Prime Minister Vladimir Putin sends a message of greetings to the World Wildlife Fund in celebration of its anniversary
The message reads, in part:
"During the last fifty years, the fund has become a prestigious and largely unique international public institution and has attracted millions of supporters.
All World Wildlife Fund initiatives serve an admirable cause: the protection of our planet's biological diversity – its forests, steppes, deserts, marine and coastal eco-systems, its critically endangered species, wherever they may be. I'd like to take special note of the fund's efforts to preserve tigers across the world, including in Russia, and its substantial assistance in organising and holding the International Tiger Forum in St Petersburg. I'd like to emphasise that Russia is making full use of the fund's enormous positive experience. For over 16 years, the World Wildlife Fund in Russia has implemented serious environmental protection programmes in many regions.
The fund is always open to partnership and friendly and constructive cooperation. Environmental issues and the appropriate use of natural resources are high on the list of our government's priorities. We intend to continue cooperating with the World Wildlife Fund and other public organisations with a view to finding joint solutions for the benefit of the Earth, our common home."
