Plenipotentiary of Russian President Concludes Visit Denmark and Iceland

Victor Cherkesov, Plenipotentiary of the President of the Russian Federation in the Northwest Federal District, returned on Sunday from his visit to Denmark and Iceland, where he had been staying by invitation of the Nordic Council of Ministers (NCM). As his press-service announced, the aim of the visit was to discuss the work of the NCM, and projects carried out by the organisation in regions of the Northwest Federal District. At the time of his visit, Cherkesov also took part in talks with the Danish Foreign Minister and with the heads of leading Danish industrial companies.

At a meeting with General Secretary of the Nordic Council of Ministers Soren Kristensen, both sides discussed programmes of the NCM for contiguous territories from 2003 to 2005. Kristensen mentioned the possible redistribution of means within the framework of these programmes for the benefit of the Russia's north-west in connection with the entry of Baltic countries into the EU. Ecological projects will become a priority of the NCM's in north-west Russia, according to Kristensen.

During the plenipotentiary's talks with Danish businessmen, a decision was reached on increasing Danish investment in the economy of north-west Russia.

During Cherkesov's talks with President of Iceland Olafur Ragnar Grimsson, the possibility of socio-economic collaboration was discussed. It was noted that the Murmansk Region has distinct potential for development of external economic links with Iceland. It was also noted that links between Iceland and the Kaliningrad Region are developing.