OREANDA-NEWS. June 22, 2007. The Session of General Assembly of the World Association for the Development of Philately is held today in Saint-Petersburg within the framework of the World Stamp Exhibition. Such annual sessions are held jointly with large international philately exhibitions. They aims at developing of philately market, arranging of trainings for postal authorities, studying of postal market and issuing of stamps. As to director Edouard Dayan, Director General of Universal Postal Union the Assembly Session in Saint Petersburg is the first meeting that publishes the results of analysis of professional work of philately companies in several languages.

In his welcome speech Igor Syrtsov, Director General of FSUE Russian Post noted that this year the Session is held within the framework of joint events: World Stamp Exhibition and International Strategic Forum "Pochtovaya Troika - 2007". The importance of the event is intensified by the 150th anniversary of postage stamp celebrated in Russia. This anniversary is very significant for Russia, added I. Syrtsov. "This date reflects the process of establishment and new development of post in Russia, - said Director General of FSUE Russian Post, - the process of phenomenal turn of utility postal service into the object of collecting that reflects national history and culture". He mentioned educational moment of philately attracting attention of young people and emphasized that this years about 70 countries take part in the event. This fact tells of large scale of interest to collecting of postage stamps. Moreover, philately activities promote postal business, noted I. Syrtsov.