KAZAN, August 26 (RIA Novosti) - Any attempts to break interethnic or interfaith peace are a challenge to the country's unity, Russian President Vladimir Putin said at a ceremony marking the millennium anniversary of Kazan, the capital of Tatarstan.
"Maintaining social, interethnic, interregional, and interfaith peace is the cornerstone of Russia's progress, which is why attempts to break it are a challenge to society, a threat to sovereignty and territorial security," the head of state said.
"The development of relations between the federal center and constituent members of the Russian Federation has once again proved the unbroken historical unity of the Russian multi-ethnic nation, a unity that rests on the shared experience of our peoples," the president said.