“Sakhalin AIDS Prevention Center” on December 1 - the World AIDS Day, invited its partners, representatives of the Regional Administration, Regional Initiative, local businesses, and Sakhalin mass media to tell about the HIV/AIDS problem on Sakhalin and report on its activities in 2006 and plans for the future.  

Over the month previous to the date, the AIDS Prevention Center conducted a series of activities on HIV detection and prevention, such as free HIV tests, lectures on HIV prevention among students of Sakhalin schools and universities, trainings and seminars for doctors, publishing of brochures and booklets and public awareness campaign on local radio and television.

 Marina Mokienko, Deputy Head of the Center reported that the situation on Sakhalin in comparison with the other Far Easten territories remains relatively satisfactory. Since 1993 until 2006 154 HIV patients have been detected in Sakhalin and 20 of them died. 71 percent of all HIV infected are young people about 30 years old, 60 percent of whom are men and 40 percent are women. Rapid development of oil and gas projects on Sakhalin demands labor forces that come from other Russian regions and Newly Independent States (NIS). It influences on HIV epidemic situation; until the present moment the quantity of a HIV-infected people has been increased mostly due to migration. So, 27 % of the revealed cases of a HIV-infection are inhabitants of other regions of Russia and the countries of NIS. 

A representative of Sakhalin Energy Investment Company donated to the Center a check for 10,000 dollars and 10,000 condoms. Most of 10,000 condoms will be distributed among the risk groups and 10,000 dollars will be spent for the development of Volunteer School.

Volunteer School which was formed in AIDS Prevention Center in 2004 works actively with young citizens of the island to raise their awareness about HIV/AIDS and to draw the attention of the population to this problem. Now there are about 20 young people who study mostly at Psychological and Physical Training Departments of Sakhalin State University working at Volunteers School. Young activists conduct trainings for the students of High Educational Institutions of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk.  As a result groups of volunteers that work on “Peer to Peer” basis were established there.  This year members of Volunteers School visited Nogliki City, North of Sakhalin where they trained a new team of young volunteers of 20 people.  

To solve the problem of HIV-infection spreading it is necessary to understand, that our future and the future of our children is in our hands. The most effective way to fight against AIDS is constant public awareness campaigns about accessible measures of preventive maintenance and ways of safe behavior.

On November 24, 2006 the presentation of the project «Creation the Field School for Young Farmers in Khorolsky and Khankayasky Raions of Primorsky Krai» was held at the Far-Eastern Affiliate Office of the New Eurasia Foundation and the cooperation agreements with «Khorol Zerno Co., Ltd» and «Agro-Desun Khanka Co., Ltd» were signed.
At the presentation and agreements signing ceremony the representatives from businesses, diplomatic community, Primorsky Krai Administration committees, the Primorye State Agricultural Academy and leading regional mass media were present.
The participants of the meeting noted the importance and urgent necessity of such a project due to the fact that there are unresolved issues in the sphere of agriculture such as undeveloped infrastructure in the villages in spite of launching state agricultural program on the national level and this makes worse the attractiveness of the agricultural territories for young farmers to live there. What is more, today the businesses that operate in villages are not satisfied with the level of professional training of local population and with the ability to handle the hi-tech agricultural equipment they have in their enterprises.
Thus, this project became the first step towards creation of series initiatives within the program of the Far-Eastern Affiliate Office of the New Eurasia Foundation on social investments development in the Russian Far East territories

On November 15 in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, the Kidsave Program sponsored the “Stand by Me” Gala in support of Sakhalin orphans. The event was attended by Vice-Governor Lubov Shubina, Vice-Mayor Tatiana Shulga, and Deputy Head Alexander Ivanov of the Sakhalin Region Education Department, who were among those making opening remarks. Attendees numbered more than 70, including those from international and Russian business based on Sakhalin. The gala event was widely covered by local mass media.
The goal of the event was to draw the attention of the local community and business to the problem of orphans and to find partners to help the program extend its activity to more parts of the region. The gala featured the traditional live and silent auctions, a film about the activities of Kidsave and a concert.
The events raised about $20,000 to help orphans to find new families. For Sakhalin, this type of event is new and the attendees emphasized that it was an effective way of fundraising and hoped that the gala will become an annual tradition.

On November 12, Irina Lindberg assumed duties as the new USAID Program Representative in the Russian Far East, based at the U.S. Consulate General in Vladivostok.  She replaced Irina Isaeva.   

Ms. Lindberg was most recently the Director of the RFE Affiliate Office of the New Eurasia Foundation.  Her previous experience includes working in the Vladivostok Representative Office of the Eurasia Foundation, the U.S. Peace Corps RFE Office and private companies. 

She has a degree in Linguistics from Far Eastern State University in Vladivostok, and is currently working toward a degree in Management at Pacific State University of Economics in Vladivostok.  In addition, she has completed a number of certificate programs in Management and Finance in Germany, the U.S. and the Philippines

Under the auspices of the Sakhalin Regional Administration and the Regional Public Chamber the forth Sakhalin Civic Forum was held on November 10 in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk.
The motto of the event was – “Government and society: cooperation of local municipality and citizens.” The participants of the forum were: representatives of non-commercial sector, funds, associations, social movements, unions as well as representatives of Regional and municipal authorities – totally about 200 people. During the opening session, the participants were read the letter of greeting from Governor, Ivan Malakhov, in which he called society to participate more actively in realization of national projects, establish sustainable contacts of public unions with municipal authorities and work out new ways of cooperation. In the reports and speeches the speakers revealed some problems that preventing the development of civil society, such as: citizens are not active, municipal institutions of civil society are not developed enough; administration doesn’t understand fully the role of public organizations in society; no motivation for charity. It was emphasized that for solving the above mentioned problems the close cooperation between civil society and all branches of government is necessary.
The Fair of Social Projects which were implemented in the framework of grants competition announced a year ago by the governor, became the main event of the forum. The best three projects were selected at the Fair. The first and the second place were awarded to “Storm and Stress” and “Decreasing the spreading of bad habits among children and youth” projects of Maternal and Infant Training and Community Education Resource Center. The Center has begun its activity on the projects with FRAEC partnership program technical assistance.
At the end of the Forum the resolution was adopted. It stated that in Sakhalin Oblast, as in the whole Russia the civil society is now at its initial stage, and the positive tendency of its developing has been outlined lately. The recommendations for municipal authorities, public unions and mass media on the development of civil institutions were also outlined in Forum’s resolution. The delegates of the Forum expressed readiness to take part in implementation of socially significant projects at the territory of Sakhalin Region that will contribute to development of democratic system of the Russian Federation, based on civil society institutions.
Though the forum was very informative and presented positive results of many projects and NGOs’ activity, its procedure was rather formal and had the spirit of formal communist party meetings.

On October 31 – November 2 the Sakhalin Salmon Initiative International (SSI) Conference was conducted in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk. The event was organized by the Wild Salmon Center and SSI Steering Committee with the support of the Sakhalin Regional Administration, Sakhalin Energy Investment Company (SEIC), British Petroleum, Oak Foundation and others. The conference convened more than 150 representatives of government, academia, local and indigenous communities, local non-governmental organizations, fishing and extractive industries, and international organizations and institutions. In opening remarks, Governor Ivan Malakhov stressed the importance of future SSI projects for the sustainable economic and social development of the Sakhalin Region. Speakers from the U.S. included Guido Rahr, President of the Wild Salmon Center, and officials of the U.S. Forest Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
A conference declaration was signed by the leading representatives of Sakhalin Oblast, the Wild Salmon Center and SEIC, which stated that “accomplishing the goals [of the SSI] will foster achievement of the greater objective of the SSI: to provide Sakhalin’s residents with enhanced opportunities for sustainable economic growth and social development by uniting the public need for traditional economic activities with the need to protect Sakhalin’s natural ecosystems.”
The goals of the conference were to establish strategic priorities for the initiative, discuss project areas, explore areas of collaboration for all interested parties, and provide a guarantee of public and government support. The work of the conference was conducted through six working groups: habitat and biodiversity conservation, extractive industry best practices, local communities and salmon ecosystems, fisheries management and poaching prevention, sustainable economic development, and education and training. The conference was widely covered by the local media.

