Arkhangelsk top news in April

WEEK 13 (April 1-3)

“European Spring” in Arkhangelsk

VI international music and theatre festival “European Spring” was arranged in Arkhangelsk on April 1-15. Most of the festival participants are groups that are coming to Russian for the first time. The performances are shown on different theatrical arenas in the city. Among the guests of the festival there is Samovar Theatre from Norway with its performance “Voices of the Arctic”, as well as guests from France, and other creative groups. The organizer of the festival is Arkhangelsk Youth Theatre.

After the performance the audience applauded to the Norwegian Government

After the performance “Voices of the Arctic” by Samovar Theatre from Kirkenes the audience in Arkhangelsk applauded to the Norwegian Government, which takes care of the citizens and do not just consider them as voters. The performance was dramatic, in four languages, easy to understand without translation. Its idea is that we are all living in a frontier zone, and the attempts of the authorities to limit the freedom do not normally lead to anything positive. «Hope, thruth and love can overcome any borders».

 A new partner for the NArFU from the South of Norway

Adger University from Norway and the Northern Arctic Federal University will become partners. The decision was made at the meeting with Helge Grobæk, Managing Director of Maritime Forum, Grimstad (Norway). The North is becoming more attractive for universities also in the south of Norway. At the meeting the parties agreed to arrange a visit by the Norwegian colleagues to NArFU to meet the University and sign partnership agreement.

Investments to “import” more tourists

The Arkhangelsk Oblast is heading for incoming tourism. From 2012 on the local tourist companies will have an opportunity to use regional subsidies for development and improvement of hotel complexes and guest houses. The money will be given as co-financing for construction and overall refurbishment of buildings. In 2011 3.8 million rubles will be spent for promotion of local tourism services. Total financing for the program «Development of domestic and incoming tourism in the Oblast for 2011-2013» is more than 1 billion rubles. The minimum task is to increase the tourist flow by 2014 at least up to half a million tourists per year. This is approx. by 12% more than at present.

WEEK 14 (April 4-10)

“New horizons” for the Barents cultural cooperation

The third program for cultural cooperation in the Barents Euro-Arctic Region for 2011-2013 has been adopted at the meeting of the joint BEAR working group on culture in Arkhangelsk. The program has received a name “New horizons in the Barents region”. The joint working group is made up of experts within culture from Norway, Finland, Sweden and Russia, and their common goal is to make plans for cross-border cultural cooperation. The program for cultural cooperation in the BEAR for 2011-2013 is a framework agreement which outlines basic activities and priorities for international cooperation within the area. The priorities include children, youth and indigenous peoples in the BEAR countries.

Gerard Depardieu starring in a film about Grigory Rasputin in “Malye Korely”

Film-making company «BSTEEEN» (France) is shooting a feature film “Rasputin” in the Arkhangelsk Oblast on April 3-6, starring famous French actors Gerard Depardieu and Fanny Ardant. The film crew is working in the open-air museum of wooden architecture “Malye Korely”, where they are making episodes showing the life of the Siberian village, the birthplace of Grigory Rasputin. It was necessary to show the setting in the winter time, so the film crew had to come to Arkhangelsk to catch up with the Russian winter. The Governor of the Arkhangelsk Oblast Ilya Mikhalchuk met the actor in the museum.

Arkhangelsk Forest Forum to be international

Arkhangelsk International Forest Forum was held from April 6 to 8. It is considered to be one of the most important arrangements within forest sector in the NW of Russia. The Forum is arranged within the International Forest Year declared by the UNO. The focus today is on the careful and sustainable forest use. The Forum comprises exhibitions, conferences, workshops on sustainable forest management, illegal harvesting, governmental forest management, development of bioenergy.

The Shtokman partners meet together and agree

Top managers of Gazprom, Statoil and Total met together of April, 5 to discuss the progress in the Shtokman field development project. Among other things they talked about optimization of technological solutions within Phase 1 of the Shtokman project with the purpose to enhance the economic efficiency of the project. The involved parties emphasised the need for keeping to the project schedule and their determination to continue active work on its implementation.

The Pomors – not the indigenous minority?

RF Ministry of Justice applied to the court and won the case to close down a Pomor NGO in Arkhangelsk. Arkhangelsk regional territorial and neighbourhood community of the Pomor Indigenous Minorities was established in December 2003. In November 2010 the Ministry of Justice inspected the activity of the NGO and its compliance to the goals outlined in the foundation documents. During the inspection gross violations of the RF legislation were identified. The main violation is that the Pomors are not mentioned in any official document as an indigenous minority. It is only possible to achieve that the Pomors are included in the official list of Indigenous Minorities thorough joint efforts from the RF State authorities and the local Government of the Arkhangelsk Oblast.

