French govt wants Russian Orthodox center plan to materialize - PM
PARIS. Nov 27 (Interfax) - The French government is determined to take measures to move forward a project to build a Russian Orthodox religious and cultural center in Paris and has chosen a new site for it after it proved impossible to put up the facility on a Russian-owned land plot, French Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault said on Tuesday.
"I'm sure we will find a solution. I think we are on the right path. We wanted that Orthodox cultural center to be built on the land that belongs to the Russian Federation. That is on Branly Embankment," Ayrault said after talks with Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev.
It is very difficult to build such a center in Paris because of legislation on the preservation of architectural monuments, Ayrault said. "That is why we have had to revise [the matter], and this is what we have done in order to find a solution, and I'm convinced that we will find a solution."
"Yes, we want this project to materialize because it is a symbol of our friendship, our cooperation," said Medvedev.
"We have always assumed, and still assume, that decisions that have been made by one of our partners - France in this case - should be implemented," he said.
"Talking about the technical side, there probably are things that can be looked at and various options that can be discussed. But, nevertheless, it is extremely important that earlier decisions should be implemented," he said.