A conference of the Program PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP AGAINST CORRUPTION was held in Moscow on 26 October.  

The Program started in 2001 in Samara and Tomsk oblasts and in 2003 and 2005 it was expanded to four more regions: Irkutsk, Sakhalin and Kamchatka oblasts, and Primorskiy and Khabarovskiy Krays. The Program was sponsored by the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and implemented with technical support from Management Systems International (MSI).  

At the Conference, representatives from all seven regions including 13 representatives from the Russian Far East region reported on the results they have achieved and presented corruption prevention techniques they developed and applied successfully in their regions. These tools include, for example, citizen watchdog activities that monitor governmental institutions and functions (the budgeting process, public procurement, privatization, the legislature, as well as others); legal services to victims of alleged corruption and excessive bureaucracy and legal education offered to various target groups; civil society participation in legal drafting and legal review; the removal of administrative barriers; citizen advocacy initiatives; and youth anti-corruption programs. Methodologies developed under this Program can be implemented effectively in other Russian regions and on the national level. During the Conference, many materials and documents developed by the participating organizations were presented.   

Guests of the Conference – representatives of the federal government, think tanks, and international organizations – highly appreciated the work implemented by the participants of the Program and expressed necessity to transfer experience to other regions of Russia.

On October 24, over 60 teachers from educational institutions of Amurskaya oblast and Primorskiy and Khabarovskiy krais, representatives of school administrations and the Ministry of Education Commission on Juvenile Delinquency and Custody Department and others met in Khabarovsk for the conference “Trafficking Prevention through Developing Positive Values Among Youth: Sharing Experiences,” part of a USAID-sponsored Path to Success! Program implemented by Winrock International.

Over the last three years, the Path to Success! Program has involved 500 teachers from high schools, orphanages, and colleges in the RFЕ on a pro-bono basis to instruct more than 10,000 young people about risks of trafficking and how to make positive life choices. The main part of the conference was devoted to a practical demonstration of innovative teaching methods against trafficking and domestic violence. Eight master classes were presented by the most active teachers from various Far Eastern educational establishments. The conference participants also had a chance to discuss future Path to Success! program development. Conference attendees agreed that there is a lot more to be done in the work aimed at preventing human trafficking, domestic violence and helping young people in Russia make positive choices in life as well as improve the situation in their local communities and their country in general.

The Russian-American Educational Center (ARC) in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, working jointly with the city administration and with the participation of the ARC in Anchorage, Alaska, has completed work on two projects. The effort drew on funding from USAID.
The first project “Creation of Modern Informational Resource” was implemented from October 2005 to April 2006. The new web page “Access to Finances” (http://yuzhno.sakh.ru/ru/main/business/finsys) has been the main result of the project. The page provides easy access to a listing of organizations working in the financial market of Sakhalin oblast and cooperating with entrepreneurs and economic entities. This includes contact information and links to related resources as well as information about banking institutions, leasing companies, and credit support activities of the city administration and the program “Promoting Consulting for Small and Medium Enterprises.”
Work on the project “Information Environment Development for Sakhalin Region Business Society” was completed in October. The web page “Regulatory Authority” was created and a brochure “How Should Entrepreneurs Register Property for Rent Correctly” was published. The web site with information on fifteen organizations of regulatory authority is available on the official site of the city administration (http://yuzhno.sakh.ru/ru/main/business/audit). As a result of these efforts by the ARC, citizens of Sakhalin oblast now have access to new resources on how to work with regulatory authorities.

The Russian American Pacific Partnership held its eleventh annual meeting in San-Francisco, California, USA on October 17-19, 2006. 150 public and private sector representatives from four regions of the Russian Far East and Moscow, eleven States of the U.S., and two third-party countries (China, Japan) participated in the meeting. The largest regional delegation with more than 30 people came from Sakhalin Region and was headed by the Sakhalin Region Governor, Ivan Malakhov. The 11th RAPP meeting was co-chaired by Jack Brougher, Director of the Office of Russia, Ukraine and Eurasia, U.S. Department of Commerce and Alexander Pakhomov, Deputy Director of the Department of Foreign Economic Relations, Ministry of Economic Development and Trade of the Russian Federation. Welcoming remarks were presented by the prior-year host Governor Ivan Malakhov, Barbara Kaufman, Director, San Francisco Office of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger of California, Bill Lee, Director of International Economic and Tourism Development, City and Country of San Francisco, John-Mark Pommersheim, U.S. Consul General, Vladivostok, Igor Neverov, Director of the Department of North America, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, RF, Victor Lizun, Consul General of the Russian Federation in San Francisco and Vladimir Isakov, Vice-President, Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Moscow.
Derek Norberg, Director of the U.S. Secretariat, and Anatoly Boury, Director of the Russian Secretariat of RAPP, were responsible for the organization of the meeting. The meeting participants received a letter of greeting from Arnold Schwarzenegger, Governor of California, and Sergey Lavrov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation.
RAPP’s 11th Russian Co-chair Alexander Pakhomov commented on the significant contributions of RAPP in developing cooperation between the Russian Far East and the western states of the U.S., and echoed Minister Lavrov’s suggestion that RAPP serves as a model for successful bilateral engagement between our countries.
On October 17 the meeting held four break-out session meetings to discuss issues and form recommendations to improve economic cooperation between the Russian East and the U.S.
The break-out session “Energy-Based Cooperation” discussed the current experience and opportunities for Russian and international companies and the regions engaged in energy development projects. Beyond the presentations of commercial energy companies, the session reviewed environmental safety, security and community development interests. The session also touched on opportunities for cooperation in alternative energy technologies including wind, solar and geothermal.
Break-out session “Commerce, Investment and Development Opportunities” reviewed variety of approaches to stimulate trade and commerce at the city, state and institutional levels, including finance provision, improving international banking relations, and other business support provisions. The presentations were provided by ICMA RFE-Alaska Citylinks program, New Eurasia Foundation, The Russian Federation Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Russian Trade Representation in the U.S., BISNIS, U.S. Export-Import Bank and many others.
Break-out session “Transportation and Infrastructure” reviewed a wide array of transportation issues, challenges and major development opportunities. Issues on passenger service and sea and airport improvements, ocean freight routes and service provisions, and specialized transportation service provisions were discussed during two days session.
Break-out session “Technologies Cooperation” considered the opportunities and constraints to expanded cooperation, including technology transfer regulations and intellectual property rights enforcement among others.
On October 19, at the closing plenary session of the meeting, the reports from the break-out sessions were delivered to the 11th meeting Co-Chairs and RAPP Secretariats. The Co-Chairs, Mr. Jack Brougher for the U.S.-side, and Mr. Alexander Pakhomov for the Russian-side, delivered their closing remarks. It was resolved to accept the invitation of the Sakhalin Region and hold the next 12th meeting of the Russian-American Pacific Partnership in 2007 in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk.

On October 13, the American Corner in Vladivostok held a presentation of educational exchange programs in the U.S. for the 2007-08 academic year.  Attendees included high school and university students, and teachers and young specialists with master degrees.  Presenters included coordinators of exchange programs for high school students (FLEX, American Councils), university exchange programs (UGRAD), scholarship programs (MUSKIE), summer programs (Work and Travel, International Exchange Center), and scholarship programs of the Central European University.  Attendees learned how to prepare applications for U.S. universities, including writing good essays, and received advice for successful participation in exchange programs.  Attendees were also able to see the range of U.S. university guides and catalogues, manuals on writing essays, and materials for the preparation of TOEFL, GMAT, and GRE exams.

On October 5-6, the Russian Far East Economic Forum was held in Khabarovsk.  Taking as its main topic the problems and perspectives of long-term development of Siberia and Russian Far East, the forum sought to analyze current conditions in the regions’ economies to formulate a plan for solving acute problems.  Among priority topics were: implementation of investment projects for the development of transport, telecommunication and energy infrastructure; effective exploitation of natural resources; and mutually beneficial international cooperation.  

