Section: PERSPECTIVE
Page: B4

Sunday, July 11, 1999

ALBANY-TULA ALLIANCE BENEFICIAL FOR BOTH CITIES

 

 

S.I. KAZAKOV Mayor Chairman of the Municipal Duma Tula

 

As the mayor of Tula, Russia, elected in December 1997, by the citizens of the city, it is with deep satisfaction that I recognize that the similarities in the histories of our cities and the spiritual closeness between Russian and American people were the bases for establishing the sister-cities relationship between the Capital Region of New York and Tula, Russia.

On behalf of the citizens of Tula and my colleagues, I confirm our continuing support of our relationship. Besides the direct benefits and friendships that have developed on both sides, I am sure that the accomplishments of the past years represent a modest contribution to the interests of peace.

In 1999, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute commemorated its 175th anniversary, the 40th anniversary of NASA, and the 30th anniversary of the first landing on the moon. Russian cosmonauts Evgeniy Khrunov and Alexsey Yeliseev, who participated in the RPI festivities on behalf of Tula, celebrated the 30th anniversary of their first space flight. They were the first men to walk in open space and link two spacecraft. We were pleased to send our best wishes for achievements in the past. We hope that our communities, the truly American city of Albany, and the surrounding communities, and the ancient Russian city of Tula, further unite in working on noble tasks.

It is hard to overestimate the value of the Albany-Tula alliance in its dedication to make the relationships between the communities multifaceted and mutually beneficial. The alliance established working relationships in the areas of culture, education, health care and business. During this difficult time in Tula, the alliance managed with great delicacy and goodwill to coordinate help and support efforts, which our citizens accepted with gratitude and appreciation.

Many members of the alliance have visited Tula and have formed objective and firsthand judgments about our city. We are pleased to acknowledge that most of these opinions are optimistic and filled with confidence for the prosperous future of our city. Not only do we gratefully share their optimism but we also apply all our effort to bring us closer to that future.

With my sincere wishes for happiness and prosperity to the citizens of Albany and the Capital Region.