This report appeared in the Macedonian Press Agency English Pages.
Athens, August 24, 2004 (16:21 UTC+2)
Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to visit Mount Athos in Chalkidiki, northern Greece on September 4-5 coming form Turkey where he will have talks with his Turkish counterpart and the Prime Minister.
The visit, according to the Athens newspaper “Eleftherotipia”, was characterized by reliable sources in the Kremlin as “strictly private” even though it will be the first trip by a Russian head of state to the monastic community of Mount Athos, a Christian monument with strong ties with the Russian Orthodox Christians.
The Russian President had cancelled his visit to Mount Athos in December 2001 during his visit to Athens due to bad weather.