VELIKY NOVGOROD, September 18 (RIA Novosti) - Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has congratulated Russia's northwest city of Veliky Novgorod with its 1,150th anniversary.
"This is not just a load of numbers, although many believe in the magic of numbers, but an occasion to take stock, look to the future, to feel proud for the place, where you live," Medvedev said at a meeting with Sergei Mitin, the governor of the Veliky Novgorod Region.
The president wished the governor luck in developing the city and the region further, "to open new facilities and create new jobs."
"Any anniversary is of value, but only if it has benefits for the people," Medvedev said.
On Friday the Russian president toured the city that is set to celebrate its anniversary over the weekend and visited the city's Veliky Novgorod Kremlin, participated in a bell blessing at St. Sophia's Cathedral and visited other historic sites.
The first historical mention of Veliky Novgorod was in 859 AD. City chronicles say that by 862 AD it was already a stop on the trading route between the Baltics and Byzantium.
About 160,000 tourists visit the city every year, with the number increasing by 8-10% annually.
