Russia has come through trials and tribulations to preserve civil and inter-denominational peace. That was the main achievement of the recent years, Mr Putin said. The regional leaders who succeeded in preserving peace in their regions were able to rise above their personal ambitions. Among such leaders, Mr Putin mentioned Valery Kokov, who set a good example with his work as Kabardino-Balkarian President. As the participants in the meeting said, Kabardino-Balkaria enjoyed the greatest stability in the Russian south.
Mr Putin visited the Kabardino-Balkarian countryside the same day. He met with the elders of the mountain village of Dugulubgei, and visited the Cossack village of Yekaterinogradskaya.
See also
Excerpts from a Transcript of a Meeting with Dugulubgei Village Elders
September 6, 2001