OREANDA-NEWS. December 31, 2009. The message reads, in part:  "In these 15 years, the Russian branch of the World Wildlife Fund has implemented over 200 significant environmental programs aimed at preserving biodiversity and reducing mankind's negative impact on the environment. It would be difficult to exaggerate the importance of each of these initiatives.

Environmental issues and the reasonable use of natural resources are among the Russian government's top priorities. We are determined to continue to pay scrupulous attention to these concerns, including during large-scale infrastructure projects like the Olympic Games in Sochi, the Kazan Universiade and the APEC forum in Vladivostok. Today, our cooperation with the WWF helps us meet environmental goals across Russia, protecting and enriching its flora and fauna.

I would like to thank you for the valuable work you do, which is important for us today, and for generations to come."