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SPRING 2006
Several members of our Archangel Committee participated in the recent "America Week" sponsored by the Archangel City Administration , the Archangel Regional Academic Library, and the U.S. Consulate General in Saint Petersburg. Many interesting events relating to the America and Greater Portland were held in Archangel during the period of April 24 to 29, 2006. America-themed events included photo and art exhibits, seminars and classes at Pomor State University and at the Academic Library, discussion groups at public schools, and musical and theater presentations around the City. The highlight of the week was an hour-long internet video teleconference on April 27'. Several Committee members with special guests Tom Wilsbach of the Portland Public Library and Portland City Councilor Jim Cloutier spoke with a large number of Archangel citizens led by Deputy Mayor Sergey Namoylik. Other Russian participants included Ruslan Nozdryakov of the U.S. Consulate General, Victoria Podolskaya of the U.S. funded "American Corner" at the Regional Library, and many other city, library and sister city people. Everyone agreed to do it again very soon! Finally, two days later on Saturday April 29th, a half-hour live radio program on WLOB in Portland featured interviews and comments by Sergey Namoylik and James Cloutier; both stressed the importance of the linkage between our two communities and both expressed best wishes for the future.
Ten Archangel Committee members and guests recently participated in a significant gathering of Maine residents who volunteer in all types of international people-to-people ventures. This "Citizen Diplomacy Summit" was sponsored by Sister Cities International in Washington, DC and by the City of Portland. The goal was to enhance, strengthen and promote citizen diplomacy between Maine and the world. Keynote speaker Tim Honey inspired the attendees to go on and discuss issues in four breakout groups. The recommendations of the Mainers will be consolidated and forwarded to leaders in Washington in time for the 50th Anniversary of Sister Cities International in July 2006.
Four Maine legal professionals are traveling to Russia in late May 2006 for a series of conferences relating to professional organizations and responsibilities. The Maine delegation, led by U.S. Magistrate Judge Margaret Kravchuk of Bangor, also includes retired Maine Supreme Court Justice Caroline Glassman, Cumberland County District Attorney Stephanie Anderson, and Maine attorney Judy Potter. Initially, the delegation will meet with their counterparts in Archangel to discuss judicial conduct and professional responsibilities of lawyers; thereafter, Judge Kravchuk and Ms. Anderson will join counterparts from several American States and Russian Regions in a major Rule of Law Partnership Meeting in the historic city of Novgorod. Attendees from the Archangel Region include Regional Court Judge Evgeni Martinov, District Court Judge Vasili Popvsky, Vice Prosecutor Ludmilla Kovtunyak, and Pomor Law Professor Tatiana Zykina.
Maine Secretary of State Matt Dunlap will lead a four person legal delegation to the Archangel Region in late June 2006; accompanying Matt will be Maine State Representative John Brautigam of Falmouth, and committee members Ray Pelletier and Neale Duffett. The delegation will meet with leaders and members of the Archangel Regional Assembly (legislature) in a series of seminars and discussions on the topic "Local Self-Governance, a Comparative Analysis of Local Authority in Russia and in the United States". This topic is timely because of new laws from the National Duma in Moscow which impact greatly on local governmental units. The delegation also work with the Archangel City Administration and the Regional Academic Library. Finally, the group hopes to visit the Solovki Islands and meet with mebers of the Open World delegation from Solovki that visited Maine in December 2005.
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