President congratulated Orthodox Christians on Christmas

ASTANA. January 6. KAZINFORM Head of the State Nursultan Nazarbayev has wished Orthodox Christians Merry Christmas, Kazinform refers to the Presidential press service.

Dear compatriots, Orthodox Christians of Kazakhstan I heartily congratulate you on the wonderful Christmas holiday! All citizens of multi-faith and multinational Kazakhstan are celebrating this holiday! Respect and care for different religions - one of the important foundations of the Kazakh society. Our country has never faced any religious, national or racial intolerance. The state has always paid attention to maintain languages, culture, traditions and rituals of all nations living in Kazakhstan. Today people of our country together build new modern Kazakhstan regardless of the religion and ethnicity. Our country has become one of the centers of dialogue among religions and civilizations of the modern world. This summer Astana will host the III Congress of the Leaders of the World and Traditional Religions. I would like to note a great role of the Russian Orthodox Church in spiritual life of the country. New churches are built; Sunday-schools are opened. Election of a new Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia will take place soon. This is a great event for the Russian orthodoxy. Friendship of our nations, unity and accord of Kazakhstani society helped us overcome difficulties. And I am confident that Kazakhstan will come out of the current difficult situation caused by the global financial crisis with dignity. On this wonderful holiday I wish health, family welfare and success to all Kazakhstanis! President Nursultan Nazarbayev