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UDEGE SUB-ETHNICITY OBJECTS TO LOGGING IN SAMARGA RIVER
The tree cutting moratorium in the watershed of Samarga River (Terneisky Raion) voluntarily assumed by JSC Terneiles 2 years ago expires in the autumn of this year.
Company management hoped to settle during this period moral and environmental problems that had arisen between loggers, on the one hand, and Udeges from Agzu village and environmentalists, on the other hand. By Terneiles representative Vladimir Kaushansky's words, the logging company has already sunk over 40 million rubles in Samarga forests, first of all, for expensive environmental assessments, travel expenses for familiarizing Agzu residents with state-of-the-art logging technologies applied by Terneiles in other locations, helicopter services for Russian and foreign environmentalists coming for field investigation.
The residents of Agzu community had a secret vote and the majority of ballots was cast against timber cutting in Samarga area. - Yulia PROKHOROVA.
ZHIRINOVSKY: I WILL CLEAR YOUR BRAINS
LDPR leader Vladimir Zhirinovsky visited Primorsky Krai amidst the season best for high-ranking guests such as prime minister, speaker or even the president.
No more than 400 persons gathered on the central square in Vladivostok in the evening of August 11 to listen to the leader of Liberal Democrats, and the leader himself looked tired. It is quite understandable after 10 days of journey by a special train of 14 wagons with stopovers and speeches in all more or less significant communities.
In the morning of August 12 Zhirinovsky met with Primorye governor Sergei Darkin, who has just come from Japan and in the mid-day he met with Vladivostok mayor Yury Kopylov and, by his words, was much satisfied with the mayor.
- He told me everything, Zhirinovsky said to journalists. - Vladivostok's problems are clear to us and it's not good that your deputies in the State Duma gave little help. LDPR never had close linkages with Primorsky Krai, you were represented by Cherepkov, an uncertain personage. Now I see that an association of Far Easterners is needed in the State Duma, because Vladivostok and Far East need special attention from federal authorities. We want to identify the forces who squeezes taxes from the Far East, withdraws troops and gives no incentive for residence here, while Chinese cities rise up nearby and Vladivostok has turned into a huge hole fro sucking out our resources and wealth.
It was interesting to hear what Zhirinovsky would say about the recent hike in import duties on second-hand autos after he had praised Russian-made "Zhiguli"s at AvtoVAZ auto plant. But his answer was smart: I believe that the higher import duties are fair for cars imported from the West but a special status had to be envisioned for the Far East
Speaking at the public meeting in the evening of the same day, he was diplomatic and criticized everybody - Communists, Democrats, oligarchs and even an elderly woman who tried to defend Cherepkov.
In conclusion, he said: vote for LDPR. We've brought you everything: by books, T-shirts, even cigarette lighters, what else do you need? If you don't vote for us this time, I will come back in five years and will clear your brains in order you understood that only LDPR can solve your problems.
After a meeting with the governor the next day, Zhirinovsky highly praised Sergei Darkin, who, by his words, represents a new wave of politicians, well aware of economical matters, and knows much about both Primorye's problems and the entire Asia Pacific.
Zhirinovsky also promised that there will be no war in North Korea.
- In 2005 the two Koreas will reunify and anew state will emerge to counterbalance China. This is to Russia and Japan's advantage.
Sergei Darkin was also polite in his comments: it is always a pleasure for us work with LDPR which readily accepts all our initiatives. Vladimir Volfovich understands the Far East's problems very well and is, in general, one of most influential persons in the Russian political elite who could teach us a lot of things.
Be that as it may, the December election to the State Duma will show if Primorye would have any practical gain from this exchange of polite words. - Igor NIKITIN.
PRESIDENTIAL ENVOY PREPARES FOR MILITARY EXERCISE IN PACIFIC
Konstantin Pulikovsky held a number of working meetings on preparations for military exercise in the Pacific scheduled for August 18-29 in four regions of the Far East.
As his spokesman informs, the first objective of the exercise is to improve coordination between federal and regional governmental bodies, law enforcement agencies. The main specific is that only one-fourth of all tasks will be of purely military character. Other tasks will apply to emergency situations, poaching in water basins, terrorism, and civilian structures and executive bodies should also take part in solving these tasks.
