Moscow, February 24, 2012
"Orthodox Christianity is one of the two traditional religions in Kyrgyzstan. I believe that the development of Orthodox Christianity in Kyrgyzstan will help us stop the exodus of the Russian-speaking population and will largely facilitate the strengthening of Kyrgyzstan both politically and economically," Atambayev said at a meeting with the Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia in Moscow on Friday.
The Kyrgyz leaders and people are for "these ties to be strengthened," he said.
"I think that we will bring the relations between the traditional religions in Kyrgyzstan, between the authorities and representatives of traditional religions to a whole new level," Atambayev said.
Unfortunately, there have been cases "where no due care or support was provided for the traditional religions in Kyrgyzstan, be it Islam or the Church," he said.
"Now everything will be different, I dare reassure you," the Kyrgyz leader added.