A way with a future

LOCOMOTIVES OF REGIONAL POLITICS

Vladimir Yakovlev,
St. Petersburg Governor
and President of the Northwest Association,
answers our questions

        "Prime Minister Primakov and other government officials took part in the work of the Coordinating Council for the Association of Economic Cooperation in Russia's North-west. How would you evaluate this event?"
        "Indeed, the very fact that the Prime Minister personally took part in considering problems of food supply and perspectives of development in agriculture and industry, was a very important event for us. At present there are eight associations in Russia. They are not authorities but a kind of think tank for elaborating and implementing strategies of economic and social development in the regions. For that reason, it is very valuable that during the meeting of the Coordinating Council the methodological principles of work carried out by inter-regional associations were discussed. It was stressed that it is necessary to increase the efficiency of their work and improve their relationship with the center."
        "So the associations do not want to solve problems just for the benefit of one or another republic, city or region?"
        "Naturally, governors meet local needs, and many larger guestions can and must be decided by the Association itself. This was emphasized at the meeting with the Prime Minister. But it is often necessary for either federal authorities or other regions and associations to participate as well."
        "Nearly a year ago, at a meeting of the heads of regional associations with President Yeltsin, I reminded them of some proposals that were made to the government. For instance, our North-west Association and the Big Urals Association asked to sponsor the construction of an Archangel-Syktyvkar-Perm railway, in which over 20 regions of Russia and some CIS countries are interested."
        "The Northwest Association has developed a program called "The Health of Northern People" in which it proposed to establish centers of highly specialized medical care on the basis of existing hospitals and institutes.
        Also, there are a lot of large investment projects of inter-regional value. Take, for instance, the project of the Northern Sea Route development or the use of the mineral and raw materials base. They require large investments and, therefore, collateral. Federation subjects cannot on their own realize these projects, therefore we think more active support is required from the center."
        "One has to understand that in the present difficult financial and economic situation, when production is dropping and budget revenues are low, many recommendations, projects, and ideas concerning regional development simply can not be realized due to lack of funds."
        "It is no accident that measures for preventing organized crime in the economy were discussed at the Coordinating Council's meeting, as well as the enforcement of state regulations in various sectors of production and trade (including that of alcohol). Enforcement of administrative influence by legislative and executive authorities will help increase revenues to both local and federal budgets."
"The problem of the region's ship-repair and shipbuilding complex was also discussed. The decisions proposed by the Association will allow a growth in the number of jobs and budget revenues via increase in marine cargo transportation and production of fish and shellfish."
         "Many documents about inter-regional cooperation put a premium on large projects and even a national program to lead the country out of the crisis. Aren't such colossal problems having the effect of relegating the real problems of the people and the interests of St. Petersburg to the back burner?"
         "When large projects are discussed, the Association's members look to the interests in economic and social development and cooperation of all the regions they represent. The interests of Petersburgers are often the same as those of people living in the republics of Karelia and Komi, in Kaliningrad Region, Kirov Region, in Novgorod, Pskov, and rural areas. If such problems as energy or transport development are solved, all people in the Northwest benefit equally."
         "On the other hand, the decisions made by a federal subject that may concern another region are usually considered by the Association's Coordinating Council. That is why no member of the Association has undertaken any steps that may hurt its neighbors. Rather, some local decisions have been recommended to other Association members as interesting and useful experience.
         "Associations are currently fulfilling the intentions and plans of their founders. They are thus becoming the executive link in the management system. They are helping to restore old relationships and create new ones between the center and local authorities."