[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 110 (Wednesday, September 4, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1485-E1486]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   10TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FLINT-TOGLIATTI SISTER CITIES PARTNERSHIP

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DALE E. KILDEE

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, September 4, 2002

  Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Speaker, I ask the House of Representatives to join 
me in congratulating Flint, Michigan and Togliatti, Russia as they 
celebrate 10 years as Sister Cities. A ceremony will be held tomorrow 
in Flint to commemorate this event.
  Sister Cities is a program to encourage persons and groups to engage 
in citizen diplomacy. President Dwight Eisenhower gave the idea impetus 
at a ``People-to-People'' conference in 1956. President Eisenhower's 
hope was that the personal relationships between individuals would 
lessen the prospect of future world conflicts. Born out of this idea, 
Sister Cities International has established municipal associations 
throughout the world, promoting an environment of cultural, 
educational, professional and technical exchanges between communities.
  Flint is the birthplace of General Motors and Togliatti is the home 
of the Volzhsky Automobile Plant (VAZ), Russia's largest automotive 
manufacturer. This mutual interest in the automotive industry was 
genesis of the Sister City relationship between the two towns. The 
partnership has been very active since the beginning 10 years ago. The 
University of Michigan-Flint School of Management and the Togliatti 
College of Business and Banking exchange faculty and students. The 
Community Foundation of Flint and the C.S. Mott Foundation were 
instrumental in helping Togliatti organize the first Russian Community 
Foundation. The Flint Area Chamber of Commerce

[[Page E1486]]

assisted in the development of Togliatti's Chamber of Commerce and the 
Flint Rotary helped found its counterpart in Togliatti.
  Remembering not only the relationships between organizations, Flint 
and Togliatti will also celebrate the flourishing exchange of their 
citizens and the friendships that have blossomed as a result of the 
Sister Cities program. Flint will honor this milestone with events 
between September 6 and September 10th. Togliatti will commemorate the 
anniversary with events between September 20 and September 24th.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask the House of Representatives to join me in 
congratulating Flint, Michigan and Togliatti, Russia for embracing the 
spirit of the Sister Cities program. The affinity that has evolved 
between these two communities is an example to everyone that people 
everywhere can live in harmony and realize their aspirations through 
friendship and goodwill.

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