OREANDA-NEWS. June 7, 2011. Participants of the exit session of the Federation Council Committee for the Commonwealth of Independent States discussed Karelia's experience of cross-border cooperation on June 3. As the Committee Chairman Andrei Molchanov has pointed out, "Karelia is the recognized advanced post of cross-border cooperation in the Northwest. For many years it has been developing the innovative model of cooperation based on norms and rules tested through European practice. Your experience is of great interest for us." Karelia's cooperation with Finland is especially fruitful. Specific examples of cooperation with this country in different spheres were provided to members of the Federation Council at the presentation held in Karelian State Museum of Local History. Anna Smirnova, the First Deputy Minister of Health and Social Development, presented cooperation experience in the sphere of public health. She has told about results of the project of prevention of HIV-AIDS distribution which was implemented successfully in the republic in 2007-2009 together with the National Institute for Health and Welfare, Finland.

Since 1991 cooperation is supported between rescue services of Suomi and Karelia. According to Nikolai Fedotov. Chairman of the State Committee of the Republic of Karelia for Life Support and Public Safety, within this period the parties have implemented projects of paramedical service development, elimination of chemical accident, consequences of traffic accidents, sea rescue. Almost annually rescuers of Finland and Karelia have joint manoeuvres.

One of the novelties of the international cooperation is the project of creation of the Center of Design and Arts and Crafts Business Incubator launched in April. It was presented by Elena Sologub, Director of the Center of Cultural Initiatives of Karelia. The project partners from Finland are the Association of Arts and Crafts of North Carelia and North Karelia Polytechnic. On the Russian side the project partners are the Ministry of of Economic Development of Karelia and the Ministry of Culture of the republic.

The project is focused on support of creative industries at the state level. For the first time on the basis of culture palaces there will be created so-called craft sites where people will be able to learn both craft technologies, and master the entrepreneurship principles. The project is based on creative potential of the people of Karelia, therefore, one of its most important stages are craft lessons to be held for young Karelian designers, artists and masters of arts and crafts, and for all comers. A perspective goal of the project is development of new competitive art and souvenir products and design renovation of articles of existing productions and handicrafts.

Another new project of cross-border cooperation with Finland is Cities by the Water - New Opportunities for Business Development. Evgeny Taev, member of the Union of Architects of Petrozavodsk, has told that the purpose of this project is development of integrated solutions on territorial development in cities of Joensuu, Kitee, Petrozavodsk and Sortavala, combining support of business and spatial planning. Within the framework of the project the architectural concept of a City by the Water that will cover coastal territories of Petrozavodsk from Solomennoye to the South industrial area will be developed, and a project of the Old Town historical quarter will be developed.

While visiting Karelian State Museum of Local History, members of the Federation Council have also learned about the history of our republic and Mikhail Goldenberg, director of the museum, has conducted a tour for the honoured guests.