President of Finland Tarja Halonen made a tour of the Kazan Kremlin

President of Finland Tarja Halonen made a tour of the Kazan Kremlin. She was accompanied by President of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov. They visited the Kul-Sharif Mosque and the Annunciation Cathedral.

Imam-hatyb of the mosque Ramil khazrat Yunusov demonstrated to Her Excellency a Finnish-language Koran which had been gifted to the mosque by Finnish Tatars.

Tarja Halonen noted that Tatars appeared in Finland in the 19th century. “Tatars live well with us; however, they seeking their wives in Kazan”, - said H.E. President, smiling. Presidents of Finland and Tatarstan also visited a museum of Islamic culture which is situated on the ground floor of the mosque.

At the Annunciation Cathedral, the visitors were met by Archbishop of Kazan and Tatarstan Anastasiy. He noted that Tatarstan is a tolerant republic, where peacefully coexist Orthodox Christians and Moslems, as well as representatives of other religions and faiths.

The head of the Kazan Diocese also conducted a tour of the Annunciation Cathedral for Her Excellency and presented her a miniature icon of the Our Lady of Kazan.