Prime Minister Putin's address:

I'd like to welcome those present today and those who are watching the broadcast at Arts Square.

Allow me to express my gratitude to our famous and beloved artists, leading musicians, and rock artists, who are also known and loved by millions of Russians. Thank you for giving your time to this important cause.

Time is our greatest treasure. Thank you very much for your effort.

Let's thank them for it!

I'd like to express my special gratitude to the fund Podari Zhizn [Grant a Life], which has developed into a respected NGO charity in the five years since its establishment. People trust this organisation because they know that the funds it collects will go to a good cause. Everybody knows that each rouble will be spent on medical aid for children. Last year the fund collected about 100 million roubles, which went to drug procurement, rehabilitation and treatment programmes.

Today's event, the concert and play - I don't know how to call it - is based on the famous fairy-tale The Little Prince by French aviator Antoine de Saint-Exupery. Written 70 years ago, this fairy-tale is still one of the most popular stories for millions of people in Russia and in the world in general. The author told a simple story with a very profound message. It's a very edifying story. There's one crucial idea in it: We are responsible for those in need of help.

When I spoke about this fund, I mentioned that it collects a lot of money and actually uses it as they say it will be used: to provide medical aid for diseased children. But there's one more thing they do: The fund provides moral support to young patients and their families. These people need a simple but indispensable type of medication, one that offers kindness, hope and love. This kind of medication can help us deal with any problem, including both life problems and health problems.

I'd like to wish you good health and love, and I'd like to wish everyone who will take to the stage today, including those whom the fund helped, every success today and always. I hope reliable people will always be there to help you out when you need it.

Thank you very much for your attention.