13 MAYORAL CANDIDATES SUBMITTED REGISTRATION DOCUMENTS TO ELECTORAL BOARD

Only 13 out of 22 nominees for Vladivostok mayor have submitted documents for registration as candidates.

All of potential leaders are on the list, with first registered candidates being State Duma member Viktor I. Cherepkov and his namesake Viktor G. Cherepkov.

Serving mayor Yury Kopylov's two "clones" eventually failed to be registered by the electoral commission as did Arthur Nikolayev, a namesake of Vladimir Nikolayev, one of the leaders in the mayoral race. The latter's pre-election standing became much better, and it is expected that he will pass to the second tour.

In the aftermath of city electoral commission chairperson Irina Balakhnina's dismissal, mayor Yury Kopylov declared at a news conference that he sent a complaint to the Russian President and the Central Electoral Commission about unlawful actions taken by electoral commission vice chairman Anatoly Voloshko. By Kopylov's words, Irina Balakhnina informed him three days before her dismissal that she was under pressure to resign from her position.

Primorsky Krai electoral commission will recommend Tatiana Shklyarova as a new chairperson of the city electoral commission. If her candidature is voted down by commission members, the regional electoral commission will have to propose a new candidate. - Yevgeny ITAROV.

KHABAROVSK WILL HOST CHINESE-RUSSIAN INVESTMENT FORUM

Chairman of the Permanent Committee of the All-China Congress of People's Representatives U Bango came on a visit to Khabarovsk.

NOTE. There is a framework for regular meetings ofthe governors of Khabarovsky Krai and Chinese province of Heilongjiang. Bilateral trade turnover grow from year to year. The total trade turnover between Russia and China was $15 billion in 2003, of which Khabarovsky Krai accounted for $1 billion (more than 57% of its total foreign trade turnover).

China's State Committee on Development and Reform will organize jointly with the Russian side a Chinese-Russian investment forum on 9-10 June that is expected to be attended by over 100 Chinese governmental officials, academic representatives and entrepreneurs. This will be China's largest action in recent years to promote investments in Russia and the Far East.

By words of Khabarovsky Krai governor Viktor Ishayev, this is his second meeting with U Bango. They met first time in Beijing two years ago. "At that time U Bango was deputy premier of the State Council and in charge of industry, defense and resources - exactly the sectors of much importance for developing bilateral relationships," he said.

Discussions focused on a whole number of serious issues: completion of Russian-Chinese border demarcation in the territory of Khabarovsky Krai, dredging in Kazakevichevo Channel, construction of gas and oil pipelines, immigration. In Viktor Ishayev's opinion, cooperation is possible in many branches such as geologic survey, gold production, woodworking and others.

"It is symbolical that a Chinese leader of such a high rank starts his large international tour in Khabarovsk. This visit creates a basis for confidential relations between China and Khabarovsky Krai. WE will hope for a positive result," noted the governor. - Yulia PROKHOROVA.

DIRECTORATE WILL BE SET UP TO CONSTRUCT BERKAKIT - TOMMOT - YAKUTSK RAILROAD

A meeting was held at Yakutia's representation in Moscow to work out solutions on implementation of Governmental Decree No. 242 of 15 May 2004 "On Urgent Actions to Construct Railway Line Berkakit-Tommot-Yakutsk."

As spokesman for Yakutian Railways informed, the draft action plan discussed is aimed at completing this project of vital importance both for the regional economy and Russia as a whole. For project implementation, it was decided to establish a federal state unitary enterprise "Directorate for Construction of Tommot-Yakutsk Section of Berkakit-Tommot-Yakutsk Railroad" that will report to the Railways Agency of the Transport & Communication Ministry and have a branch in Yakutsk. - Yury ROGOV.

AMUR OBLAST ESTIMATED LOSSES FROM FOOT AND MOUTH OUTBREAK

The updated total figure of losses caused by foot and mouth disease in Amur Oblast is 33,112,000 rubles.

To contain the outbreak, authorities had to slaughter the entire affected herd of breeding cattle - almost 1,000 head.

The regional administration petitioned the federal government for financial assistance to recover at least part of foot-and-mouth response costs. - Yevgeny ITAROV.

FAR EASTERN TRAINS WILL HAVE BUSINESS CLASS CARS

Far Eastern Railways will put into operation 21 new business class cars for long-distance trains in this summer.

As Anatoly Senchenko, head of Vladivostok Passenger Services Directorate, informs, 10 such cars already operate on routes Vladivostok - Sovetskaya Gavan, Vladivostok - Blagoveshchensk and Vladivostok - Khabarovsk ("Okean" train).

Every compartment in these cars is equipped with an air conditioner and TV set. Passengers are provided with high-quality bed linen, printed media and security services. - Yevgeny ITAROV.