but also to ponder over church life
and discuss a number of important tasks," the ROC Primate told the Synod.
The meeting of bishops is to be held in a closed-door mode.
Journalists will be off limits to it, even to a Protocol-provided picture
session at the beginning of the meeting. According to the patriarchal
press service, the documents of the meeting of bishops will be made public
later.
-0-pop