Moscow, Russian Federation, 30 April 2002 - His Highness the Aga Khan, Imam (spiritual leader) of the Ismaili Muslims, today met with President Vladimir Putin of the Russian Federation at the Kremlin.

The two leaders discussed the potential for expanding activities of the Aga Khan Development Network within the Russian Federation and reviewed together the context in which the Network has established and grown its development initiatives in Central Asia and Afghanistan.

During the Aga Khan’s brief visit to Moscow, he also held discussions with Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov and other senior government officials.

The Aga Khan Development Network has been working with agencies of the government of the Russian Federation since it began its humanitarian assistance programme in Central Asia in 1992.

The Aga Khan’s last official visit to Russia was in 1995.

Notes: The AKDN is a group of private, non-denominational development agencies and institutions that seek to empower communities and individuals, often in disadvantaged circumstances, to improve living conditions and opportunities. Established by the Ismaili Imamat (office of spiritual leadership) and working in over 20 countries, the Network’s underlying impulse is the ethic of compassion for the vulnerable in society and its agencies and institutions work for the common good of all citizens, regardless of origin, gender or religion.

The AKDN has over the past decade launched a number of successful initiatives in Central Asia in areas ranging from agrarian reform to education, infrastructure, healthcare, micro-credit, small enterprise development and cultural revitalisation.

For further information, please contact: The Information Department 60270 Gouvieux, France Tel:+33.3.44.58.40.00 Fax:+33.3.44.58.11.14 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.akdn.org