Russian Prime Minister Stresses Importance Of Krasnodar Region Development

On Wednesday, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov expressed his support to developing the Krasnodar Region as the country's bread basket. Speaking at a press conference in Krasnodar, he stressed that the region in the south of the European part of Russia has always been a certain "indicator for the center" in deciding which are the most effective areas in development of the agricultural sector. The Premier named tourism as one of the industries well developed in the Krasnodar Region. However, Mr. Kasyanov said, its real revival started only in the last two years. In his opinion, "tourist flows should be planned," but local entrepreneurs are to comprehend that it cannot be achieved overnight. After the press conference, the Russian prime minister took a helicopter ride to visit the construction site of the gas pipeline Goluboy Potok (or the Blue Stream). The capacity of the pipeline will allow Russia to deliver up to 16 billion cubic meters of gas to Turkey annually by 2008.