The telegram

Moscow, 132/23013 149 May, 16 1214=

Notification from President of the Russian Federation by telegraph to St. Petersburg University of the Humanities and Social Sciences. To the participants, organizers and guests of the XVI International Likhachev Scientific Conference.

Dear friends!

Hereby I am sending you my greetings with the opening of the International Likhachev Scientific Conference, which has been held in our Northern Capital during many years.

Your authoritative forum, which gathers the elite of Russian and world intelligentsia, prominent scientists and workers of culture, became a really great event and an excellent tradition in social and spiritual life of our country. It is important that in the agenda of the meetings there are always the most actual humanitarian and civilizational issues of paramount importance for present and future of Russia. Today you will discuss such a fundamental subject as “Contemporary Global Challenges and National Interests”, exchange experience, summarize joint projects. I am sure that suggestions and recommendations developed during the conference will serve for careful preservation of national cultural heritage and development of humanistic ideas of Dmitry Likhachev.

I wish you fruitful and mutually beneficial discussions. Success and all the best!

Vladimir Putin