Among the 900 attendees were representatives of the businesses and scientific institutions, regional administration officials from 27 regions of Russia, as well as members of the business and scientific communities of 15 countries.  Federal level participants included State Duma Chairman Boris Grizlov and Vice Speaker Vladimir Katrenko. 

Vital problems for the Russian Far East -- such as human population; fuel, energy and transport infrastructure; and social development -- were discussed at nine roundtables.  In addition, 200 leading manufacturers presented their exhibits at the Eighth Interregional Commercial and Industrial Fair, which coincided with the forum.

Two major events were heralded at the forum: the opening of the gas pipeline linking Sakhalin, Komsomolsk-na-Amure and Khabarovsk, and the bringing into operation of the tanker terminal with a capacity of 12.5 million tons of oil a year. 

The forum ended by calling attention to the progressive development of the RFE economy, which has realized large projects in energy, transport, and industry that have led to significant changes in the region’s social life.  The next forum will be held in Khabarovsk in September 2007.

The second Alaska exchange to the Russian Far East took place during October 1-15, 2006. 4 Alaska delegations included 7 officials from the cities of Anchorage, Juneau, Wasilla and Kenai. ICMA Russia-based staff, representatives from USAID/Russia and experts from the Institute for Urban Economics too contributed substantially working closely with the CityLinks partnerships in the RFE.

The October exchange week was very productive and showed significant progress made by all partnerships in between the two previous exchanges in March and July.

Focused discussions and training sessions were complemented by numerous site visits, meetings with local business owners and NGOs. Working on specific project agendas Alaska delegates continued to provide valuable educational and technical support to their RFE partners to help them expand and improve the economic development opportunities for their government and private sector businesses. One of the most activities  on the exchange agendas were 3 Roundtables organized with the enthusiastic mentoring from Round I partners in Kholmsk, Bolshoy Kamen and Vyazemsky to help identify potential participants in the next round of the program.  

Mayors and ED Departments Heads from the cities of Vyazemsky, Arseniev, Luchegorsk, Partizansk, Aniva, Kholmsk and Nevelsk, considered for inclusion in the CityLinks Round II, attended and had an opportunity to learn about the CityLinks program, observe on-going partnership activities on-site, and ask questions. In addition to a peer-to-peer learning, the roundtables provided excellent networking opportunities for both RFE and Alaska partners and revealed genuine interest for the candidate cities to become part of the ICMA/CityLinks program. Encouraged by the results, some of now participating Alaska partners consider to remain involved in the Round II and those seeking to provide assistance too are excited at the opportunity.

The 10th Annual Sakhalin Oil and Gas Conference took place on in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk on September 27-28 – the first time it has been held in the location of its name.  The conference was attended by nearly 400 delegates including business and financial executives, politicians, diplomats and the Russian and international media.  Sakhalin Region Governor and conference chairman Ivan Malakhov opened the proceedings with a detailed presentation on the oil and gas industry in Sakhalin.  He stated that more than 400 million tons of oil and 800 billion cubic meters of gas was to be extracted from the Sakhalin-1 and Sakhalin-2 projects, and that  by 2015 new oil and gas fields would come on-stream. 

Other welcoming speakers included Vladimir Pekhtin, Deputy Chairman of the Federal Duma, Konstantin Pulikhovsky, former Far East Region Presidential Envoy and Director of Rostekhnadzor, and Yasuo Saito, Japan’s Ambassador to Russia.  The Ambassador stressed the importance of both Sakhalin-1 and Sakhalin-2 for international energy security.  Detailed presentations followed by Alexey Kuznetsov, Vice-President of Rosneft, Stephen Terni, President of Exxon Neftegas Limited, Ian Craig, Head of Sakhalin Energy Investment Company Ltd., and Doug Suttles, President of British Petroleum Sakhalin. 

One of the most anticipated presentations at the conference was that of Sergei Lavrov, Russian Foreign Minister, who presented Russia’s energy policy with regards to the Asia-Pacific region.  Other presentations were made by the Head of Gazprom’s Eastern Project, officials from the Sakhalin and Yakutia Administrations, and executives of PricewaterhouseCoopers and Schlumberger. 

The focus of the second day of the conference was on Russian content in Sakhalin oil and gas projects with presentations from Andrey Zalpin and Angelo Belizzi, Heads of the Construction Company SFERA. That was followed by a panel discussion on Asia-Pacific Energy markets and an afternoon session dedicated to business and technical challenges. 

The majority of the participants stayed on in Sakhalin after the Conference to see for themselves  Sakhalin’s oil and gas infrastructure and the socioeconomic development of the Region.  

From now on, the conference will be annually held on Sakhalin.

On September 26, the opening ceremony of the VIII International Specialized Exhibition “Oil and Gas Infrastructure / SIGOLD” took place in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk.  SIGOLD is an annual industrial forum devoted to showcasing the most advanced equipment, technologies and infrastructure for exploring mineral and energy resources.  It provides an opportunity for companies to meet with operators and primary contractors of Sakhalin’s multibillion dollar oil and gas development projects.   

Governor of Sakhalin Region Ivan Malakhov and federal officials from Moscow opened the exhibition, which welcomed more than 1,000 people over three days.  Some 100 companies participated and the total value of preliminary contracts amounted to USD 11 million. 

The exhibition highlighted Sakhalin’s acknowledged position as the site of the largest investment projects utilizing advanced technical solutions.  The development of projects on the surrounding sea shelf has considerably affected rates of economic growth as a whole on the region and promoted modernization of the island infrastructure and economy.

On September 25, the Sakhalin Regional Administration hosted the Conference “Implementation of Information Technologies in the Practice of State Management” in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk.  The event was organized by the Small and Medium Business Support Center, a  local NGO which has received several grants from the U.S.-RFE Partnership Activity, a program implemented by FRAEC and sponsored by USAID. 

More than 50 people attended the conference, including the representatives of 19 municipal foundations, information technology specialists, and staff of the Regional Administration.  Svetlana Vasina, Regional Initiative (RI) Coordinator, gave the opening speech and highlighted the activity of RI in the Russian Far East. 

Conference participants were introduced to information about the draft bill “Regional Target Program ‘Electronic Sakhalin’ for 2008-2011,” part of the Russian Federal Program ”Electronic Russia.”  At the end of the event, the participants adopted a resolution emphasizing the importance of learning from the experience of the Small and Medium Business Support Center, which in 2003 established an Internet Center in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, and e-government services for residents and the business community.  In 2004-2005, using Partnership program grant money, the Support Center replicated this experience to four other  municipalities of the Sakhalin Region.

On September 15-16, the Russian Far East Interregional Conference “Civil Society against Corruption” and the Seminar “Youth Anti-Corruption Programs” were held in Khabarovsk. The two events took place within the framework of the USAID-sponsored Public-Private Partnerships against Corruption Program, implemented by Management Systems International (MSI).
Representatives from anti-corruption coalitions in seven Russian regions – including Khabarovskiy and Primorskiy Krais, as well as Sakhalinskaya, Kamchatskaya, Samarskaya, Tomskaya and Irkutskaya Oblasts, participated in the conference and seminar. Since 2001, civil society coalitions have been working in these regions with the goal of developing, implementing and coordinating actions to oppose corruption. In 2005, all regional coalitions joined forces to establish the Russian Anti-Corruption Partnership (RAP) to promote the fight against corruption at a national and policy level..
The results and accomplishments of the coalitions and RAP were presented at these meetings, followed by active discussions of best practices in promoting corruption prevention. During 2006, more than 20 associated projects were implemented in the Russian Far East. Many of the anti-corruption techniques developed and implemented during these activities can be applied to any region and even at the federal level.
On October 26, an additional event – the Wrap-Up Conference of the “Public-Private Partnerships against Corruption” Program -- will be held at the World Trade Center in Moscow. In addition participants from the RFE and throughout Russia, this conference will include representatives of leading Russian organizations that promote corruption prevention initiatives, government officials and representatives of international organizations and foundations.

