On 6 December 2006, Director of the State Hermitage Mikhail Piotrovsky had a meeting in the museum with representatives of the St Petersburg Association of Antiques Dealers. The meeting was timed to coincide with the annual celebration of the Hermitage Days and the specially prepared exhibition entitled Return, featuring missing works from the museum collection that were returned during the summer and autumn of 2006.

In the course of the meeting, Dr. Piotrovsky expressed his appreciation to his guests for their help in tracking down and finding missing Hermitage exhibit items; he also spoke about the steps being taken within the museum to improve and enhance the security system, as well as about the ongoing work to compile an electronic catalogue which has at this time resulted in entries for more than 70,000 paintings, sculptures and works of decorative and applied art.

Both sides affirmed that they should establish still closer contact and permanent exchange of information, as well as consider holding joint exhibitions, round table discussions and arrange other activities that facilitate cooperation.

Following the meeting, Mikhail Piotrovsky and the museum's guests looked over the Return exhibition.