Award for the Partnership between Kiel and Kaliningrad

Going back over ten years, the longstanding partnership between Kiel, the capital of Schleswig-Holstein, and the Russian city of Kaliningrad (formerly Konigsberg) has been awarded a top prize in the cities' co-operation category. Gerd Muller, Head of the Kiel Press Office, which is responsible for city partnerships and foreign relations, was presented with the prize of 2,500 EUR by Wolfgang Thierse, President of the German Parliament, in Berlin on 17 March 2003. Kiel is one of twenty institutions, groups and individuals that received prizes for their civic commitment to Russia. Altogether, over 200 initiatives took part in the competition. Sponsored by the Robert Bosch Foundation, the German-Russian Forum gives prizes in support of such efforts every year. Last year, Kiel was awarded a certificate. This year, the city has been awarded financial support for the first time.

In 2002, Kiel and Kaliningrad celebrated the tenth anniversary of their city partnership with a grand ceremony in the Russian city. Over the years, the partnership has developed into the basis for innumerable private contacts between the people, the associations and the institutions of the two cities. Kiel was singled out for this honour in recognition of the lively partnership between the two cities and the contacts that exist on many different levels. The prize money will be used for work in connection with children and young people from Kaliningrad. This summer, 50 street children from the "Kruglovo" children's home, which is supported by Kiel, will have the chance to spend a holiday at the Falckenstein youth camp in Kiel.