site.btaNational Assembly Chair Karayancheva Meets with Finnish Archbishop Leo

November 23 (BTA) - Bulgarian National Assembly Chair
Tsveta Karayancheva met with Archbishop Leo Makkonen of Karelia
and All Finland, Karayancheva's press centre said on Friday. The
 Bulgarian parliament chief, who is leading a delegation on a
two-day-long official visit to Finland, was received at the
Uspenski Cathedral in Helsinki.

Karayancheva noted as essential the role of the church and of
spiritual values in contemporary life. She said she holds in
high regard the activities of Archbishop Leo and the Finnish
Orthodox Church for preserving and popularizing Christian values
 and virtues.

The Archbishop gave his blessings to the Bulgarian MPs and asked
 them to forward his regards to their fellow Bulgarians.

He said he hopes the delegation's visit will help to strengthen
European unity and cooperation. "It is easy to build up Europe
when we rest on common values," Archbishop Leo said. RI/TH