Yevdokimov about Dmitrienko: He is on the right way
2009-06-23
Source:
Interview of the Murmansk
On the disagreement with the United Russia
– I could clearly understand what my disagreements with the Party could end up with. But I did not conflict with it, yet they might have thought I did… Long ago before the mayor elections, I openly said that the mayor (present at that moment) was not popular. I was saying that the Party needs another candidate for this position if it did not want to be on a losing side. I’m not gonna give any names here. You know these names. I’m just trying to say again that long before the elections, one of my deputies announced his will to go for it. I told him that I would not be able to support him. He submitted a letter of resignation at once and was substituted by a different person. We all know the outcome of it. 32 mass media sources (mainly reputable ones of a federal level) crashed down on me. So, I always knew that it might be like this but I could not act in a different way. I could not agree with the Party because I knew that the mayor’s team was not only popular but also turned the budget into a personal “feedbox”. So I took a principled stand.
On the deficit of the regional budget
– Last years, the legislation suffered many changes. I would not specify any laws here but these changes deprived the Murmansk region of tax revenues that are given now to the federal centre. I mean that the range of taxes continuously grew less and less. Yet the most striking blow was in 2005 when all the 7 ZATOs (closed cities, restricted access municipalities. Russia counts 42 of the kind) were overthrown onto the regional budget taking up extra 6.5 billion RUB (1.35 billion NOK) annually. ZATOs had always been a responsibility of the federal centre before and these expenses had been covered by the State. If the State takes ZATOs back, the Murmansk region will be
On his achievements and the North
– I have lived in the North for 36 years. Each year is memorable to me. I came here as a Ukrainian lad that nobody knew, yet at once I headed the
As for the period of my governor’s position, I can say that was a very special time for me. There were many plans and projects. But the main achievement is the system of interaction that allowed to create an association to patronage the North Fleet, to
I cannot but name a Save a Child programme. This is also an invention of ours. Our call for help to ill children was heard. We managed to help 370 families during 10 years. And we still know that if children in the North need help we have funds for that.
Some of the projects that we developed have already been implemented or are going to start soon. Among those are Murmansk transport hub, Severnyi Glubokyi mine, electrification of railway, the construction of second railway and many others. Some may say that these are achievements of the companies. Yet this is also our merit since the projects could hardly be implemented without us.
We also saved OLKON (Olenegorsk
I’m sure of the future fulfillment of the projects on tourist zones in the South of the region, a project on a new stadium at the entrance to the city of Murmansk, a multifunctional sport gymnasium between the Ice Palace and the swimming pool. I feel sorry that we have not had time to implement a project on powerful exhibition hall. My dream of a circus in the city has not been realized either.
On international cooperation
– Living in such a neighbourhood we cannot but take each and every opportunity to improve living conditions for people in the North. This cooperation has always been fruitful and is a unique example of cooperation between neighbouring territories. We can remember how it started those days. That was a difficult period when our shops were empty. Scandinavian trucks drove here products and that brought us together.
Few people analyzed how much money Norway invested in our region. This cooperation is unique. We can take RTGs (radioisotope thermoelectric generator) for example. This project is still going on: Norway is implementing it in the Baltic. This cooperation is not limited by ecology and economy. We also cooperate in the spheres of culture, education and health. We have 7 operas that were mutually conducted, we have Norwegian classes and we exchange our specialists, Murmansk holds days of Norway and Finnmark. These things can be explained through a role of a first person (after Dale Carnegie). Their side is personally coordinated by King Harald V, Queen Sonja, Foreign Minister Mr. Jonas Gahr Store, and Prime Minister Mr. Jens Stoltenberg.
I am proud to have been awarded with a Commander’s badge established in 1985 by Olav V which is an award for outstanding activities. That was an award to me for development of good neighbourly relations. And I’m sure that these relations will be warm and fruitful further on. Moreover, Norway is going to participate in Shtokman development. Besides, Norwegians proposed to create a Pomor zone. We on the other side proposed to create the alike zone on Svalbard. So, I think we have a solid basis for friendly relations.
On new governor
– When it comes to a new ruling team I can say that it is going to be 100 days soon since the inauguration of Mr. Dmitry Dmitrienko, then we have half a year, a year and so on. I do not know how things will further develop, yet I do not see any mistakes made so far. I think he is on the right way. The only thing I can do is to offer him my assistance …
photo: Mr.Yevdokimov and
Source: b-port.com
