OREANDA-NEWS. May 28, 2010. The Protocol on Cooperation between Karelia and the Norwegian province of Troms for 2010-2012 was signed on May 27 in Petrozavodsk. It was countersigned by the Head of Karelia Sergey Katanandov and the Troms County Council Chairman Ms Pia Svensgard. The subscription took place within the framework of the visit of the official delegation of the province of Troms which these days stays in the capital of Karelia.

Our republic and the Norwegian province have good relations of long standing. Established in 1994, they have enabled the parties to sign several Agreements on Cooperation, with the last signed in in 2007.

— Cooperationin all spheres is important for us, — Head of the Republic has told at the meeting with Pia Svensgard. — However, the main thing is our good neighbourly relations which result in to economic relations and cross-border cooperation. We hope that our partnership will develop further on, as we are interested in it.

The Protocol on Cooperation states forther steps for 2010-2012 in mutual relations of the two regions. The parties will continue to cooperate in spheres of information exchange, culture and sports, education and science, public health services and social protection, as well as entrepreneurship. Sergey Katanandov has emphasized, that the republic will do its best to implement the agreement and the initiatives it declares. Pia Svensgard, in turn, has pointed out, that the new Protocol on Cooperation is a good foundation for development of cooperation between the regions, and the Norwegian party will provide all the conditions necessary for it.

The basic forms of cooperation between Karelia and the province of Troms is joint implementation of international projects, carrying out of activities, organization of expert exchange.

Some projects which have been under implementation for several years now bring positive results. In particular, Karelian and Norwegian experts conduct joint project in the Vozrozhdenie (Revival) social and rehabilitation center of the republic for assistance to children. Having visited it today, Pia Svensgard has told to Sergey Katanandov that she was amazed by magnificent work of the employees of this establishment and results of the project implementation.

Besides negotiations with the Head of Karelia concerning bilateral cooperation, the program of the visit of the delegation also includes meetings with the management of the Ministry of Health and Social Development, Ministry of Agriculture, Fish Industry and Ecology, Ministry of Culture and Public Relations and administration of Petrozavodsk State University.