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Russian business ready to help in restoration of Notre-Dame Cathedral, says Putin

The Russian leader also added that he is confident that the plans of the French authorities to restore the Cathedral will be implemented

MOSCOW, April 18. / TASS /. Russian companies are ready to take part in the restoration of the Notre-Dame de Paris Cathedral, said Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday at the meeting with French business representatives.

"I know that the French business community is ready to help in restoring [the cathedral], I also know that the Russian companies that work together with you, who work in France, together with the French partners are also ready to join in," said he. President Putin also added that he is confident that the plans of the French authorities to restore the Cathedral will be implemented. He also expressed regret over the fire. "Certainly, this Cathedral is not only a symbol of France, it is also a symbol of European civilization and culture," he stressed. "We all regret that it happened, we watched it with tears in our eyes," President Putin said.

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Fraudsters seek to exploit Notre-Dame tragedy, says report

A fire broke out at the Notre-Dame de Paris Cathedral on the evening of April 15. Due to fierce blaze, the building’s spire and most of the roof collapsed. According to preliminary information, the fire is believed to have been sparked by the ongoing renovation works on a higher level of the cathedral.

French authorities and private donors have pledged hundreds of millions of euros to rebuild one of the French capital’s most important landmarks. Offers of assistance came from Russia, the United Kingdom, Germany and other countries.

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