In his speech, Mr Putin recalled the September 11 events in New York, saying they had not only shocked the world, but also emphasised the fragility of peace, bringing home to everybody the tremendous responsibility they bore for the future and for a democratic, just and safe world order.
Top officials of the Russian Orthodox Church, heads of Russia’s other traditional faiths, politicians, scholars, journalists, businessmen, educationists, cultural figures and public leaders attended this year’s forum.