RusEnergy

December 12, 2008 - OilVoice - The Order of Friendship of the Russian Federation is being awarded to Reinier Zwitserloot, Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of Wintershall Holding AG, on Sunday, 14 December 2008. The Order will be conferred by the Russian Ambassador H.E. Vladimir V. Kotenev in a ceremonial presentation at the Christmas concert of the Novosibirsk Chamber Choir in the Martinskirche in Kassel at 3 p.m. Russian President Dmitri A. Medvedev has already signed the decree conferring the award. The Order of Friendship is the highest state decoration of the Russian Federation awarded to non-Russian citizens. Mr. Zwitserloot is being honoured for his significant personal contribution to cooperation between Russia and Germany in the oil and gas industry and for his active participation in German-Russian economic, scientific and cultural projects. “It is a great honour for me that Russia sees me as a friend. And we will continue on this path of friendship together in the future”, the Chairman of the largest German crude oil and natural gas company declared. The friendship between Germany and Russia was essential for securing Europe’s energy supply - and for the stability of the regions, Mr. Zwitserloot said. “The conferral of the Order also recognizes the efforts of Wintershall and WINGAS in building bridges between the two countries. In Gazprom we have a partner with whom we can plan and shape the future with confidence”, Mr. Zwitserloot explained. The Wintershall CEO emphasised that the friendship with Russia was not only a necessity because of the economic ties, but that it was also a matter close to his heart. Mr. Zwitserloot underlined that his efforts were first and foremost geared towards becoming familiar with the cultural roots of the other country, arousing interest and generating understanding. As examples of the friendship he cited the town twinning between Kassel and Novy Urengoy as well as the reconstruction of the Cathedral of the Dormition in Nowgorod built in 1352. The Russian Ambassador H.E. Vladimir V. Kotenev will also sign the "Golden Book” of the City of Kassel before the ceremony as a symbol of the friendship. At this year’s Christmas concert for the staff of Kassel-based Wintershall, the Novosibirsk Chamber Choir conducted by Igor Yudin will present spiritual music including masterworks by Tschaikowsky, Rachmaninov as well as Russian folk songs. The choir, which enjoys success far beyond the borders of Russia, was founded in 1981 and was the first professional choir of the Soviet Union east of the Ural Mountains. Russian Orthodox choral music has crowned the choir’s repertoire since the first days of its existence.