Concluding 2012, we can confidently say that the JINR staff have achieved brilliant results, which illustrate willingness and ability of Dubna scientists to be at the forefront of scientific research. To do this, we have two main prerequisites: international cooperation with other leading centers and modernization of the JINR infrastructure. The recent session of the Committee of Plenipotentiaries of the governments of the JINR Member States, which was held in Dubna showed that the JINR Member States strongly adhere to their decision to fund development of JINR and we, on our part, are ready to effectively use these funds to develop new facilities.

One of the major scientific achievements of JINR in the last year was not only the official international recognition of the discovery of elements 114 and 116 of the Periodic Table of Elements, but also the successful completion of the second experiment on the synthesis of the 117th element in the Laboratory of Nuclear Reactions Flerov. By all means, the start of the serious work on the NICA project is among our objectives. Elaboration of technical design project, which was sent to the State examination at the end of this year, is under completion. Studies on Dubna radioactive ion beams (the DRIBs project) have entered a phase in which we can see the silhouette of a new experimental building rising day by day in the JINR’s territory. The IBR-2M reactor is running at full capacity, and an international user program, which registers applications from institutions from different parts of the world to work on extracted neutron beams is being implemented.

Fundamental scientific results obtained by JINR scientists and specialists coupled with the development of the educational programme, an increase of the innovative component in our activities, the development of the international scientific cooperation enable us to complete successfully the year 2012 and enter the year 2013 with new expectations.

On the threshold of the New Year we are summing up the results of the first three years (2010-2012) of implementation of the JINR Seven-Year Plan. Noting the progress in this direction, we should not be complacent and must strive to raise the JINR work efficiency at all sites, especially in research groups, administrative and production departments and the JINR Management Office up to the JINR Directorate.

I wish you, dear colleagues, and all our friends and partners in the JINR Member States, research laboratories around the world health, new bright research achievements, every success in the new year. Happiness and prosperity to you and all your close ones!

Happy New Year!