I would like to emphasise in particular the stimulating role of the Global Energy International Prize. We in Russia regard it as a contribution to the development of one of the priority fields of scientific and technological progress for the global community. From this standpoint, it is symbolic that the prize is under the patronage of the President of Russia. It is gratifying that a prize is instituted, perhaps for the first time in Russia, that has every reason to rank with the most well-known and important international science prizes. This fact will undoubtedly play a big role in the emergence of a positive image of our country and the continuing strengthening of its international prestige.