On September 13, the International Partnership Festival was held in Vladivostok in the framework of the annual U.S.-RFE Partnership Activity Conference.

At the event, designed to show the results of partnerships established in the fifth round of the U.S.-RFE Partnership Activity Program, partnership projects and U.S. Government-sponsored programs presented a total of 35 stands.

Carol Vipperman, President of FRAEC, opened the festival and welcomed the participants. John-Mark Pommersheim, Consul General presented a speech and underlined the importance of the event for the development of Russian-American friendship.  

Alexander Smishlyaev, Co-Chairman of Vladivostok Public Chamber, Vladimir Novikov, Mayor of Artem City and Evgeniy Levkin, Project Management Specialist, USAID made opening speeches as well. 

The 3-hour festival was attended by more than 400 people. The audience voted for the best stand, and a stand of the partnership between Center for Development of Civil Initiatives and Social Partnership, of Vladivostok and Step Towards of Snezhinsk were awarded first place.  

Many partners said that the festival was very useful and bright event of the conference. People mentioned that they could not only share the information about their projects, but also get the experience of other partnerships and USG-sponsored programs and make new contacts.

The sixth annual U.S.-Russian Far East Partnership Activity Conference took place in Vladivostok on September 13-15.  The event was organized in the framework of the USAID-sponsored U.S.-RFE Partnership Activity Program implemented by FRAEC. The goal of the conference was to introduce the partnership projects established in the fifth round of the program to the public and authorities, to show the results of those projects and discuss the future plans of partner organizations. 

The event’s agenda included a partnership conference, an international partnership festival, training for partners, round table on grant opportunities and visits to the sites of two Primorskiy Kray partners.  The conference participants included, but were not limited to, Russian and American participants of 11 partnerships, representatives of Primorskiy Kray City and Krai Administrations, an officer from USAID, representatives of the Regional Initiative and U.S. Government sponsored programs. 

The round table “Grant Opportunities” where Natalya Ivanova, US Embassy, Moscow presented Small Grants Program, Evgeniy Levkin, USAID, Moscow spoke on USAID ongoing activity in the Russian Far East, Svetlana Vasina, Coordinator, Regional Initiative made presentation on RI activity and introduced different programs of US Government and Irina Lindberg, Director, New Eurasia Foundation (FNE) in Vladivostok spoke on FNE work and future plans became of great interest among the attendees.

On September 12, Mayor Andrey Lobkin and Vice-Mayor Vladimir Rukavets led a meeting on the implementation of the national projects in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk. The meeting focused on projects in healthcare and education and addressed means for cooperation between the local Administration and public organizations. Among the more than 60 attendees were Deputies of the Sakhalin Regional Duma and representatives of NGOs and the local mass media.
It was reported at the meeting that priorities in healthcare encompass three areas: medical first aid, high-tech medical services and maternal and child health. Projects in these areas are developing successfully in the city. An example is the work of the Breast Feeding Center, created within the framework of the FRAEC U.S.-RFE Partnership Program sponsored by USAID. Long before the announcement of the national projects, the program developed 11 partnerships (most of them in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk) covering maternal and child health, HIV prevention among youth and high-risk groups, breast cancer early detection and prevention, maternal and infant training, community education resource center, and others.

On September 11-12, the non-commercial institution of continuing education “Maximum” and the Khabarovsk regional public organization “Social-Psychological Center” conducted final roundtables to discuss the necessity of the development of an active life style for youth as an essential condition of effective social adaptation and anti-human trafficking activities. The event summarized the results of grant activities and outlined the direction of future cooperation. This included planning for an active lifestyle among youth together with their parents and teachers, as well as introducing innovative materials into the curriculum of educational institutions.
The roundtables included representatives of the Khabarovsk Krai Administration, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Khabarovsk City Department for Children and Youth, Federal Drug Control Service, NGOs, local mass media, and teachers, psychologists and students from local educational institutions.
Participants discussed the results of their work within the 2003-2006 time frame of the USAID-funded Path to Success! Program of Winrock International, and shared the difficulties they faced. The leading role of NGOs in drawing public attention to the problem and influencing public opinion on socially important issues was highlighted. In the course of “Path to Success!” program activities, almost 27,000 people in the Russian Far East were involved in training sessions, seminars and informational campaigns. Through these educational and informational activities, public awareness of the human trafficking problem has been raised significantly. Government officials have changed their attitudes towards this problem in a very positive way. Participants in the roundtables made special note of the ongoing successes in partnership and cooperation among law enforcement officials, mass media, educational institutions and government bodies in Primorskiy and Khabarovskiy Krais. There currently are several successful examples of teamwork activities between NGOs and law-enforcement bodies. It is also important to note that some events on trafficking prevention are being organized on the initiative of Krai Administrations and funded by local government.

On August 30, 2006 Primorskiy krai administration and NGOs – Winrock International partners joined their efforts and conducted the “STOP Trafficking” Asia-Pacific International Forum. The goals of this significant event were to raise the public awareness on the problem of human trafficking, to unite Asian-Pacific countries’ activities in joint settlement of the problem, and to work out specific anti-trafficking measures based on the Russian and international best practices.

The forum was one of the bright results of years of hard work of USAID-sponsored Path to Success! Program grantees in Primorskiy krai. When grantees began their activities in 2003, the administration didn’t consider human trafficking an urgent problem and offered little or no support to the NGOs. However, after attending a conference about trafficking in 2005, NGOs, law enforcement officials, and administration officials began to work together to develop trafficking prevention strategies. Path to Success! grantees in Primorskiy krai conducted various informational trainings, seminars, street actions on human trafficking for various groups of people, including at-risk groups as well as educators and mass media people. A lot of articles on this problem appeared in press, thus indicating that the problem is really urgent and needs comprehensive approach.

Around 200 representatives of krai administration, law-enforcement bodies, medical and psychiatric institutions, educational establishments and local and international non-governmental organizations participated in the forum. Among the honorable Russian and foreign guests visiting and speaking at the forum there were the Senior Counselor of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe Secretariat, the Director of Programs for Preventing Human Trafficking and Human Rights Protection of the “Vital Voices” Organization, the permanent representative of the US Ministry of Justice, the Deputy Chief of the International Department of the All-China Women Federation. In her video-address to the participants of the forum Julia Ormond, a famous actress who is actively involved in anti-trafficking activities throughout the world being a U.N. good will ambassador, emphasized the significant role of Primorskiy krai civil society, in particular, one of Winrock International active partners Irina Belotserkovets in the fight against human trafficking. Her energy and true dedication to work helped her and other partners to convince local administration in the necessity to talk about this issue on the intersectional and international level.

Winrock International partners took an active part in the work of plenary session and 4 sections. Together with the other participants they discussed such topics as Criminal Legislation standards in regards to human trafficking, Russian and international NGOs activities on preventive and rehabilitation measures, victim referral system.

As a result of the forum the resolution was created which summarizes the main aspects of the problem of human trafficking as well as the concrete ways of addressing and combating this problem in Asian-Pacific region, such as establishing a crisis center in the region for the victims of human trafficking, organizing a permanent inter-agencies working group by the Governor of the Primorskiy krai to elaborate a system of anti-trafficking measures and the forms of cooperation of the law-enforcement bodies and NGOs.

On August 28 in the framework of Kidsave Project “Every child needs a family”, supported by the USAID and Sakhalin Energy Investment Company (SEIC) the festival “Summer Miracles” was held in Yuhno-Sakhalinsk. The main goal of the event was to attract public attention to the problems of Sakhalin orphans, to encourage people to help them by hosting and fostering, and share their care and love. This year for the first time in Sakhalin twenty four orphans from 2 Sakhalin orphanages included to Kidsave program spent their summer vacation in patronat families. During the “Summer Miracles” event the representatives from the regional administration expressed great thank to 18 foster families and handed over the gifts for children as well as sponsors who participate and support all events held by Kidsave International. All participants of the project hope that there will be more and more patronat and foster families and people partial to the problems of orphans in Sakhalin. Five families refused to bring the children back to the orphanage after summer vacation, they are obtaining permission to keep children in families for a period of 1 year.

