17 CANDIDATES IN MAYORAL RACE IN VLADIVOSTOK

Journalists have been right in calling the ongoing mayoral elections "attack of clones" - the 17th application for registry as mayoral candidate was received from Yury Germanovich Kopylov, a namesake of the seating mayor.

Therefore, there is a full set of namesakes for main candidates - Nikolayev, Cherepkov and Kopylov. In accordance with rules, candidates will be registered and entered into ballots in alphabetical order. So, Kopylov's and Cherepkov's clones will precede their originals, which may confuse elderly electors making up the majority of the voter turnout.

The only information available about the new candidate is that he was born in 1952 and is jobless. - Yury ROGOV.

DALSVYAZ LAUNCHES MULTI-SERVICE NET IN AMUR OBLAST

OAO Dalsvyaz announced opening for commercial operation of a multi-service data transfer net in Blagoveshchensk, Belogorsk and Novobureisk.

In early June access to the net will became available for Raichikhinsk, Svobodny, Tynda and by this year's end to all other county seats and major cities of Amur Oblast, said spokesman for Dalsvyaz.

By words of Dalsvyaz' local branch director Valery Utoplov, Amur Oblast's multi-service net will become part of OAO Dalsvyaz' integrated net encompassing seven regions of the Far East. Construction of the net in Amur Oblast began in November 2003, and trial run was done in Blagoveshchensk already in May. Project cost is about $476,000.

Manufacturers of basic equipment are Cisco Systems Inc. and Paradyne. As Valery Utoplov stressed, the launching of a multi-service net allowed them to organize corporate data transfer nets to be asked-for by large and medium business, and individuals will get access to DSL nets at 12,700 rubles (about $400) including a modem with subscription fees of 500 rubles per month (including 200 MB of incoming traffic). - Yevgeny ITAROV.

VOSTOCHNY PORT HAS NEW DIRECTOR GENERAL

OAO Vostochny Port's board of directors made a decision on early termination of its director general's service contract due to appointment to a new position.

Vladimir Popov, leading the port since January 2002, became deputy head of the Federal Agency of Maritime and River Transport.

By a unanimous vote of the board, new director general was elected Alexander Ignatenko, the port's deputy CEO. - Irina DROBYSHEVA.

AMUR OBLAST WAITING FOR LIFT OF FARM PRODUCE EXPORT BAN DUE TO FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE

It should be reminded that a quarantine was imposed on six raions of Amur Oblast and Blagoveshchensk City after an outbreak of foot and mouth at a farm in Sadovoye village. The infected animals were slaughtered and a 21-day quarantine was observed. No new cases were registered in this period.

The quarantine was lifted on 12 May and, as spokesman for the regional administration informs, a commission in Moscow gave permission to three local producers export their produce to neighbouring regions: AmurAgrocentre, Amursky Broiler and Blagoveshchensk Milk Packing Factory.

The Russian Veterinary Service is considering a final package of documents and, possibly, Amur Oblast's borders will be opened in this week. - Yulia PROKHOROVA.

FISHERMEN WILL HAVE NO TAX PRIVILEGES

At its session on 12 May, the Budget Committee of Primorsky Krai's legislative assembly rejected three amendments on privileges for fishing companies.

The amendments, prepared by lawmaker Alexander Perednya, were calling for cancellation of property tax for the entire fishing industry, of tax on fish catching fleets and for tax exemption on new ship construction. Though Perednya says he has studied information on all fish producing and processing companies to make appropriate calculation, his arguments did not convince members of the budget committee.

"I would like to note that our poor fishermen, for instance, produced $4 billion worth of fish in 2000 but sold only 11 billion rubles worth of produce," committee chairman Yury Serebryakov summed discussions.

However, Alexander Perednya may come up with his proposal at a full house session scheduled for 26 May and find more supporters there. As a matter of fact, the amendment on tax exemption for new fleet construction has been approved by the governor. - Igor NIKITIN.