The Deputy Prime Minister, Mr. Issam Fares received the head of the International Association for the Unity of the Greek Orthodox Churches, Mr. Valerie Alexiev and the political advisor of the Russian embassy in Lebanon, Mr. Oleg Levine. He discussed several issues of interest to both parties, and especially the International Greek Orthodox Conference that the Association has scheduled between February 28 and March 4 of this year in Jordan. Prominent secular and religious Greek Orthodox personalities will attend the conference that will discuss the scope of the Muslim-Christian dialogue in this century.

Mr. Fares welcomed the invitation but declined to attend because of the upcoming parliamentary elections in Lebanon. Yet, he pledged to lend any support possible for the success of the convention.

Mr. Alexiev took the opportunity to express his utmost appreciation of the grants the Deputy Prime Minister has donated to the Greek Orthodox Church whether on the cultural or social and humanitarian levels, and the special place Mr. Fares occupies in the Greek Orthodox church at the Lebanese and international levels.

It is to note that this institution has granted Mr. Fares two years ago, in Moscow, its international prize as well as to the Russian president Vladimir Putin.