In late August Exxon Neftegaz Limited, Oil and Gas Sakhalin1 Project operator, announced the providing of the third tranche in amount of USD 200 000 for the financing of small business in Okha and Nogliki districts of Sakhalin Region in the framework of the program which is designed for three years (2004-2007) and implemented by the Sakhalin Small Enterprise Development Foundation (SSEDF) in conjunction with the financial support of USAID and Sakhalin-1 Consortium.
It became the next step in realization of North Sakhalin Credit Program (NSCP) which started it’s lending operations in Nogliki in 2004 and in Ohka in 2005. The NSCP provides loans to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the areas of Sakhalin-1 project operations in the North of Sakhalin, and works in conjunction with technical assistance USAID partner ACDI/VOCA.

US Ambassador to Russia William Burns visited Sakhalin and Vladivostok in August 23-26.
During the visit Mr. Ambassador met with top officials of Sakhalin region and Primorsky kray - Sergey Sheredekin, Vice-Governor, Sakhalin Regional Administration and Sergey Darkin, Governor of Primorskiy Kray. The topics of the discussion were: American investments into RFE economy, development of Sakhalin Region and Primorskiy Kray and other issues concerning strengthening of partnership relations between the US and Russia.

One of the most significant events during the Ambassadors stay in Sakhalin was the Opening of the Consular Agency in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk. Mr. Ambassador and John-Mark Pommersheim, Consul General from Vladivostok took part in the ribbon cutting ceremony and introduced Jocelyn Barker, Consular Agent in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk.

Mr. Ambassador met with the representatives of small and medium enterprises who participated in Sakhalin Micro Credit Program conducted by ACDI/VOCA, USAID.

On August 24 Mr. Ambassador accompanied by Mr. Sheredekin visited the sites of Oil and Gas Sakhalin-1 Project in the North of Sakhalin, including onshore processing facility, “Orlan” offshore platform and “Yastreb” land rig construction.

The Ambassadors visit became a great contribution into the cultural life of the citizens of the RFE. Mr. Ambassador opened the exhibition “Presidential Diplomacy” in Sakhalin Regional Museum. The event was attended by more than 50 people including the Head of Cultural Department of Sakhalin Region and representatives of City Administration. Mr. Ambassador also opened the exhibition of Russian and American sculptors, organized in the museum of Primorskiy Kray. It was the first time when the citizens of the RFE got acquainted with American sculpture.

The US Ambassador’s trip to the RFE was widely covered by local mass media and became an important event in the life of the RFE.

On August 23, 2006, U.S. Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary in Russia William J. Burns and Consul General John Mark Pommersheim visited the RI office prior to their official duties of hosting the opening of the new U.S. Consular Agency on Sakhalin Island, where he met with Svetlana Vasina, RI RFE Coordinator and Olga Vinokurova, RI RFE Coordinator Assistant.
RI Coordinator reported to the Ambassador and Consul General about Regional Initiative activity and the upcoming events in the Russian Far East.

Daniel Saint-Rossy, First Secretary, Coordinator of Assistance Programs from the US Embassy in Moscow visited Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk and Blagoveschensk on August 7-12. During the Sakhalin visit Mr. Saint-Rossy accompanied by Coordinator Svetlana Vasina and Assistant Coordinator Olga Vinokurova met with Vadim Rokotov, Head and key staff of the Sakhalin Region International Committee, Sakhalin Region Administration and Vitaly Gomilevskiy, First Vice-Mayor of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk. During the meetings the following issues were under discussion: upcoming Oil and Gas and 11th RAPP conferences, ongoing activity of RI on Sakhalin, participation of two Sakhalin cities in CityLinks program, ICMA, USAID.

Mr. Saint-Rossy also attended offices of USG-sponsored programs implemented on Sakhalin: Kidsave Program, ACDI/VOCA, Russian American Business Training Center, US-RFE Partnership Program, FRAEC LLC, BISNIS.

RI team arranged a meeting for Daniel Saint-Rossy with Anna Lyigina, Head of Social Investment Department, Sakhalin Energy Investment Company (SEIC), one of the biggest Oil and Gas companies operating on Sakhalin. Anna briefed Mr. Saint-Rossy on social projects conducted by SEIC and shared her impressions about Civic Initiatives Program (CIP) Conference, Institute for Sustainable Communities (ISC) where she made presentation on Social Responsible Business on Sakhalin.

On August 9-11 Daniel Saint-Rossy and RI Coordinator visited Blagoveschensk. The main goals of the visit were: to familiarize with economical, political and cultural development of Amurskaya Region, one of the 10th RFE territories and to meet with grantees and sub-grantees of USG sponsored programs. During the stay Mr. Saint Rossy and Svetlana Vasina met with: Alexander Kival, Deputy Head of External Affairs Department, Administration of Amurskay Region, Alexander Migulya, Mayor of Blagoveschensk City, Lev Tanakov, President of Amur Chamber of Commerce.
Mr. Saint Rossy was impressed with the activity of different NGOs which received grants from various USG programs implemented in Amurskaya region. Among them: "Center Prognoz", grantee of ARC UAA, Winrock Int., USAID; NGO "Amurnet", grantee of Eurasia Foundation; NGO "Pulse"; NGO "Amur - Batyushka"; Amur Union of Women, grantee of Eurasia Foundation, ISAR.
During the meetings all representatives of NGOs stated above emphasized the importance of technical assistance and Russian-American partnerships for the development of local community and NGOs sustainable activity.

In early August the Ussuriisk municipal delegation traveled to Wasilla, Alaska under USAID-sponsored ICMA CityLinks RFE Partnership Project. One of the prime objectives of this trip was for the Ussuriisk delegation to familiarize themselves with the Wasilla Government and community, exchange information on municipal practices, continue general dialog, and finalize the Action Plans that had been developed when Wasilla visited Ussuriisk in March 2006. These plans primarily consist of two major projects. First, Ussuriisk intends to enhance the relationship between the municipality and small and medium enterprises (SME). This project would include creation of a new, comprehensive Business Advisory Council, developing areas of cooperation and interaction between local businesses and the City, identifying impediments to SME development, and enhancing SME input on economic development activities in Ussuriisk. The second major project is to develop an improved tourism industry as a component of the local Ussuriisk economy. The activities of the tourism project include establishing an inventory of tourism related businesses, developing a tourist business directory, creating and enhancing a tourism web site and other marketing related materials.

The most important result of the trip by Ussuriisk was achieving the primary objective. The core group of participants each spent about twelve hours working on the Action Plans, going thru each point of the Plan in detailed fashion. This process confirmed that there was mutual understanding and support for basic project concepts, and that they were achievable.

Wasilla did a good job in presenting background on the City, and showing the facilities that it owns and the many services that it provides. Throughout the week, the quality government facilities and infrastructure, and quality government services were emphasized as extremely important to a successful Economic Development Program. The Ussuriisk delegation learned that providing a consistent, supportive business-friendly philosophy and environment within the entire government organization was another crucial aspect of economic development.

In summer 2006, Irina Babichyuk and Yana Sobchyuk, trainers from the Amursk Linguistic School, organized and conducted a campaign entitled “One Day against Human Trafficking” for children and youth in several Amursk summer camps. The goal of the campaign, held as part of the USAID-supported Path to Success! program, was to raise young people’s awareness of human trafficking problems. Volunteers from previous Path to Success! trainings provided considerable assistance to the trainers in planning and conducting the campaign. More than 300 children and youth took part in mini-seminars and art contests. They also participated in interactive exercises, watched the film “The Story of One Who Returned,” and were awarded pins and bandanas with the slogan “Stop Human Trafficking” as prizes for participating in the activities.
After the children watched “The Story of One Who Returned,” a short film about a girl from the Russian Far East who becomes a victim of trafficking, they discussed the methods that traffickers use in Russia and acknowledged that any person, regardless of gender, age or social status, could become a victim of trafficking. They then discussed ways of protecting themselves, their relatives and friends from the dangers of trafficking. The trainers from Amursk Linguistic School declared the program a success and are sure that when the school year starts in September, the youth and children who participated in the campaign will be eager to share their new knowledge with their classmates.

