OREANDA-NEWS. On June, 26 at the session of the Federation Council of the Russian Federation the order on the state support of social and economic development of the Republic of Karelia was passed in the final reading.

Valentina Matviyenko and Alexander Khudilainen

The order includes all the initiatives launched by Head of Karelia Alexander Khudilainen in the Upper House of the Russian Parliament during the Days of Karelia in the Federation council on April, 26-27. Prospects of development of the republic were discussed during the meeting of Chairlady of the Federation Council of the Russian Federation Valentina Matviyenko with Head of the region.

As a result of work done by the delegation of Karelia in the Federation Council the republic has gained support of members of the parliament in all the key directions.

In the order it is observed that Karelia possesses significant potential of natural resources which enable efficient development of the region. The mid-term goals are defined by the Concept of Social and Economic Development through 2017. At the same time, the republic need the state support, solution of some issues requires work of federal authorities.

Head of Karelia speaks at the session of the Federation Council

At the session of the Federation Council its dedicated committees were charged with taking an active part in development and performance of activities of preparation for celebrating the 100th anniversary of Karelia in 2020.

Council of the Federation Committee on the Federal Structure, Regional Policies, Local Self-Governance and Affairs of the North is charged with exploring the issue of establishing a working group on the analysis of correspondence of the current powers of local government bodies to the Federal Law Concerning the General Principles of the Organization of Local Government in the Russian Federation. We shall remind, that Head of Karelia Alexander Khudilainen raises his concern about the necessity to grant local authorities real possibilities to work efficiently at all levels of the authority.

A gift to the Federation Council from the Republic of Karelia

At the suggestion of Karelia committees of the Federation Council will go into the issue of expediency of bringing amendments in the Forestry Code, the law Concerning the Support Fund for the Reform of the Housing and Utilities Sector.

The Federation Council has recommended the Government of Russia to consider the issue on measures of assistance to implementation of the Pudozh megaproject so perspective for Karelia and providing construction of a large mining and smelting complex. Besides, senators have recommended the Government of the country to explore the question of implementation of Karelia's transport and cross-border infrastructure development projects. Among them there are reconstruction of the railway station in Petrozavodsk, railway border-crossing points in Lytta and Wartsila, engineering constructions of the Besovets airport, construction of the international automobile border-crossing point of Syvaoro, new deep-water seaport in Belomorsk, pieces of line in Medvezhyegorsk and Pudozh regions.

The Government of Russia is recommended to consider the issues of complex support of social and economic development of the Northwest Federal District, preservation and development of forest villages located in regions of the Far North and equated localities, and of perfection of mechanisms of the state support rendered to single-industry towns. Federal ministries are offered to consider a number of Karelia's suggestions on perfection of regulatory framework of forest management.

Besides large and perspective projects the order also includes issues which will help to solve essential problems which inhabitants of Karelia face today. Thus, the Government of Russia is recommended to consider the opportunity of financial maintenance of railway passenger communication with Karelian settlements where it was formerly reduced.

Senators have recommended the State Duma of Russia to accelerate consideration of draft federal laws on the framework of cross-border cooperation, allocation of responsibility for driving in winter without special winter tires and other bills.

Council of the Federation Committee on the Federal Structure, Regional Policies, Local Self-Governance and Affairs of the North shall be charged with supervising the execution of the order. Results of realization of the document will be considered by the Federation Council during the spring session of 2014.