Czech Pres says active supporter of cooperation with Russia.

PRAGUE, October 14 (Itar-Tass) - President of the Czech Republic,
Vaclav Klaus told Itar-Tass Tuesday he is an active supporter of "a
broader and mutually beneficial partnership and cooperation with Russia."

Wednesday, Klaus is expected to make a one-day working visit to Moscow.
The presidential press secretary, Radim Ohvat, said the President's
agenda in Moscow includes talks with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and
a public lecture at Moscow Lomonosov State University where he will do a
presentation of the Russian version of his book on environmental policy
titled 'The Blue Planet In Green Shackles'.
At the end of his brief stay in Moscow, Klaus is going to attend a
gala ceremony where a number of Russian and Czech companies will sign
trade and economic agreements.

.Moscow Patriarch to discuss problems of Cossacks in sthrn Russia.

ROSTOV-ON-DON, October 14 (Itar-Tass) - Patriarch of Moscow and all
Russia Kirill /Cyril/ is expected to spend the whole day Wednesday in the
city of Novocherkassk in southern Russia, which is viewed on the
historical plane as the capital of the Russian Cossacks of the Don River.
In the morning, he will lead a liturgy in the Ascension Cathedral in
Novocherkassk on the occasion of the Russian Orthodox feast of the
Intercession of Our Lady.
After that, His Holiness Kirill will attend a parade of Cossack
pre-cadet schools, the number of which stands at 25 at the moment.
The Patriarch is expected to take part in a visiting session of the
Presidential Council for the Policy towards the Cossacks in the afternoon.
On the eve of his trip to the Rostov region where Novocherkassk is
located, His Holiness Kirill said he is glad "to have an opportunity to
meet with the Cossacks and to discuss the things that really have
importance for the Cossack masses, for the Orthodox Church, for the
Russian military in general, and for the entire nation."
The land of the Don River area, the traditional homeland of Russian
Cossacks has a very special spirit, he said, adding: "This is a place
where a huge number of people with a pro-active social attitude live and
where the economy has a great potential."
"Most importantly, the southern parts of Russia preserved and
maintained the Orthodox Christian faith in the years or harsh
state-sponsored atheism," Patriarch Kirill said.

.Sec Clinton says US Administration to deepen ties with Russia.

WASHINGTON, October 14 (Itar-Tass) - By setting up new partnership
with the Russian government, the U.S. Administration plans to deepen ties
between the American and Russian peoples, Secretary of State Hillary
Clinton said Tuesday night at a meeting with activists of Russian Civic
Society.
Clinton is making an official visit to Moscow.
The setting up of a new partnership with the Russian government is
only a part of what the U.S. Administration is going to do, as it is
working towards a deepening of relations between the two peoples, the
Secretary of State said.
She indicated that she has been inspired by Russian President Dmitry
Medvedev's statements on his willingness to continue moving forward to a
more open society, fighting with corruption and fostering the supremacy of
law.
Clinton remarked in this connection that society cannot be genuinely
open if the individuals expressing their opinions openly are killed, and
the nation cannot believe in the supremacy of law if the killers go
unpunished.
In the light of it, she cited the data of the Journalists Defense
Committee suggesting that eighteen journalists have been killed in Russia
since 2000 but the killers got jail terms only in one related criminal
case.
If violence of this kind remains unpunished in any society, it
frustrates the supremacy of law and brings down people's trust in the
government, Clinton said.
President Barack Obama's Administration gives unconditional support to
the activists of Russian civic society, she said.

.Russian Church holding Day of Mercy for Convicts.

MOSCOW, October 14 (Itar-Tass) - An action to raise money for helping
the convicts is held in all the Orthodox churches across Russia October
14, the day on which the Russian Orthodox Church marks the feast of
Intercession of Our Lady.
At the blessing of the Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia Kirill,
October 14 has been given the name of the Day of Mercy for All Those Kept
in Shackles.
This humanitarian action pursues the goal of "drawing the public's
attention to the problems of convicts, to the needs of those who're kept
in penitentiaries or pre-trial detention centers," Moscow Patriarchate's
press service said.
On this day, Orthodox priests will visit investigative wards in Moscow
and will hold special services at prison churches.
Also, they will visit prison wards to speak to inmates.
Bishop Alexander of Dmitrov, the chairman of the commission for social
services at Moscow City penitentiaries, is expected to lead a festive
liturgy in the Intercession Church of the Butyrskaya jail, which is the
city's investigations center No. 2.
Officials from the Justice Ministry and the Federal Service for
Penitentiaries have been invited to attend the liturgy.
According to the information provided by the federal service, there
are more than 400 Orthodox churches at jails and other penitentiary
institutions across Russia.
-0-kle