Volga-Dnepr Airlines Participates in the Meeting Between Russian Business Leaders and UN Senior Officials

Moscow, 19 November 2001. A round table meeting between the Russian business leaders, senior executives of major international corporations and banking institutions, and representatives from UN agencies headed by Ms. Louise Frechette, UN First Deputy Secretary General, took place at the President Hotel. This meeting was arranged by the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs. Primary objective was to facilitate partner relashionship and integration between the Russian private capital and the UN agencies under the Global Compact initiative.

Nine principles of the Global Compact relating to human rights, labor relationship and environmental protection were brought forward by UN Secretary General Kofi Annan at the World Economic Forum in Davos. World's business leaders joined this initiative that had been officially announced in 2000. Volga-Dnepr Airlines became one of the first Russian companies to join the Global Compact. At present, the airline is working to develop the Corporate Code for Volga-Dnepr Group of companies. This Code will formally set out the major principles of the Global Compact initiative; basically, these principles have been used as a basis for Volga-Dnepr's corporate culture for a long time.

Volga-Dnepr's Director General, Mr. Alexey Isaikin made a presentation describing the airline's experience in and future prospects for working with the UN entitities. Since 1992, when the airline started its collaboration with the United Nations, it operated 150 flights, with 120 flights performed within the last two years, and airlifted more than 12,000 tonnes of cargo. Geographically, the operations covered all the "hot spots" around the world (e.g. Jugoslavia, Afghanistan), distressed areas receiving UN relief aid (Cameroon, Somali, Rwanda, Kuwait, Mosambique, Central African Repblic, Congo, East Timor, etc.). Since 1995 Volga-Dnepr became an official UN vendor. Volga-Dnepr's global capabilities, such as a fleet of unique AN-124 "Ruslan" ramp freighetrs, highly skilled international staff, maintenance station network, marketing and sales infrustructure, are in line with UN's global needs. The presentation highlighted the prospects for future cooperation with the UN agencies. Alexey Isaikin believes that cooperation with the United Nations calls for long-term government-supported relationship and requires intergrated solutions from approved Russian suppliers.

Mr. Igor Ivanov, Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs, stated that wider cooperation between the UN and private businesses is in line with Russia's interests. He stressed the importance of collaboration with the United Nations and proposed to establish a committee responsible for liaison with various UN agencies and divisions, with active involvement by Russian business leaders. Volga-Dnepr Airlines voiced its absolute support to this proposal.

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