RUSSIA: VLADIMIR PUTIN ATTENDS CHRISTMAS MASS

(8 Jan 2000) Russian/Nat Acting Russian President Vladimir Putin attended a special Christmas mass led by Alexei II, head of the Russian Orthodox church on Friday. Putin acknowledged the importance of respecting the various faiths and their festivities but, he explained, there is no change in Russia's goals and plans for Grozny. Continuing the special mood of religious festivities that has coincided between the Russian Orthodox Church's Christmas and Islam's end to Ramadan and the Eid festivity, a special Christmas mass was held in Christ the Saviour Cathedral on Friday. Alexei II, the Russian Orthodox Church leader offered a special mass upon his return from Jerusalem to which many attended. The Orthodox church traditionally celebrates two weeks after the Roman Catholic and Protestant churches. In what has now become a public holiday in post-communist Russia, even the Acting President, Vladimir Putin, attended mass. Putin, like everyone at the ceremony, made the sign of the cross and listened to the choir - perhaps a moment of reflection, as Russia's military postponed its attacks on Grozny on Friday. SOUNDBITE: (Russian) "When it comes to Grozny (stopping military actions there), we have to remember what time of the year it is. First of all for Orthodox Christians and tomorrow for Muslims. We should not forget about that. We have to respect believers." SUPERCAPTION: Vladimir Putin, Acting Russian President But Putin added that the ceasefire is temporary and commented on the alleged use of chemical weapons. SOUNDBITE: (Russian) "Bandits, as you know, commit one crime after another. One of these crimes is using chemical substances that they tried to direct against Russian troops. In reality, civilians can be hurt. In conditions of poor visibility, to carry out rocket strikes, bomb strikes, and artillery strikes against objects in Grozny is not safe for civilians. Our military actions are dictated by care for civilians. Besides that, nothing has changed. As you know, care for civilians has always been one of the main elements in our tactics. This is the only explanation. Our goals remain the same, and they will be achieved." SUPERCAPTION: Vladimir Putin, Acting Russian President Meanwhile, the Russian high command used the opportunity on Friday to shuffle its top combat generals in Chechnya, replacing two of its front line generals with two lesser known military officials. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...