Arkhangelsk Episcopate welcomes guests from Norway

Bishop Daniil met the representatives from the Lutheran Church of Norway in the Arkhangelsk episcopate. The Norwegian delegation was headed by Jon Birkelund the Secretary of the Council of Christian Churches in the Barents Region, Heidi Norbye Advisor on social services in the Nord-Hålogaland Diocese and a famous violin player and composer Kristin Mellem who is also an Advisor on cultural issues in the Nord-Hålogaland Diocese. At the meeting the participants discussed perspectives for social and cultural cooperation between the Arkhangelsk and Kholmogory Diocese and the Norwegian Church. Jon Birkelund mentioned that during the Days of Pomor Culture in July 2011 a memorable orthodox cross will be erected in Vardø, the twin-city for Arkhangelsk, to symbolise the friendship between the two cities. Jon Birkelund also invited His Grace Daniil to bless the opening ceremony. In his turn the Arkhangelsk Bishop asked Jon Birkelund to forward an invitation for Per Oskar Kjølaas, Bishop of Nord-Hålogaland to visit the Russian North.

Presentation of a Norwegian book with Russian participation

A book “Norwegian Folk Music” was presented in Arkhangelsk by the authors Arne Bjørhei and Roald Larsen. The book tells about ancient Norwegian folk musical instruments, song and instrumental traditions of the country. The publication is actually a textbook to study the Norwegian language. The book has been illustrated by the Arkhangelsk artists Tatiana and Eugeny Zimirevs, who were also coordinators of the project.

Arkhangelsk is among the top most expensive cities in Russia

Arkhangelsk is among the top 30 of most expensive cities in Russia. Russian statistics for the first time published a rating of almost 300 Russian cities according to the cost of living. The most expensive place in the country is Bilibino in Chukotka. The town of Balashov in the Saratov Oblast turned out to be the cheapest. Arkhanegls took the 27th place in the rating following immediately after Moscow. Naryan-Mar is also among the leaders – it’s on the 4th place. Another town from the Arkhangelsk Oblast has been listed on the 7th place – Mirnyj.

Director of a Norwegian prison visited Arkhangelsk to exchange experience

Head of the female prison in Oslo Hilde Lundeby came to Arkhangelsk to conduct a seminar “Human rights and law-enforcement bodies” arranged by the Arkhangelsk NGO “Rassvet”. During the visit she shared her experience and competence with the Russian colleagues.

WEEK 15 (April 11-17)

Kalistratov does not qit from Sevmash yet

The issue with the General Director of Sevmash is not clear yet. In spite of the fact that some federal media informed about resignation of Nikolay Kalistratov, the truth is that he has not applied for resignation “at his own free will” yet and has no intention to do so in the nearest future.

Shtokman does not need personnel from Arkhangelsk

According to the Minister of education and science of the Arkhangelsk Oblast Ilya Ivankin at present the Shtokman project is not interested in personnel or educational services from the Arkhangelsk Oblast. All the operations within the field development related to its infrastructure and maintenance are planned to be given for subcontracting. So, the subcontractors will themselves decide where they will involve the personnel from. For the time being 80 people are required for the Phase 1 of the project, these should be specialists with higher education, aged from 30 to 35. However, even in this case the quota for the Arkhangelsk Oblast is quite limited – only 20 people from the region can be among those 80 employees. The rest of the staff will be recruited from Moscow, Saint-Petersburg, and Murmansk.

Arkhangelsk Oblast intensifies cooperation with Finland

Delegation from the Arkhangelsk Regional Government made an official visit to the Finnish county Kainuu. During the visit from April 12 to 14 there were arranged presentations, round tables, devoted to the development of transportation and logistics, tourism, social welfare, cultural cooperation between the Arkhangelsk Oblast and the Kainuu county. As a result of the meeting a Protocol of Intentions was signed for social-economic, cultural and educational cooperation. A special article in the Protocol tells about mutual cooperation of the parties in the development of tourist potential. Delegation from Arkhangelsk also visited memorable places of the Russian-Finnish war in 1939-1940. Joint activities to commemorate the soldiers who died during this period will be an important part of cooperation between the regions.

The Pomors are officially registered as a people

In 2011 the Institute of ethnology and anthropology in the Russian Academy of Sciences produced a new Map of the peoples in the Russian Federation. For the first time “the Pomors” are officially included in the map as a separate people among Russian communities and the places of their traditional settlement are outlined. Thus, the Pomors are proved to be an individual cultural reality not only by the data from the two recent all-Russian population censuses, but also by the officially approved map of the Russian peoples.

