October 07, 2009

The Okrug Governor’s press-service informs:

The official delegation of the Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Okrug-Ugra participates in the II International Nano-Technologies Forum to be opened yesterday in Moscow.

Representatives of the Ugra delegation, headed by the Deputy Chairman of the Autonomous Okrug Government for Investments and Innovations Kirill Morozov, participated in the plenary session where the basic avenues of nano-industry development in Russia were discussed. President of the Russian Federation Dmitri Medvedev and director of the State Corporation “Rosnano” Anatoli Chubais made reports at the Forum.

In the second half of the day the delegation participated in round tables: “Countries’ innovational systems”, “Development of nano-technologies in the fuel and energy sector”.

Today Governor, Chairman of the Autonomous Okrug Government Alexander Filipenko joined the delegation. He is expected to have a meeting with director of the State Corporation “Rosnano” Anatoli Chubais to discuss concrete steps for interaction in the implementation of several projects,  submitted by Ugra to be considered in the Rosnano. The Forum will be finished on October 08.

October 07, 2009

The Okrug Governor’s press-service informs:

The delegation of  UN Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms of Indigenous Peoples  James Anaya and representatives of the  UN Office of High Commissioner for Human Rights arrived at Khanty-Mansiysk.

Today it was held the first meeting of UN representatives with the leaders of the Autonomous Okrug. The Chair of the Duma Vasili Sondykov, Deputy Chairman of the Okrug Government – director of the Department for Indigenous Peoples Alexei Ovsyannikov and President of the public association “Ugra Salvation” Alexander Novyukhov told the guests about the legislative, economic and social support of the Khanty, Mansi and Nenets peoples’ rights and freedoms. Introducing the colleagues, the Speaker of the legislative assembly emphasized that they themselves also belonged to indigenous peoples.

Mr. Anaya was impressed that in Ugra there are 10 title and over 50 other laws concerning various issues of aboriginals’ vital activities – about the territory, sacred places, language, traditional occupations, mass media, agreements with oil-producing companies. Interests of the Northern indigenous peoples are fully defended in these documents therefore for 40 years of oil and gas resources extraction in the Okru there have not happened any serous conflicts.

Alexei Ovsyannikov told in detail as laws were implemented in practice into concrete programs of the Northerners’ development. He said that even the world financial crisis did not influence the financing of such programs but resulted in the reduction of revenues to the regional  budget. Answering the question of Mr. Anaya about the degree of the Departments’ influence, he said that the Department managed to solve the most serious problems, to defend aboriginals’ interests for housing even in the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation. The Department is a link in relations of aboriginals and oilmen.

Alexander Novyukhov added that in Ugra there were 923 areas of traditional residence of aboriginals – and in this regard it is a unique region in Russia. At present a law is being made. According to it some of these areas will become sacred places or reserves where oil production is forbidden – here the RF Ministry of Regional Development fully supports Ugra.

As the key goal of Mr. Anaya’s visit to Russia is to get acquainted with the situation of indigenous peoples, to have an idea about their life and challenges, in the second half of the day the delegation, accompanied by Chair of the Okrug Duma Vasili Sondykov left for  Beloyarski by plane. On October 08 the guests will visit tribal lands of  Sergei Pandymov’s family, will visit the village of Kazym. On Friday they will get acquainted with the traditional lifestyle of the Northerners in Beloyarski, and will  meet with students of the Institute of Ugra Peoples’ Language, History and Culture in Khanty-Mansiysk.

According to the results of the visit James Anaya will prepare a report for the UN Council where he will give his assessments of the aboriginals’ situation in Russia. The report will be presented at the UN General Assembly.

October 07, 2009

The Okrug Governor’s press-service informs:

In the frames of the III Interregional forum “Commonwealth-2009” to be held in Khanty-Mansiysk, there were signed two agreements on cooperation between the chambers of commerce and industry and business incubators of Ugra and Omsk Region.

The documents state that the Parties will promote to the development of contacts between organizations and entrepreneurs of both regions, to promote to preservation of economic, research and technical and cultural relations. Joint seminars, symposiums, round tables, conferences, business missions are expected to be held. Both Parties will promote to training and internships of their experts.

Deputy Chairman of the Ugra Government for construction Alexei Safiollin emphasized that the Okrug and Omsk Region have been united by close economic links; “At present the regional authorities have a good idea about Ugra development an this meeting will make it possible to determine new avenues of further cooperation of both regions  in the sphere of education, services sector, construction, timber industry, support to small and middle business”.

By the way, the trade turnover between the regions has grown by 2,5 times for the last 6 years. The output of the production, exported from the Omsk Region  and imported to the Okrug has grown by 3,7 times and amounted to 4,2 billion rubles – mainly construction materials, food, machine-building products. The output of the production from the Autonomous Okrug to the Omsk Region has grown by 50 %.

October 07, 2009

The Okrug Governor’s press-service informs:

The final meeting of the Organizing Committee of the VII International Ecological Action “To Save and to Preserve” gathered its members, organizers, representatives of Ugra municipalities and sponsors.

This year brought much new into the program of the Action. Based on the reports of the municipalities they held 3 ths. various events – by 5 times more than in previous year. 652 ecological initiatives were organized and 2 ha pf forests, parks were cleaned, over 50 ths. cubic m of  rubbish  were taken away, about 800 ths. trees and shrubberies were planted. 440 most active participants and organizations were awarded with letters of gratitude of the Organizing Committee for the contribution into environmental activities.

Nyagan became a leader in environmental events, Nizhnevartovsk –  in  cleaning the  area, Pyt-Yakh – in planting trees, Nefteyugansk municipal district – in holding the contests. The most active were people of Surgut and it can be explained – the Action coincided with the celebration of the town’s 415-th anniversary.

This year 242 ths. people of Ugra participated in the Action – 16 % of the Okrug population what is by 7 times more than a year ago.

Besides the traditional events – International TV Festival “To Save and to Preserve”, International youth ecological forum “Let’s preserve the blooming world of Ugra”, All-Russia practical and research conference “Environmental education for sustainable development”, ecological initiative “March of parks” - this year new events were held. For the first time Ugra hosted the U-Arctic Rectors’ Forum where issues of joint projects development and implementation in northern regions were considered as well as issues of staff training for the development of Northern people’s traditional crafts. It was also held the International field symposium with the participation of 27 researchers and specialists in ecology from the Netherlands and official opening of the new field station of the UNESCO Chair at the Ugra State University.

Having preserved the status of the “To Save and to Preserve” Action mother, Ugra successfully moves it to other Russian regions: this year the Autonomous Okrug gave the right to hold the Action to its neighbor – Tomsk Region.