PUTIN CONGRATULATES GORBACHEV ON 70TH BIRTHDAY








MOSCOW, MARCH 2, 2001. /From RIA Novosti Correspondent/ --  President Vladimir Putin of Russia has congratulated Mikhail Sergeyevich Gorbachev on his 70th birthday. According to the Presidential press-service, the message, in part, says: "A whole epoch is by right connected with your name, the epoch which gave a start to deep transformations in our country and which radically changed the political map of the world." The President expressed his sincere feelings in connection with the fact that Mikhail Gorbachev's "tremendous experience, knowledge, energy and  high international prestige are deservedly in high demand today, too." The message of congratulation to the first President of the USSR also stresses that  "your efforts in the post of head of the International Public Foundation of Socio-Economic and Political Research and your activity as leader of the Russian United Socio-Democratic Party are aimed at strengthening the civic dialogue in Russia and construction of a stable and democratic  society."