During July 8-22 Anchorage, Juneau and Kenai hosted visitors from the RFE municipalities of Dolinsk (Sakhalin), Bikin (Khabarovsky kray) and Bolshoy Kamen (Primorye region) in the framework of CityLinks Alaska-RFE Partnership Program, financed by US Agency for International Development. The Program works to establish technical partnerships between communities in the RFE and Alaskan cities and organizations to provide access to hands-on technical assistance and use peer-to-peer learning as the basic means of knowledge transfer.
While visiting Alaska, the Russians met with city officials, attended the City Assembly meetings, and participated in presentations by the Anchorage Economic Development Corp., Alaska Native Heritage Center, Juneau Economic Development Council, Economic Development Division of Kenai, Chambers of Commerce and other business and cultural organizations.
The July trip to Alaska was the very first travel in the U.S. for most RFE city officials. In private discussions, official reports and press interviews they say the trip was a fascinating learning experience and increased their basic understanding of effective economic development and public participation models. In the future they are determined to maximize efforts in working towards successful implementation of the action plans as was agreed upon in Alaska with their U.S. partners. Preparations will also begin for the next exchange of Alaskan officials to Russia, tentatively set for September-October 2006.

A group of 12 professors from the US visited the Russian Far East (RFE) within the framework of the Fulbright Fellowship program coordinated by the University of Alaska, Anchorage. The group initially traveled to Vladivostok, Khabarovsk, Komsomolsk-on-Amur and Blagoveschensk before splitting into three smaller groups, one of which visited Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk. While in Vladivostok, the professors met with US Consul General, John Mark Pommersheim.
The four professors visiting Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk were Dr. Graeme P. Auton of the University of Redlands, Redlands, California, Dr. Jeremy Tasch and Dr. David Yesner of the University of Alaska, Anchorage and Prof. Brenda Brown of Morgan State University, Baltimore, Maryland. The professors journeyed to Sakhalin for the purpose of learning more about the economic, political and cultural life of the RFE. During their stay in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, they met with representatives of the Sakhalin Regional Administration, the Sakhalin Duma, Sakhalin State University, NGOs, and the oil and gas industry. The professors’ visit was widely covered by local mass media. The RI Coordinator and Assistant Coordinator hosted the group at the RI office on July 26 discussing the RI’s activities and visiting about exchange programs and potential University partnership programs. The RI team also rendered logistical assistance to the group.

Dmitry Medvedev, First Vice-Chairman of the Russian Government, visited Sakhalin on July 18-19 within the framework of his working visit to the RFE. The main objective of the visit was to evaluate the progress of the implementation of National Projects in the RFE.
Children’s Polyclinic Municipal Hospital #2, which participates in the National Healthcare Project hosted Vice-Chairman Medvedev and his delegation which included Kamil Iskhakov, Plenipotentiary Representative of the RF President in the RFE, Alexander Beglov, RF Presidential Assistant and Ivan Malakhov, Governor of Sakhalin Oblast.
The Children’s Polyclinic beginning in 2002 has cooperated with the US-RFE Partnership Program which is implemented by FRAEC and funded by USAID. The Children’s Polyclinic has received grants from the Partnership Program for the implementation of the following projects: Health Fairs; Encouragement and Support of Breast-feeding; and Maternal and Infant Training and Community Education/Resource Center.
Tatiana Kolba, Head of the Children’s Polyclinic, welcomed the delegation which then toured the Modern Vaccine-Prevention Ward and Breast Feeding Support Center. The tour generated a great deal of interest among and questions from the delegation. The main goal of the Support Center is increasing the number of children six months and younger living in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk who are breast fed and increasing the population’s knowledge regarding the benefits of breast-feeding during the early stages of life through materials, mass media and community events. Vice-Chairman Medvedev emphasized the importance of the activities of the Support Center in the background of negative demographic population trends in the RFE and wished continuing success to all of the employees of the Children’s Polyclinic

On July 12-14, 2006 Institute for Sustainable Communities held “Civic Initiatives Program (CIP) Legacy Conference” in Khabarovsk. The Russian Far East CIP funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is aimed to help citizens of the RFE areas of Primorski and Khabarovski Krais and Sakhalin Oblast find real and effective community-based approaches and solutions to many of the regions’ most pressing needs.
Among more than 90 participants of the Conference there were representatives of USAID/ Moscow - Erin Krasik, Deputy Director, Office of Democratic Initiatives, Andrew Kiselev, Regional Programs Coordinator, Office of Program and Projects Development, Elizabeth Duban, Women, Gender and Youth Coordinator, NGOs of Khabarovski and Primorski Krais and Sakhalin Oblast, CIP grantees, representatives of Resource Centers “Amur-Batyushka”, (Blagoveschensk), “ISAR” (Vladivostok), “Sigma” (Birobidzhan), “Pilgrim” (Sakhalin), local officials and businesses, representatives of partnership programs, and Vinokurova Olga, Coordinator Assistant, Regional Initiative, RFE.
The goal of the Conference was to share the results of the Russian Far East Civic Initiatives Program, to disseminate program successes throughout the region, outline future plans and explore opportunities for further collaboration.
During the Conference the results of a four-year Program were summed up. More than 45 000 volunteers participated in 228 social projects. For the first time in the RFE the ENGAGE model was successfully inculcated and had a great impact on the collaboration of local citizens, government and business to solve the problems of local communities. ISC organized over 24 interregional seminars conducted by CIP trainers for NGOs, Resource Centers and Initiative Groups. The young leaders who implemented their own projects under CIP visited Serbia to share their experiences and successes and gain the experience of foreign colleagues.
The Russian Far East Civic Initiatives Program encouraged citizens of the RFE to cooperate with local NGOs, administration and businesses for the benefit of their communities and sustainable development of civil society in the RFE.

On June 23-24 the seminar "Russian-American Conference for Commercial Court Judges of the Far-Eastern Okrug” took place in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk. The seminar was organized by Russian-American Rule o Law Consortium (RAROLC) in the framework of Oregon-Sakhalin Oblast Partnership. Representatives of Commercial Courts of the Russian Far East as well as the group of judges from American and Russian Federal Commercial Coutrs came to Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk to participate in the event. Among almost 50 attendees were Peace Fund in North-East Asia and the Center of International Researches of VGUES, under the auspices of Primorsky Territory Government and Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Vladivostok.
Among almost 50 attendees were Michael Williamson, Judge, United States Bankruptcy Court, Professor Neshatayeva, Justice, Supreme Court of the Russian Federation, N.V. Pavlova, Head of Department of International Law, Supreme Commercial Court of the RF, Jack Boos, lawyer, USA, Mark Comstock, lawyer, USA, Honorable Michael Williamson, United States Bankruptcy Court and others. The seminar featured welcoming remarks from Andrey Lobkin, Mayor of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk.
Some of the topics discussed at the seminar were:
• Topical issues of application of provisional remedies by the state courts;
• Assessment of adequacy of provisional remedies;
• Influence of the practice of the European Court for Human Rights on administration of justice in the Russian Federation;
• New decisions of the Presidium of the Supreme Commercial Court of the RF on enforcement of foreign judgments and arbitral awards on economic disputes;
• Introduction of electronic filing and case management system in the commercial courts of the Russian Federation.
The seminar was a great opportunity for Russian and American professionals to share new information and experience with their colleagues.