Zvyozdochka and Aker Solutions: together to Shtokman

Ship-repairing Centre Zvyozdochka is planning to enter a joint Russian-Norwegian project with Aker Solutions for manufacturing of units and facilities for the Shtokman project. The project is expected to be implemented on the basis of the Ship-repairing plant Krasnaya Kuznitsa and to give a lot of work to the oldest shipyard in Arkhangelsk to make its facilities fully busy. Ship-repairing Centre Zvyozdochka is ready to provide its services for manufacturing of subsea production modules – templates and manifolds. This project is not the first one for the two companies – cooperation between Zvyozdochka and Aker Solutions has been going on for more than 15 years already.

NArFU will train 100 specialists for Shtokman

Northern Arctic Federal University is planning to take part in personnel training for the Shtokman project. About 100 specialists of the international level will be trained already for the phase 1 of the project on the basis the higher professional education which they already have. A similar educational process will also be arranged in Murmansk, St.-Petersburg, and Moscow, so that within 3.5 years Shtokman Development AG will get about 350-400 highly professional specialists for the project. The program will most probably be launched in Q2 of 2012. In May this year N(Ar)FU and Shtokman Development AG are going to sign framework agreement.

Technical concept for the Shtokman project approved

At its Board Meeting on April 13 Shtokman Development AG has approved the two phase flow as a technical concept for the project. The concept means delivery of gas and gas-condensate from the field to the shore with further separation onshore. The Board Meeting also confirmed the time schedule of the project: pipeline gas will start to be shipped in 2016, LNG plant will be launched in 2017. The final investment decision for the project will be made before the end of 2011.

 Export and import increased by 60% in Q1 2011

In Q1 of 2011 foreign trade turnover going through the Arkhangelsk customs increased by 60% comparing to the similar period last year and reached $350.5 mln. Export grew by 63.8%, and import by 35%.

WEEK 16 (April 18-24)

NArFU conquers new peaks

A team of six experienced and skilful skiers-climbers left Arkhangelsk for Alaska. The Arkhangelsk team have with them nameplates for two untitled mountain passes which will soon have the names of Michael Lomonosov and the Northern Arctic Federal University.

Air accident with Nordavia

Boeing-737 of the Nordavia company had an emergency landing in the Murmansk airport, since after its departure from Sheremetjevo in Moscow a crack appeared on the windscreen in the cockpit. None of the passengers or the cabin crew on-board the plane suffered in the cause of the accident. In spite of the fact that the plane landed safely the landing is considered to be emergency, and the situation in general a contingency case. The passengers did not know about the accident, but actually “their lives were not in danger”.

Scandinavia shares its experience within establishment of barrier-free environment for the disabled

A conference is being held in Arkhangelsk titled “Use of the experience from Nordic countries in establishment of barrier-free environment for disabled people in Arkhangelsk”. The conference agenda will include reports about accessibility to transport and buildings for the disabled in the Nordic countries, availability of information for people with sensory defects in Norway and Sweden, experiences within protection of rights of disabled people in Scandinavian countries, etc. Norway and Sweden are among the leading countries in the Northern Europe in terms of living standards and quality of life, social welfare and establishment of barrier-free environment for their citizens. The experience of the Nordic countries shows that only the efficient cooperation between the NGOs and the authorities can have a positive effect on the improvement of the situation within the social sector.

Arkhangelsk Oblast “is making friends with” Armenia

Delegation from Arkhangelsk headed by the Governor Ilya Milkhalchuk participated in the First Russian-Armenian forum “Towards new achievements of the interregional cooperation within Russian-Armenian partnership” in Armenia. The Arkhangelsk Oblast had an exhibition stand at the Russian-Armenian interregional exhibition of industrial innovations. During the Forum the Arkhangelsk Oblast and the Armenian Republic signed three memorandums on cooperation. They are connected to cultural and economic relations, R&D, tourism, hi-tech and transfer of advanced technologies.

 Another air accident. This time with Utair

Flight made by Utair from Moscow to Arkhangelsk lasted for 5 hours, instead of usual 1.5 because of a contingency case. Boeing-737 departure from Vnukovo in Moscow on April 21 at 20.30, but after 30 min of flying sudden depressurization occurred in the cabin, and the plane had to return to Moscow. The re-flight with another plane was completed safely, none of the passengers required medical assistance. The causes for the air accident are now being investigated.

