MOSCOW, July 4 (Xinhuanet) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin described on Monday the partnership between Russia and the United States as "firm" in the greeting message to his US counterpart George W. Bush on the occasion of Independent Day.

    "The VE Day celebrations prove of a new quality of Russian-American relations, which are built on the principles of partnership and mutual trust, and traditions of our military fraternity in the struggle against the common enemy," Putin said in the message, quoted by the Itar-Tass news agency.

    Russia and the United States now should work hard to promote their multilateral interaction, the Russian president stressed.

    "I do not doubt that thanks to our joint efforts the high level of cooperation will allow our countries to counteract global threats and challenges, fight international terrorism, expand trade-economic ties and contacts between our societies and people," Putin said.

    He believes that the principles of the Russian-American partnership remain unshakeable, Putin pointed out in his message.

    The United States has expressed growing concerns about the alleged human rights abuses in Russia that has taken away from democracy under Putin.

    It has also been critical at the dismantling and nationalization of the Yukos oil company of jailed tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky, which has dealt a blow to US hopes of tapping into Russia's vast oil reserves.

    But Russia is seen by the Bush administration as an important ally in the war against terrorism. Enditem