On June 9, 2006 in the round table “Professionals’ energy to the rural areas of Primorye” took place in the center of Khorol municipality of Primorskiy kray. This event was organized by the Russian Far East Affiliate Office of the New Eurasia Foundation (FNE RFE) under the auspices of Primorskiy Kray Administration and supported by the Head of Khorolskiy Rayon municipality. The Round Table was held within the frame of FNE RFE project the goal of which is to ensure broader business and industry participation in social and economic development of the Russian Far East by facilitating alliances and partnerships with local and regional governments and non-governmental organizations. Among almost 30 attendees were the representatives of executive and legislative authorities of Primorskiy kray, municipality Khorolskiy Rayon, the Primorskiy state agricultural academy, LLC “Green Leaves”, LLC “KhorolZerno”, LLC “Mirabel Tour”, NGO “Konny Matros” and others.
The Round Table participants discussed overall situation concerning the outflow of professionals from the Khorolskiy Rayon and other areas the Prikhankayskaya Valley, reviewed the perspectives for the essential social infrastructure development in the district, determined the most effective ways for preserving and developing human capacity of the local population. Along with the general problems of economic development of Khorolskiy Rayon the participants discussed the following: administrative barriers, limited access to micro-credit in the agricultural communities, the rapid growth of the deficit for qualified agricultural professionals. They emphasized the necessity to improve the skills and knowledge of the local population to put together the efforts of local business, local government, and citizens’ volunteer initiatives in order to solve immediate community needs in the municipality.

On June 3 more than 70 children and their parents celebrated the official opening of a Resource Centre to aid parents and specialists working with children with disabilities. Held on International Children’s Day, Liliya Yurova, the Head Doctor of the Polyclinic, and other city officials welcomed organizers and guests, emphasizing the importance of the center in improving life for children in Vladivostok. Following this, the Derevo Choreography Studio performed dancing and parents and children played games together. The children were delighted at the close of festivities when all in attendance received small gifts.
The resource centre was opened as the result of an international partnership between Russian and American colleagues. This year long partnership is helping Vladivostok parents and specialists learn new techniques on how parents of children with disabilities can improve their children’s health in their homes. The event was organized by Firefly Children’s Network, an international nonprofit organization with offices in Moscow and the US, and guided by pro bono specialists from the University of New Mexico School of Medicine. The majority of the funding was provided by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), which is working to support Russian work to improve services to children and families.

On June 1, 2006 Primorskiy Kray NGOs – “Far Eastern Center” , “Center of Prevention of Social Problems”, “Raduga”, “Doveriye”, “You are not alone” joined their efforts in the framework of “Path to Success” program and conducted the street action “Stop Trafficking in People”. It is very important that “Rostok” NGO, Partizansk ex-grantee of “Winrock International”, which has been continuing its activities on youth education and human trafficking prevention, took an active part in organizing and conducting the street action in their region. Thus, the action took place in Vladivostok, Artem, Ussuriysk and Partizansk cities. Volunteers who distributed leaflets on anti-trafficking were the invaluable asset for the action. More than that one of the main goals of the action was collecting signatures for the official request to Sergey Darkin, Governor of Primorskiy Kray, on creation of hotline and shelters for the victims of human trafficking, as well as complex program for the problem solution. In all more than 1000 citizens of Primorskiy Kray signed the document, thus showing their protest against human trafficking.

On June 1st, 220 children from Sakhalin orphanages and 400 students from local schools took part in a “Miracle Walk” event, which was organized by the program “Kidsave International” under the auspices of the Education Department of the Sakhalin Oblast Administration. The goal of the event was to attract the attention of the community and mass media to the problem of orphanhood. The Miracle Walk’s motto was “Because Every Child Needs a Family”.
The event was financed by the USAID and supported by partner/sponsor companies «Ernst & Young», «Sakhalin Energy Inc.», «Starstroy», and «Universal Sodexho», as well as other companies and individual entrepreneurs.
The Miracle Walk began at the square in front of Chekhov Center, and featured welcoming remarks from a representative of the Education Department of the Sakhalin Regional Administration, who passed along wishes of luck from Ivan Malahov, the Governor of Sakhalin Region. Then the orphans, accompanied by students from the theatrical college who provided colorful entertainment, moved to the City Park, where they had a chance to enjoy the rides.
The event was widely covered by the local mass media and attracted the attention of many citizens of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk to the problem of orphanhood.

On June 1st Anna Poplavko, Alumni Coordinator and Kristina Peseyeva, Cultural Assistant for University Outreach both from the US Embassy in Moscow attended a Round Table held at the American Corner in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk. The Round Table, organized by the RI RFE and the American Corner, Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk was attended by alumni of different USG funded programs. Amidst other discussion during the Round Table, the alumni told of their experiences in the US and how this has affected them professionally and personally back on Sakhalin. Anna and Kristina answered various questions posted by alumni and updated them on resources available for them at the US Embassy in Moscow.
Anna and Kristina have visited Sakhalin in the framework of their RFE trip. The main goals of the trip are:
- to meet with the coordinators of American Corners and IATP centers of the RFE;
- to meet with the alumni of USG sponsored programs
- to meet with University representatives
RI RFE team rendered logistical assistance to US Embassy representatives in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk and Khabarovsk.

During May 24, 2006, USAID’s FOREST II Project -- which focuses on forestry civil society issues, particularly illegal logging and certification -- carried out its Final Meeting in Khabarovsk Krai. During this meeting key project achievements were introduced including the development of a matrix which will better adapt a Manual for Leaseholders to the Forestry Code, creation of a Regional FLEG (Forestry Law Enforcement and Governance) Program looking at illegal logging issues, VLT (Verification of Legal Timber) standards which are now beginning to be put into effect for Khabarovsk Krai. A wider view is that FOREST II Project introduced the local community and population of Khabarovsk Krai in forestry issues which affect their region. All project recommendations and findings developed under the project have been placed with FOREST NGO partners including Ecodal and All Russia Nature Protection Society. Mr. Vladimir Kolymitsev, Head of the Regional Forestry Agency for Khabarovsk Krai, noted that “USAID’s FOREST Project provided us a path to the future, and as result we have made tangible steps toward successful implementation in Biomass Energy, countering Illegal Logging, Certification, Secondary Wood Processing, Pest Monitoring and Fire Prevention. This project will live long after its completion next week.” USAID’s FOREST Project concludes its work in the Russian Federation on May 31, 2006.

On May 20-21 in Vladivostok American Councils for International Education financed by the United States Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs conducted a two-day conference “JFDP Alumni Impact on Their Communitiies: Within and Outside the Walls of Academe”. The conference featured welcoming remarks from Dan Hastings, Consul for Culture and Education at the US Consualte in Vladivostok, and Olga Permyakova, specialist of higher education with the Administration of Primorskiy Krai. Among attendees were Boris Reznik, first prorector at Far Eastern National University who spoke about the future of higher education in Russia, and John Croom, instructor in the Russian American Faculty at FENU who presented the speech on the role that universities play in the larger community. The second day started off with a seminar on information technologies conducted by Alexei Falaleev, director of online programs at FENU. Both days were rounded out with presentations by the alumni themselves - telling about activities they have been involved with since returning from participation on the JFDP program - and complemented with roundtable discussions of the overall theme of the conference, the impact of JFDP alumni within their own universities and in the greater community. The conference was evaluated highly by participants. Everyone gained valuable information and new insights, and all appreciated the opportunity to network with their colleagues in the region.

Under the auspices of the US Consulate General in Vladivostok, the award-winning Terwilliger-Cooperstock Duo visited the Russian Far East May 14-24. Violinist William Terwilliger and pianist Andrew Cooperstock performed in Pushkin Theater and Maritime University in Vladivostok, Kray Philharmonic Hall in Khabarovsk, and in the Museum of Art in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk. All the concerts had overwhelming success and were widely covered by local mass media. Besides the concerts, the musicians conducted master classes at the Music College and at the Arts Academy in Vladivostok.
The RI team rendered assistance for the musicians during their stay in Sakhalin.