Virtual trip around Arkhangelsk on Yandex-maps

Virtual Arkhangelsk has appeared on Yandex-maps. Now everybody can travel along the city streets and go sightseeing on-line. Panorama making car has shot 280 km of the city streets, including Novodvinsk. It is possible to have a virtual trip in 79 cities and resorts of Russia and the Ukraine with the help of Yandex.

Airport “Talagi” in Arkhangelsk will become more comfortable for passengers

In 2010 passenger turnover in the Arkhangelsk airport increased by 200 thousand people and reached 650 thousand people. The profit of the airport has tripled. If the dynamics is the same, then in three years the Arkhangelsk airport will handle nearly a million passengers per year. The positive tendencies are the result of the active policy of the airport management to attract new carriers. Airport Arkhangelsk is included in the federal target program for the development of transportation system in Russia. In the nearest future it is planned to reconstruct the apron, aircraft parking places and the runaway. The terminal building is also expected to be refurbished. These measures will help to increase the capacity of the airport terminal. But the primary goal for the airport administration is not to increase passenger flow, but to create comfortable conditions for the passengers. For example, this summer two passenger boarding bridges will be installed and it will become possible to locate luggage claim zone on the ground floor of the terminal. Already in May the first Duty-free shop will be opened, for the first time in the history of Arkhangelsk.

 Industrial production grows in the Oblast

Industrial Production Index in the Arkhangelsk Oblast without the Nenets Autonomous Okrug in Q1 of 2011 increased by 9.8%. In March 2011 comparing to March 2010 the Index increased by 27.3%, and comparing to February 2011 — by 40.5%. Joint Industrial Production Index of the Arkhangelsk Oblast and the Nenets Autonomous Okrug decreased by 11.1%. This happened due to the continuous decay in the NAO. In Q1 of 2011 the Industrial Production Index in the Okrug went down by 20.7%. If we compare March 2011 and March 2010 the decrease is even more prominent – by 23.4%.

WEEK 17 (April 25-30)

Tourists from what countries are most frequent to visit Arkhangelsk?

Deputy Minister on youth affairs, sport and tourism of the Arkhangelsk Oblast Nikolay Evmenov answered the on-line questions from the regional inhabitants. According to him, the countries that are leading in terms of the number of tourists to the Arkhangelsk Oblast are mostly the Nordic countries – Norway, Finland, Germany, Sweden, Denmark, but also Great Britain and Italy. The share of foreign tourists who visited the Arkhangelsk Oblast in 2009 was 9.8%, in 2008 – 9.5%. In 2010 the number of tourists to visit the Arkhangelsk Oblast exceeded 300 thousand people. In the NW Russia the incoming tourism is being most actively developed in St.-Petersburg, Vologda and Kaliningrad Regions. These are the three leaders. Arkhangelsk, Murmansk and Pskov regions are only making their first steps within this activity.

Zvyozdochka to have a contract with the Vietnamese Navy

Delegation from the JSC Ship repairing Centre Zvyozdochka had negotiations in the Ministry of Defense of the Socialist Republic Vietnam on April 18-20. In the result of the meetings the parties signed a Protocol to start delivery of SPTA (spare parts, tools and accessories) for the Vietnamese navy.

“Medical science in English” in Arkhangelsk

IV Arkhangelsk international medical conference of young researchers and students started in Arkhangelsk. More than 1200 people take part in the conference. After the plenary session the conference continued in the form of 22 symposiums within different research and medical activities. For the first time this year a separate symposium is arranged “Medical science in English”, where all the reports, speeches and discussions will be held only in English, without interpretation.

The first hostel to be opened in Arkhangelsk

The first European class hostel has been opened in Arkhangelsk. This is a cheap hotel providing sleeping accommodation for travellers.The first hostel in Arkhangelsk will be named after Lomonosov.It corresponds to the European standards quality for service quality.

Putin invites guests for the Forum in Arkhangelsk

Chairman of the Russian Government Vladimir Putin during his official visit to Denmark invited Scandinavian countries to take an active part in the II International Arctic forum “Arctic – the Territory of Dialogue” which will be arranged in autumn in Arkhangelsk. The main topic of the forum will be development of the Northern Sea Route. The number of forum participants is expected to reach 500 people.

Director of the National Park “Russian Arctic” has been appointed

Roman Ershov, Candidate of Biological Sciences, has been appointed a Director of the National Park “Russian Arctic”. Before the appointment he used to work in the Institute of ecological problems of the North in the Ural Department of the Russian Academy of Sciences. In recent years he has been an Assistant to the Project Manager for the establishment of the National Park “Russian Arctic”.