Announsement

We prepare a special English-Russian issue on the problems of the Arctic and the Russian North

Interview with Mikhail Nikolayev,
President of the Republic of Saha (Yakutia)

        - In your speeches you constantly emphasize the idea that Russia is unable to function without the North, that only the North can provide Russia with real well-being. You also draw attention to the fact that the colossal natural resources of our Far North still remain unclaimed, and at the same time the northern people live in poverty. How shall we get out of this ridiculous situation, one, ruinous for the Russian state?
        - We need protectionism over all the territory of Northern Russia. Here live only 8 per cent the country's population but they create more then 20 per cent of total national revenue. In terms of some resources, the North supplies as much as 90 per cent of the output, which is why concern for the North has always been an integral part of Russia's state politics.
        - Today, with the growth of the market relations, the optimal model of the development of the North should be found and it should be a model including essentially new state politics. It is necessary to abandon the attitude that the North is just a place to be exploited for its natural resources. We need to pay more attention to the people who live there.
        - The new market conditions should provide the people living in the North with confidence in the future. This can be achieved only if the northern territories are able to govern themselves and maintain well-balanced relations with the Centre. In addition, the northern regions are not just geographic areas but also administrative-governing units united by a common interest - to impart a totally new impulse to the development of the areas close to the Arctic. Politics must not dictate but rather take into consideration the peculiarities and special needs of the districts, provinces and republics.
        - With additional juridical and legal improvements such politics will allow us to establish stability, social equity and full employment for the northerners and consolidate the separate effects in the different regions. In November working meeting in St. Petersburg will examine the first reading of the new law on the Arctic.
        - How do you plan to improve people's life in such a vast territory as the Arctic?
        - The distinguishing feature of the new politics will be a sound blend of environmental concern and economic as well as commercial interest in the available rich natural resources. This is how the northerners and Siberians have historically approached nature.
        Regional independence will increase the role of the local population in adopting decisions, planning and understanding of the development of the economy. On the other hand it will expand knowledge of regional peculiarities, which will create a balance, making it possible to adapt the modern project to the regions.
        No less important for the successful usage of the inner resources of the northern regions is creation of their own financial basis, that is their own dynamical financial structure, something I have repeatedly talked about. The project to create the Bank of Reconstruction and Development of the Arctic has been started in St. Petersburg. The city has proven its competence in restructuring the city budget, it withstood the crisis of August 17, and is perfectly capable of carrying out such a project.
        We must not only respect the attitude of the northerners to the hidden, underground riches of their territory but also promote extensive cooperation between the government, local regional structures and successful enterprises as well. Much work lies ahead - work by federal and local administrations, those who manage the natural resources, and others. We must not forget about the widening of international cooperation.
        I would like to stress again that we must ensure the activity of the people who live in the north. The primary factors in the economy of the northern regions are power engineering and transportation. With the problems of supply the question of power engineering and autonomous systems has become especially pressing. The development of local industry will also make it possible to reduce transportation expenses.
        There is also a tendency toward the union of the north and south of the country. A well-developed transportation system is necessary for this goal; it will give an opportunity to compensate for the missing economic links of the peripheries.
        The federal program, having the special purpose of assimilation and development of the Arctic, is in the process of elaboration; it was possible to organize a work group make up different ministries interested in various fields of the economy. This group made it possible to work out a project of creating a huge transarctic company which will be able to establish the most effective system of managing of the Arctic.
        You have always connected the past and the future of the Russian North with St. Petersburg. What role is it supposed to get in the suggested steady social-economic and spiritual development of the Northern territories?
        As I have often mentioned, St. Petersburg is the city from which bold ideas have emanated and these ideas are as follows: the might of Russia will grow owing to the mastery of the vast space and countless natural resources of Siberia and the Arctic Ocean.
        In the article that appeared in the newspaper Trud in November of 1998 I stressed that St. Petersburg should become the capital of the North, which would concentrate in itself the intellectual, managerial, and technological potential, talented enough to set in motion economic, financial and economic progress and change in the North.
        St. Petersburg has certain advantages not only in respect to geographic location but in its experience in organizing activities concerning the problems of the North. Besides, there is one more thing of paramount importance: spiritual, ethnic, cultural and social relations. St. Petersburg has historically been the centre of the North and the Arctic. The opening up of the Russian Far North started here. Although this idea has been controversial I am firmly convinced that the steady social-economic and spiritual development of the Northern territories is impossible without St. Petersburg.
        The history of contacts between the Republic of Sakha and St. Petersburg dates to 1768 when the first mission of Sophron Syranov to the Empress Catherine II took place. He had delivered "Instructions" on behalf of Yakuts, and it later became the basis for election of the Steppe Duma.
        The Republic of Sakha is very interested in cooperation with St. Petersburg. Contacts are developing vertically along with the creation of a joint diamond-cutting complex, banking infrastructure, food supply for the northern uluses (settlements) of the republic, training of young specialists in fine educational institutions. We are carrying out joint research work, and together with Lukoil have created the Lukoilarctictanker joint-stock company that places orders for the building of ice-breaker tankers at the Admiralty Shipyards in St. Petersburg