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Winter 2002 ARCHANGEL CONVOY VETERAN VISITS MAINE Boris Korotyaev, the Vice President of the Russian Northern Convoy Brotherhood, led a group from Archangel to Maine in early November 2001. Boris is a World War II Arctic convoy veteran and helped host Maine convoy veteran Hugh Stephens in Archangel earlier in 2001. Also visiting were interpreter Tatiana Vorobieva and Greater Portland Committee members Tanya Kochegarova and Dr. Nikoli Sosnin. After two days of being hosted by Betty Stephens in New York, the Delegation arrived in Maine on Friday evening November 9th. The next day, November 10th, Boris spoke at the Liberty Ship Memorial Dedication at Bug Light Park in South Portland. Other speakers at this impressive event were Maine Congressman John Baldacci, South Portland City Manager Jeff Jordan, and former Maine Governor Ken Curtis. Special thanks goes to Fred Thompson for including Boris in the program. South Portland Community Television captured the entire program on video and presented a copy of the videotape to Boris (thank you to Tony Vigue and Annette Page). On Sunday, November 11th, Boris and Tatiana marched with Governor Angus King and several other dignitaries at the front of the huge Veterans' Day Parade in Portland. At City Hall Plaza Boris spoke to the large crowd of the friendship between our two nations and communities. Then at an official reception in the State of Maine Room in City Hall, Boris presented gifts to Portland City Manager Cheryl Leeman and Governor King. Special thanks to parade organizers Roz and Richard Petrie. Finally, on Tuesday, November 13th, Boris was hosted by President Len Tyler at the Maine Maritime Academy in Castine. There, Boris had lunch with the students, visited a Navigation Simulation Lab, and toured the Training Ship State of Maine. Other members of the Delegation were also busy. Tanya visited Deering High School, the Reiche School, the University of Southern Maine and the Maine International Trade Center. Dr. Sosnin visited the private office of Dr. Carol Altman, OB/GYN and toured the Obstetrics Department at Maine Medical Center with Dr. Hector Tarraza. This visit was a great success and special thanks are extended to Committee Vice Co-Chair Dennis Marrotte and Committee member Jean Souliere who donated much time and effort to the cause. After returning to Archangel, Boris was interviewed by local Television Channel 6 and the videotape of the Liberty Ship Memorial Dedication was broadcast. A large story about Boris and his trip appeared in the local archangel newspaper Pravda Severa (Truth of the North). Soon thereafter, Boris received a personal letter from Maine's Governor King expressing thanks for the kind gifts and his hopes to continue the Maine-Archangel exchange "for many years to come." Finally, Boris has sent our Conunittee written holiday greetings: "We send you the best wishes for the upcoming New Year: health, luck in your battles and success in your work. May there always be sunshine, blue skies and peace on earth. Best wishes to all the American people. " MAINE LEGISLATORS VISIT ARCHANGEL As part of the vibrant Rule of Law Program, two intrepid members of the Maine House of Representatives traveled to Archangel for a week in mid-December 2001 and were hosted by the Archangel Oblast Regional Duma (Legislature). The delegates were Representative Charles LaVerdiere of Wilton, Maine and Representative William Savage of Buxton, Maine. They were led and guided by Committee Co-Vice Chair Ray Pelletier. Rep. LaVerdiere chairs the Legislature's Judiciary Committee and Rep. Savage chairs the Legislature's Public Utilities and Energy Committee. The program prepared for them by the Chairman of the Regional Duma Vitali Fortygin was intense and extremely rewarding for both the American and Russian legislators. Our Representatives participated in a number of governmental and economic roundtables, met Governor Anatoli Yefremov, met extensively with the media, toured the Archangel Pulp and Paper Mill in Novodvinsk, toured the Archangel Fishing Port, met with the Archangel Judiciary, and toured the Law School. They also were treated to a horsedrawn sleigh ride at Mayle Karely and a traditional Russian banya. Both Maine Legislators returned home extremely excited about their trip and the prospects for hosting two Duma members here in Maine soon (see below). Rep. Savage said that the visit was a "complete success" and that he will "make every effort" to ensure that a return visit of Duma members to Maine will be as successful. Rep. LaVerdiere said that "for democracy to flourish in Russia ... a full and complete dialogue between the policy makers in Archangel and in Maine are essential ... In the strongest possible terms, I urge that there be expanded cooperation between the Legislature of the State of Maine and the Duma of Archangel. ANNUAL BUSINESS MEETING The business portion of our Annual Meeting will be held on Thursday, January 31, 2002 at 5:30 p.m. at the Maine International Trade Center, 5 11 Congress Street in Portland. We look forward to the February 2002 arrival of Archangel Duma Members Stanislav Vtori, Chair of the Legislation Committee, and Yuri Spiridonov, Chair of the Energy and Housing Committee. We hope to hold the more traditional social portion of our Annual Meeting and invite all four legislators to share their experiences with us, possibly on the afternoon of Sunday, February 24 . More information soon! ARCHANGEL REGION NEWS/NOTES The population of the Oblast is now 1,443,300 persons (down 127,000 persons since 1990). However, in the City of Archangel, more than 2600 babies were born in 2001 (over 320 more than in 2000). * * * Tamara Petrokovoy recently retired after 45 years of service as a teacher and the principal of Archangel Secondary School Number 6 * * * A Russian military communications satellite was launched on a Molniya-M booster rocket from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome on October 25, 2001 * * * Students from all of Archangel's public schools decorated a large Christmas tree in the Central Square with hundreds of ornaments and gifts * * * The pedestrian and vehicular ice bridges across the Northern Dvina River are still safe and useable despite mid-January 2002 high temperatures of about 35' F * A 35 passenger cruise ship may renew service between Archangel and Solovky island in May 2002 * INTERNET NEWS We thank Great Works Internet for hosting our Commnittee Website. Visit us at www.arkhangelsk.org. |
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