RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER MEETS CHECHEN CHILDREN








MOSCOW, March 12, 2001. /from RIA Novosti correspondent Natalia Byrkina/--Today Russian Interior Minister Vladimir Rushailo met with 40 children and eight teachers who arrived on holidays in Moscow from three Chechen schools patronised by the Russian Interior Ministry.


	Hailing the guests Vladimir Rushailo noted that "the last decade told negatively on the education process in Chechnya." Nevertheless, Chechen children "should know what the country lives on," the minister stressed. That is why the Russian Interior Ministry has invited a second group of Chechen schoolchildren to have a rest in Moscow.


	Vladimir Rushailo in person gave the teachers flowers and presented the children with books and items for school. He wished the schoolchildren success in their studies and thanked the teachers for their work appreciating the courage that accompanies their efforts "to secure Chechen children a bright future."  The Chechen children will be staying in Moscow for a week. During this time they will make sightseeing tours of Moscow, attend concerts and circus shows, visit confectioneries and the Assembly mosque of Moscow. In addition to that the schoolchildren and the teachers will meet with some of federal authorities.