OREANDA-NEWS. March 22, 2010. On June, 4-5 Petrozavodsk will host the international conference Cross-Border Cooperation: the Russian Federation, the European Union and Norway. Focus – on the Republic of Karelia. The forum is included in the list of activities devoted to celebrating the 90th anniversary of the republic. The significant event is being prepared by the steeeirng committee which session was held on March 18 in Petrozavodsk chaired by the and assistant to the Plenipotentiary of the President of the Russian Federation in Northwest Federal District Evgeny Lukianov. Chief Federal Inspector in the Republic of Karelia Alexander Hynninen and the First Assistant to the Prime Minister of the Government of the Republic of Karelia Alexander Kolesov have also taken part in the session.

The forum in Karelia will become one of the components of a series of annual international conferences in territory of the Northwest Federal District devoted to tripartite cross-border cooperation held since 2005. Evgeny Lukianov has noted, that the Focus – on Karelia conference is a certain magnifying glass which will give region and its partners an opportunity to find new options for cooperation.

Many guests of honour and participants of the forum are expected. Among the guests of the conference thre are representatives of the machinery of the Plenipotentiary of the President of the Russian Federation in Northwest Federal District, the Federation Council of the RF, State Duma, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Regional Development, Federal Customs Service, Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs, as well as governors and heads of republics of the Northwest, Consuls General and representatives of the Nordic Council of Ministers.

During the conference in Petrozavodsk there will be held a plenary session devoted to the state and prospects of development of cross-border cooperation in the North of Europe. Participants of the forum will meet at 'round tables' where it is planned to consider a broad range of issues important for cross-border cooperation of the entire Northwest region of Russia.

However, it is Karelia that will be pointed out. Subjects for discussion will cover experience of development of Euroregions in the EU and in Russia, indigenous people and modern development of territories in the North of Europe, role of financial institutions in implementation of projects of cross-border cooperation, participation of small and medium business in implementation of transboundary programs.

Besides, within the scope of the conference there will take place the Cross-Border Cooperation of the Republic of Karelia exhibition.