ASIA-PACIFIC SECURITY TO BE DISCUSSED IN VLADIVOSTOK

An international seminar under the title "Challenges of XXI Century and Security Issues in Asia Pacific: Outlook from Russia and USA" scheduled for 5 May in Vladivostok will be attended by leading Russian and U.S. experts in strategic security.

The American side will be represented by a delegation of the Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies led by its president Lt. Gen. H. C. Stackpole, USMC (Ret.), former commander of the U.S. Pacific Command's marine forces. The Russian delegation will include Far East National University rector Vladimir Kurilov, Primorsky Krai vice governor Viktor Gorchakov, Russian Institute of Strategic Studies director Evgeny Kozhokin, MGIMO professor Vladimir Petrovsky, Rear Adm. (Ret.) Vladimir Karev and other military and civilian experts.

Russian and American specialists will exchange their opinions in security issues, regional cooperation in the Asia Pacific, possibilities for a partnership relationship between Russia and USA in this region. Special focus will be placed on such topics as the region's military security, North Korean nuclear problem, China's role in the Asia Pacific, international investment projects in the Russian Far East. - Yevgeny ITAROV.

LOCAL BREWERY MAY BECOME TURKISH

Representatives of the Turkish holding Efes visited OAO PivoIndustria Primorya brewery, member of CEBCO holding, one of these days. As became known to ZR, one their purpose was to explore the possibility of buying the company.

"ZR" FILE: In Russia, the Turkish holding Anadolu Efes owns Pivovarnya Moscow-Efes, Amstar brewery (Ufa), brewery in Rostov, brews Efes, Staryi Melnik and Sokol beer, bottles Warsteiner beer.

The Turks have been looking for new assets east of Urals for a long while. Earlier, they visited Novosibirsk and inspected Sobol Beer and Sobol Juice companies, members of VINAP group.

Efes and CEBCO deny negotiations about selling PivoIndustria Primorya. Efes Beverage Group president Mukhtar Kent declared earlier that the company did not consider buying a beverage plant in Russia. If the Turks do not buy PivoIndustria Primorya, the focus of negotiations could be bottling of Efes beer varieties at this brewery.

However, analysts believe that change of ownership is more preferable for PivoIndustria Primorya. The brewery is losing its standing in the local market and CEBCO, who has not eventually grown to a strong player in the national market, seems to be too far from its most remote subsidiary. "Advent of Efes would bring a whiff of fresh air," an anonymous source in one of brewing companies said to "ZR."

"ZR" FILE: OAO Central European Brewing Company (CEBCO) was set up in 2001. Almost 100% in it belongs to shareholders of Wimm-Bill-Dann - Food Products. There are four breweries in CEBCO's possession: Moskvoretsky (Moscow), Shikhan (Sterlitamak), Volga (Nizhny Novgorod) and PivoIndustria Primorya (Vladivostok).

CEBCO executive director Mikhail Kozlov, who was giving much attention to PivoIndustria, was replaced by Tatiana Koscheyeva in last year. Management of all regional breweries was also replaced. Thus, PivoIndustria's executive director became Sergei Vinokurov, whose previous position was executive director at Zvenigorodsky meat packing factory. CEBCO' strategy changed after change of management, with emphasis placed on promoting regional brands.

In Primorsky Krai, such a brand was "Studenoye," however, no special effects have been achieved. As a consequence, anti-crisis manager Vinokurov was replaced by Galina Klubnikina, whose candidature was supported only by three out of five attending directors, as became known to "ZR." - Oleg KLIMENKO.

TRAFFIC VOLUME GROWING THROUGH BORDER CROSSING GRODEKOVO-SUIFENHE

It is expected that traffic volume through this border crossing will be growing from June.

In particular, says Yui Kungfeng, head of the Mudanjian branch of Harbin Railways, this croosing will handle 200,000 tons of transit coal, 150,000 tons of coke and 10,000 tons of rice.

As spokesman for the Vladivostok branch of Far Eastern Railways informs, the working meeting between Harbin Railways and FER held in Suifenhe closed by signing a protocol on interfacing. The parties discussed schedules for freight and passenger trains, compliance with wagon and locomotive turnover rates on the rail section between Grodekovo and Suifenhe.

Grodekovo-Suifenhe crossing handled over 1.5 million tons of foreign trade cargoes in the first quarter of this year (+10% on Q1 a year ago). Volume of cargoes carried from China to Russia grew by more than 50%.

By words of Valery Tarabarov, head of the Vladivostok branch of Far Eastern Railways, it is expected that more oil products will be transported from Russia to China. Chinese representatives said that Suifenhe station will be upgraded in May - August and its daily throughput of oil products will reach 32 rail tanks (45 tons each). - Yury ROGOV.

FIRST CANDIDATES IN VLADIVOSTOK MAYORAL RUN

By data of the city electoral commission, the first candidate to announce his intention to run for mayor's chair became Yury Korsakov, ACSO director general. He was running for a seat in the State Duma in 2003.

Following Korsakov, notification to the electoral commission came from Alexander Yurtayev. - Yevgeny ITAROV.

SEVEN OR FOUR?

Primorsky Krai's results in social and economic development in 2003 continue to raise many questions. "ZR" was the first to question the possibility of 7-% growth of the gross regional product (GRP) in last year. Specialists from the Russian Federation State Statistics Committee share these doubts.

It takes quite a lot of time to calculate GRP exactly. As of to date, the State Statistics Committee has approved data for 2002. In that year, growth on 2001 was 104.6% in comparable prices.

GRP grew due to increase in gross added value in the industrial sector (+2%), agriculture (+7.8%), construction (+10.6%), transport (+4.2%), trade and services (+14.7%). Economic growth in 2002 was also supported by a rise in investments at 19.6%, the bulk of which came to industry, agriculture, transport (railways), communication, trade and services.

Data on GRP growth in 2003 are not so obvious. It is clear that physical growth in industry (106.1%), agriculture (118%), trade and services (107%) will result in GRP growth.

On the other hand, slowdown of investment activities (by some data, it was 97.1% in 2003), reduction of the physical volume index in the transport sector as a whole (92.4%) and of traffic volume in the maritime transport industry in particular (by 33%) will negatively affect GRP growth.

Given growth rate of these two economic mainstays of Primorsky Krai, possible rate of GRP growth in 2003 can be 104%, which is by far insufficient to double the region's GRP during 10 years. - Valentina TARASOVA.