SISTEMA JSFC and the Russian Museum in St. Petersburg entered into a cooperation agreement, which the parties signed in that northern metropolis, committing themselves to multiplying the Russian Museum's cultural, scientific, methodological, organizational, and creative potentialities.

Under the Agreement, which is to run from 2004 to 2014, SISTEMA JSFC and its subsidiaries are to provide the Russian Museum with a total of $10 million in direct financing and services.

The museum will spend the sponsor's money to complete a number of long-term projects such as developing its publishing business in and beyond Russia, renovating and restoring the museum and its collections, and finalizing several publishing projects. Under one aspect of the cooperation agreement between the corporation and museum, they are to create an electronic network of virtual museums that are elements of the Russian Museum.

The agreement signing ceremony in the St. Michael's Castle was attended by Mikhail Shvydkoi, Russia's Minister of Culture; Alexander Abramov, deputy head of the Presidential Administration; St. Petersburg Governor Vladimir Yakovlev; members of the Federal State Council; and Vladimir Yevtushenkov, Chairman of SISTEMA JSFC's Board of Directors. The Agreement was signed by SISTEMA JSFC President Yevgeni Novitsky for the Corporation and Vladimir Gusev, Director of the Russian Museum, for the Museum.

For more details, contact:
Department of public relations, SISTEMA JSFC.
Phone: (095) 730 1705.