The Nordic Council delegation leader Ms. Sinnika Bohlin noted that contacts between the representatives of the legislative power of Russia and the Nordic countries should continue and strengthen despite all current political problems and obstacles. -We are interested in cooperation in all directions, and especially within environment issues, energy and resources saving, transport development, health sector, education, tourism, she said. Governor Ilya Mikhalchuk, on his side, said that he has just arrived from the National Security Council meeting where the President Dmitry Medvedev had specially noted that international contacts on all levels should continue despite tensions between Russia and other countries in Europe and the USA. -We have so much in common, - the governor said, - and we have a lot to learn from each other. The economy should be in the basis of our cooperation but we also need contacts in all sectors of public life. Ms Sinikka Bohlin said that the Nordic Council is disposed to long-term contacts with the North-West Parliamentarian Association of Russia. The next year its delegation is going to visit Leningrad oblast and Kaliningrad. The Nordic Council delegation includes two parliamentarians from Sweden, four – from Norway, two – from Iceland, one - from Denmark and one from Finland. The ten-member delegation in Arkhangelsk had meetings with colleagues from the Arkhangelsk regional parliament and representatives of the regional administration. The visit is a part of a program of cooperation between the Nordic Council and the Northwest Russian Parliamentarian Association. Arkhangelsk is the first point of the trip. Today, the delegation is in Murmansk. BarentsObserver Arkhangelsk
