MOSCOW, November 3 (RIA Novosti) - Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Alexy II said Friday that he might pay a visit to Cuba in 2007, to consecrate the opening of a Russian Orthodox Church in the Caribbean country.
After a meeting in Moscow with the head of Cuba's parliament, Ricardo Alarcon, the Russian Orthodox leader said: "The president of the National Assembly of Cuba informed me that the construction of an Orthodox Church in Cuba is developing actively."
"The construction could be completed by the end of next year," Patriarch Alexy II said. "Because of this, I have been invited to visit Cuba for the consecration and the opening of this church."
The Orthodox leader said he gratefully accepted the invitation.
The Cuban official, widely considered a possible successor to Fidel Castro, is currently on an official visit to Russia on an invitation from Boris Gryzlov, the speaker the lower house of parliament.
On Thursday he met with Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov and discussed the implementation of bilateral agreements reached during the premier's visit to Cuba in September.
Fradkov thanked the Cuban government for their support in building the Orthodox church, in a central district of Havana, and for providing all necessary construction materials.
On Friday Alarcon will address lawmakers in the State Duma on the United States' economic blockade of Cuba.
