Signing the agreement
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On May, 17th delegation of Leningrad region visited Karelia. Governor of the region Valery Serdyukov headed the delegation. The delegation comprised heads of executive authority of the neighbouring region, heads of large enterprises, representatives of areas, aas well as the Legislative assembly of Leningrad region Chairman Ivan Habarov.
Sergey Katanandov welcomed the guests in Pryazha region. Heads of regions visited Pryazha regional hospital and met with the settlement population.
In Pryazha hospital
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Basic point of the visit was summarizing cooperation between the Republic of Karelia and Leningrad region, and signing of the Protocol to Cooperation Agreement. Besides, this day Presentation of Leningrad region and a number of round table discussions took place.
Cooperation between Karelia and Leningrad region started long time ago and develops successfully ever since. The agreement on trade, economic, scientific, technical and cultural cooperation between the Governments of the neighbouring regions has been signed in 2000. Since then, the basic document was supplemented with a number of working protocols.
On the scope of production deliveries from Karelia to Leningrad region Petrozavodskmash, Corp., is in the lead, in 2006 the factory has delivered equipment and metal products to neighbours to the amount of 90 million roubles. Besides, Onego Tractor Plant delivered its tractors there to the amount of 9 million roubles.
Except for production deliveries, cooperation is conducted in the most different directions. In particular, growers of agricultural produce exchange management experience, joint project on development of peat deposits is being prepared, inter-regional group on suppression of illegal actions connected with timber illegal circulation operates, Silver belt of Russia joint tourist project was announced, many joint actions are held annually in the field of culture and national policy.
One of the basic issues discussed today by the Governments of Karelia and Leningrad region is development of highway route from St.-Petersburg to Petrozavodsk through Sortavala. This year this road will be handed over for federal ownership. Earlier on the Karelian site of the line from Petrozavodsk to Sortavala great volume of construction work has been done, that allowed to straighten the carrying distance and improve the roadbed.
The new Protocol to Cooperation Agreement which Serdyukov and Sergey Katanandov have signed on May, 17th Valery, consists of 13 artricles. In particular, expansion of cooperation in trade and economic field, in the sphere of road facilities and construction, in the sphere of agriculture, in the field of power, and housing and communal services, in the field of culture and national policy, tourism and sports, as well as regarding a number of other directions is provided.
Before signing the document, governors have raised a few more crucial issues concerning citizens of Leningrad region and Karelia. In particular, Valery Serdyukov and Sergey Katanandov have agreed to develop common approaches to conducting fishery on the largest lakes of region - Ladoga and Onego lakes. During discussion of this subject Sergey Katanandov has declared: "Fishing in Kareliya is one of the major segments of our life, therefore, on our common lakes we should coordinate all decisions on amateur fishery, there should be not infringements of opportunities for citizens of Karelia or Leningrad region." These, and a number of other issues, also made a part of the report signed.
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