01:48Russia: Putin looks to the past to strengthen Russia for the future
The Russian President Vladimir Putin called on Russians in Moscow Thursday to embrace centuries-old traditions that are a "powerful resource" for the future.
Speaking at the State and Civil Society Forum, Putin said fundamental values like "civic duty, patriotism, kindness and charity" helped the country survive its turbulent past and could be deployed "for the consolidation of society and for ensuring social and inter-ethnic harmony."
He also stated that presidential grants to NGOs have grown almost four-fold to reach 3.7 billion rubles (about $57 million) and suggested that some roles of the public sector could be handed over to NGOs in the future.
01:48The Russian President Vladimir Putin called on Russians in Moscow Thursday to embrace centuries-old traditions that are a "powerful resource" for the future.
Speaking at the State and Civil Society Forum, Putin said fundamental values like "civic duty, patriotism, kindness and charity" helped the country survive its turbulent past and could be deployed "for the consolidation of society and for ensuring social and inter-ethnic harmony."
He also stated that presidential grants to NGOs have grown almost four-fold to reach 3.7 billion rubles (about $57 million) and suggested that some roles of the public sector could be handed over to NGOs in the future.