Alaska State Legislature
News from the House and Senate Majorities

Jerry Ritter, House Majority Press Secretary
716 W 4th Avenue, Suite 630
Anchorage, AK 99501-2133
(907) 258-8164
web site: http://www.akrepublicans.org
Actuality line: 1-800-478-6540

Russian Far East Missions Successful
Forging Trans-Bering Bonds of Cooperation

For Immediate Release: October 10, 1998 Contact: Ronda Thompson (907) 258-8187

Anchorage -- Alaska Legislators and business leaders returned from concurrent missions to the Russian states of Sakhalin and Khabarovsk, reporting huge strides in the developing relationships between both the public and private sectors in Alaska and the Russian Far East.

"The financial crisis in Russia is very real, but the benefits of the ever-strengthening Russia-Alaska relationship are also very real," said Representative Brian Porter (R-Anchorage). "It is our job as legislators to expedite that relationship and to help them iron out the problems of transitioning to a private sector economy and developing a legal system that is compatible with a private sector economy," Porter said.

"We were in the Russian Far East about a year ago, and it was both exciting and gratifying to see that our friends there have lost none of their enthusiasm for relationships with Alaska," said Rep. John Cowdery (R-Anchorage). "There are opportunities for a classic 'win-win' situation in the Russian Far East if both parties will keep trying to make them happen," Cowdery said.

Representatives Porter and Cowdery met with leaders from both the public and private sectors to examine and explain how Alaska's constitution and legal system work with the private sector to encourage trade and business opportunities.

"It is our sincere intention to continue long term cooperation with the Alaska Legislature, which, I am sure, will lead to increased economic and cultural interaction of our states and will be for the benefit of our citizens," said Victor A. Ozerov, Chairman of the Khabarovsk Duma.

The twin Alaska missions were follow-ups to a Diplomatic Mission led by Senate President Mike Miller (R-Fairbanks) and House Speaker Gail Phillips (R-Homer) in October 1997. Representatives from the Russian Far East will get a hands-on look at democracy-in-action next month, when representatives travel to Alaska to observe the workings and procedures of the November 3rd General Election.

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Broadcast Note: Radio actualities are available by calling (800) 478-6540.
= Brian Porter, 62 K = Alex Ponomarev, of the Sakhalin Alaska Consulting Group, 55 K