ST. PETERSBURG, November 16. /TASS/. Pierre de Gaulle, the grandson of General Charles de Gaulle, the founder of the Fifth French Republic, is interested in becoming a Russian citizen.

"Yes, absolutely," de Gaulle said when asked by a TASS correspondent at the Forum of United Cultures held in St. Petersburg on November 16-18 whether he would like to become a Russian citizen. "I would be honored to receive Russian citizenship," he added.

"Your country offers great opportunities," de Gaulle pointed out. "I love your rich and rugged culture, intelligence and Russian spirit," he revealed.

Pierre de Gaulle also paid respect to Russia’s traditional values.

"I am pleased to note that you are fighting for traditional values, for the family, for spirituality," he said. "You pay a lot of attention to intellectual and spiritual development. All these values have disappeared in Western countries," he stressed.

"When I come to your country, I see what was important to my ancestors: traditional values," Pierre de Gaulle pointed out. "I like this a lot," he concluded.

The 9th St. Petersburg International Cultural Forum - Forum of United Cultures is being held on November 16-18 after a three-year break. The event, organized by the Russian government, the Russian Culture Ministry and the government of St. Petersburg, is widely respected around the world. Each year it brings together thousands of people from all over the world and all walks of life: prominent figures of theater, opera and ballet, directors and musicians, public figures, representatives of government and business, and the academic community.

TASS is the forum’s general information partner.