Stolichnaya Vodka Gaining Ground On U.S. Market

New York September 28 (ITAR-TASS) - Stolichnaya vodka is gaining ground on the U.S. market. An effort is being made so thet it should no longer be losing its hard-won positions to the swedish vodka Absolut. The mission of the holder of Stolichnaya trademark, the joint-stock company Soyuzplodoimport, Plodimpex USA, opened in New York on Wedensday. The mission's purpose is "to ensure broader opportunities for the delivery of the Russian vodka to the USA, coordination of these deliveries, and advertising," Yevgeny Sorochkin, the president of the joint-stock company, told ITAR-TASS.

The company seeks to ensure that the Russian vodka soon reaches the first place among imported vodkas in America. Absolute has at present got ahead of Stolichnaya in the U.S..

Russian Foreign Minister Andrei Kozyrev made remarks at the gathering of business people for the opening of Plodimpex USA.

"Vodka is an almost philosophical category". "It will not be an overstatement to say that the word 'vodka' has long been present in the vocabularies of all peoples and states," he said. "From times immemorial a glass of vodka was offered to a guest in Russia as a symbol of respect at a friendly gathering, as readiness to share everything given by God..."

"I have no doubt that a glass of vodka had its place during joint space flights of Russian cosmonauts and American astronauts..."

"Not a single deal, not a single diplomatic agreement will be successful unless it is toasted in vodka..."

"I am glad that vodka is gaining ground on the U.S. market," Kozyrev said, urging Russian and U.S. Business people to expand cooperation.