The exercise will consist of 45 actions calling for training in response to acts of terrorism. - Yury ROGOV.
JAPAN CAN INVEST $14 BILLION IN OIL PROJECTS IN FAR EAST
This figure was announced by Primorye governor Sergei Darkin at a press conference after his trip to Tokyo during August 7-9.
$5 billion could be provided for an oil pipeline from Angarsk to Primorye ports, $7 billion for oil exploration in East Siberia and $2 billion for social projects in the Far East, said the governor.
Primorye delegation had important meetings with Japanese Foreign Minister Kawaguti, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Hiranuma, Japan's Oil Corporation whose experts handle the above project.
A decision on the oil pipeline routing is expected to be made by the Russian government in December 2003.
"I hope we will get the cabinet's positive reaction to this route in December", said the governor. "Defending Primorye's interests, we included in the project a proposal to build an oil refinery with an annual capacity of up to 10 million tons in one of Primorye ports. Such a facility would enable Russia to sell finished products rather than crude oil. Should such a project be realized, Primorye would be able to self-finance itself in 2008 and refuse from federal subsidies." - Yury ROGOV.
BLAGOVESHCHENSK WILL BUILD CAST-IN-PLACE HOUSES
A concrete plant using cast-in-place housing construction technologies was opened recently in Blagoveshchensk on the base of a precast concrete facility that was out of use for several years.
The cast-in-place technology will make housing prices cheaper by one-fourth. The city administration of Blagoveshchensk has a project to build "Solnechnyi" residential area under this technology. 70% of apartments will be allocated under social housing programmes. - Yevgeny ITAROV.
FISH DEEP FREEZE MINI-PLANT OPENED IN CHUKOTKA
The plant is located in Khatyrka town of Beringovsky Raion and has a freezing capacity of 20 tons.
Its owner, ChukotOptorg, plans to supply fish to other raions of Chukotka. Fish is caught by the "Rubicon" small-size trawler belonging to the same company. It has permits for inshore fishery of Alaska pollack, cod and herring. Raw fish will also be supplied by Khatyrsky company. - Yury ROGOV.
STOLEN CAR WILL GO BACK TO JAPAN
As spokesman for the Far Eastern Customs Authority informs, an automobile stolen in Japan and smuggled to Russia will be returned to a Japanese representative on August 20 in Vladivostok.
Customs officers inspecting the Russian m/v "Solnechnogorsk" arriving from Otaru to Nakhodka in October 2002 and clearing imported automobiles noticed that a Toyota Land Cruiser Prado 1998 has signs of burglary - broken trunk lock and steering wheel cut in two places. Its owner said that he bought it at $500 from an unknown person in Japan and showed all necessary papers. However, clearance of the suspicious car was delayed and inquiry sent to Japan.
The Japanese side confirmed that the car had been stolen in Sapporo. As it was covered by insurance, its owner received money and all rights for this car passed to Sony Assurance Inc., which reacted very quickly and sent all supporting documents.
Court examined the case on May 14 and ruled that the real cost of the automobile was 635,000 rubles but not 15,000 rubles ($500) and the documents provided by the defendant were not valid. According to court ruling, he was fined at 50% of the cost of the car illegally brought into Russia (317,520 rubles) through no personal fault, and the car was to be returned to Japan. The seaman protested this ruling but the higher court confirmed it.
"ZR" FILE: The department for interaction with law enforcement agencies of foreign states was set up in the Far Eastern Customs Authority in 2001, when necessity of close contacts with foreign colleagues became obvious. During two years, the department established contacts with Japan, China, South Korea, DPRK, USA, New Zealand, Vietnam and others. Most actively customs authorities cooperate with Japan's Customs Bureau and Chief Police Authority. FECA had ten working meetings with Japanese colleagues, conducted 6 joint actions to enforce drug, seafood and automobile illegal trafficking. Using information provided by FECA, Japanese law enforcement agencies detained over 300 smugglers, 10 drug traffickers, confiscated over 50 kg of narcotic substances. - Yury ROGOV.
Copyright © 2003 JSC 'Publishing Company 'Zolotoy Rog'.
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