“Rossiya (Moscow)” – No.052. – P.10, March 28, 2003

Today, the basis of the economic prosperity and social welfare of our state is being created. What the future of Russia will be depends on every person, whether a businessman, a worker or a state employee. But there are people who are the most active in forming the future look of the country; they seem to embody considerable trends in its development. They are the Russian citizens who received the national award the Person of the Year 2002 in the Kremlin on March 26.

An expert council, which included outstanding public figures, representatives of the government, heads of Russian companies and mass media, determined the winners of the award. There were strict requirements for nominees: they were to be the people who had exerted themselves in 2002 in serving public, political and state interests of Russia, and contributed to the forming and development of innovative tendencies in the major fields of the country’s progress. The Grand Prix was awarded to First Deputy Chairman of the Russian Central Bank Tatyana Paramonova and President of the Siberian Coal Company Oleg Misevra. They were decorated with the Fame of Russia order.

The Persons of 2002 were head of the Russian Presidential Administration Alexander Voloshin, Presidential Advisor Andrey Illarionov, Krasnodar regional governor Alexander Tkachyov, Chairman of the Russian State Sports Committee Vyacheslav Fetisov, head of the Moscow Soloists chamber orchestra Yury Bashmet, President of the Russian Television Academy Vladimir Pozner, and well-known Russian businessmen. In a special nomination, the Leader of the Industry, General Director of the ROSNO insurance company Yevgeny Kurgin was awarded with a golden button and a certificate of honor.

The head of ROSNO said: “I consider this award not as an acknowledgement of personal achievements, but first of all as an estimation of the activities of the management team of the company. The professionalism of our employees and managers enables ROSNO to actively develop, expanding the range of its clients, and rendering absolutely new services, which are currently in demand on the market. We have managed to be the first on the insurance market to transfer to International Accounting Standards, and to become a financially transparent company for our shareholders, partners and clients.”

No doubt the activities, aimed at Russia’s benefit, should be assessed deservedly. Such projects as the Person of the Year contribute to Russia’s integration in the world community and to the unification of the civil society, business and the government, and draw the attention of the Russian people to those who determine the development of the country.

The annual national award the Person of the Year was established by RIA RosBusinessConsulting.

Varvara Umnova