In Khabarovsk on May 18-19 the International Conference entitled, “Together Against Domestic Violence and Human Trafficking” was conducted by “Path to Success!” program, Winrock International in partnership with ABA/CEELI both financed by USAID. The goal of the event was to foster increased cooperation among administrative structures and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) in order to combat domestic violence and human trafficking in the Russian Far East. Among more than 60 attendees were Elizabeth Duban, USAID Moscow office, Mark Getchell, Director, Bureau of International Organization for Migration, representatives of Vladivostok and Khabarovsky Krais Administrations, Khabarovsky Kray UVD, NGOs of Khabarovsk, Vladivostok, Blagoveschensk, and Ussuriysk as well as the USG-sponsored program implementers and RI Coordinator.
Topics of the Conference were:
• Overview of the problems of domestic violence and human trafficking;
• Efforts of law enforcement officials, legal professionals, medical institutions, educational establishments, social services, mass media, and NGOs in combating domestic violence and human trafficking;
• Development of a referral system, which will provide the necessary support and assistance to the victims of domestic violence and human trafficking;
• Planning preventative measures against domestic violence and human trafficking as well as rehabilitation work with those who have suffered from the above mentioned problems.
The conference gathered together representatives of different sectors of the RFE communities and gave them the opportunity to share experience and ideas, and to work out the strategy of further cooperation in solving the problems of human trafficking and domestic violence in the RFE. The organizers are currently synthesizing proposals from each working group and are planning to draft a common resolution for the local governments’ consideration.

On May 18, 2006, in the Hall of the Academic Council of the Vladivostok State University of Economy and Service (VGUES) the seminar "Problems and Experience of Economic Support and Social-Cultural Adaptation of Migrants from the NIS Countries in the Russian Far East" took place. The seminar was organized by The Russian Far East Affiliate Office of the New Eurasia Foundation (FNE RFE), Peace Fund in North-East Asia and the Center of International Researches of VGUES, under the auspices of Primorsky Territory Government and Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Vladivostok.
Among almost 50 attendees were Mr. John Mark Pommersheim, US Consul General, Mr. Oh Sung-Hwan, Consul for Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Vladivostok, Ms. Irina Lindberg, Director of The Russian Far East Affiliate Office of the New Eurasia Foundation, Mr. Nikolay Morozov, Chairman of Committee on the Regional Policy and Legality of Legislative Assembly of Primorskiy Kray, Mr. Sergey Sevastianov, Director of the Center of International Researches of VGUES, Mr. Nikolay Kan, General Director of Peace Fund in North-East Asia, Mr. Yury Avdeev, Deputy Chief of Pacific Center of Strategy Development, Mr. Sergey Pushkarev, General Director of Regional Labor Exchange for Migrants, representatives of almost all national diasporas present in Primorye Region, Department of FMS Russia in Primorsky Region, Department of Federal Placement Services in Primorsky Region and representatives of the other organizations dealing with migration issues as well as experts and scientists from Moscow, Vladivostok, Khabarovsk and Blagoveschensk.
This seminar was the first significant event within the frame of FNE RFE project the goal of which is to develop and introduce effective management models in the sphere of internal and external labor migration in the border regions of the Russian Far East.
The main Project Objectives are:
 To conduct a baseline research in the target regions of the Project; to study experience accumulated in the Western territories of the RF in the sphere of labor migration; bringing in foreign experience;
 To develop a dialogue between public authorities, law enforcement agencies and supervisory bodies, research institutions, mass media and civic organizations in the target regions in order to find ways to solve problem situations;
 To elaborate and introduce regional models for solving problems of labor migrants, to protect their rights, improve adaptation to local communities and to increase tolerance local residences toward labor migrants;
 To build a network between Project participants, to summarize practices and experience accumulated in the regions; to present results to target groups of the project, to develop proposals on improvement of regional migration policy, and to develop recommendations for federal authorities.
During the seminar two Round tables - " Problems and experience of ethnic Koreans adaptation in the - immigrants from the NIS countries" and " Problems and experience of adaptation of Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Armenia and other NIS countries citizens in the Russian Far East" - were held. Plenary Session and Round Tables participants made presentations and conducted a chain of open discussions regarding migration issues which attracted big interest of media representatives.

A delegation consisting of four Washington State-based law enforcement personnel and youth affairs specialists directed by Curtis Cortelyou of FRAEC visited Sakhalin May 13-24 in the framework of “Washington – Sakhalin Law Enforcement Partnership” (WSLEP) training and exchange program sponsored by the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement (INL) at the U.S. Department of State. The program provides training and technical expertise to the Sakhalin Department of Internal Affairs (UVD). In addition, the program engages police, security firms, multi-national firms, and other partners in critical discussions about public safety in Sakhalin.
Eleven-day exchange program focusing on Juvenile Crime and Working with Youth-At-Risk comprises of Roundtable on the topic “Juvenile Crime and Working with Youth-At-Risk – Russian and American Experiences”, Site Visits to UVD juvenile affairs departments, local schools, youth detention centers, counseling centers, etc. The delegation also met with the five UVD juvenile affairs staff who will be participating in a return exchange visit to Seattle, WA in September 2006.
Since 2000, WSLEP has exchanged fifty law enforcement personnel and trained over 150 UVD personnel on Sakhalin. INL will continue to fund the program through 2006.

On May 13-14 “Khabarovsk Millennium Development Goals Conference” and “Russian Far East Alumni 5th Annual Parliamentary Debate Tournament”  were held in Khabarovsk. The events were organized by the American Councils, Vladivostok - with additional financial support provided by the US Embassy in Moscow. Also participating were Winrock International’s “Path to Success!” program, the Youth Parliament and Model United Nations Club of Khabarovsk, and officials from the Khabarovskiy Krai administration.
The main goals of the event were to
- Promote Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and involve alumni from non-hub cities in a significant activity;
- Have FLEX alumni cooperate with other local youth organizations and alumni of other US government sponsored exchange programs and build alumni networks in non-hub cities and encourage future alumni activity
- Give participants a chance to develop new skills in debating, oral presentation, leadership, and teambuilding
- Recruit new FLEX city representatives to conducting activities and develop the alumni community;
FLEX alumni from the cities of Ulan-Ude, Blagoveshensk, Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskiy and Vladivostok traveled to Khabarovsk to participate in the two day event. Participants learned what Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) are, as well as the role MDGs play or should play in their lives, and how they might promote the MDGs in their communities. All of the information was presented by FLEX alumni, representatives of Model United Nations Khabarovsk, and invited Open World alumni, who are professionals in public administration and whose work is related to MDGs that seek to improve economic development and protect the environment. FLEX alumni concluded their stay by participating in a parliamentary debate tournament, where a main focus was to test alumni on what they had learned the previous day and to develop a team spirit between competitors. The activity gave alumni new energy to initiate their own events and to continue communicating with the Vladivostok office of American Councils, MUN clubs in their cities, Winrock International in Khabarovsk, and other non- governmental organizations in order to cooperate and organize socially important activities.

On May 13 “Kidsave International” a program funded by USAID, conducted Graduation Party for the first foster mothers on Sakhalin to complete professional training. Over 30 participants attended the event, including Vice-governor Lubov Shubina, representatives of partner/sponsor companies Sakhalin Energy Inc., Universal Sodexo and Starstroy, representative of local Church and members of the mass media. RI Coordinator and Coordinator Assistant attended the party as well.
Owing to professional work of specialists from Kidsave International, several citizens of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk who have been specially trained by psychologist will adopt children from Troitsky orphanage for the summer.
Since the beginning of 2006, the Kidsave International program has been running social marketing campaign aimed at changing negative stereotypes about orphans.

On May 11, a historic, Russia-wide rally aimed at engaging the Russian public about the merits of Russia's growing cooperation with NATO was held.Visiting nine Russian cities over 16 days, "The NATO-Russia Council Rally 2006" was launched in Vladivostok at  Far Eastern National University and co-hosted by the U.S. Consulate General and Honorary Consul of Canada. Delegations from the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Russian Academy of Sciences, NATO, the United States and Canada participated in the rally, as did hundreds of students from various Vladivostok universities. Regional and local civilian and military officials also attended and supported the rally.