In Russia may soon become one region less. This happens in the case of enterprises of the Arkhangelsk region and Nenets Autonomous district. If this initiative will support the referendum of the population, then Russia will have a huge area and length and the region with enormous economic potential, which will automatically become the principal military Outpost in the Arctic.
Wednesday in Naryan-Mar the acting Governor of the Arkhangelsk region Alexander Cybulski and acting head of the Nenets Autonomous Okrug (NAO) Yuri Bezdomny signed a Memorandum on intention to establish a new single subject of the Federation. One of the key tasks, according to the Memorandum, “creating a powerful Outpost of the Russian Federation in the Arctic, capable of solving strategic tasks on creation of the center for economic development of the Arctic and the Northern territories of the country.”
Other purposes of the establishment titled “accelerating socio-economic development of the Arkhangelsk region and Nenets Autonomous district, as well as raising the standard of living of the population in both regions.” The Memorandum, in particular, establishes that residents of the NAO the current benefits and economic guarantees (the famous “Northern allowances and other privileges).
As is known, rich in oil and gas NAO until recently was known as a donor region, but the decline in prices for “black gold”, as recognized at the ceremony Bezdomny, inflicted on the budget of the Autonomous powerful blow. Now almost half of income falls, since the budget was calculated from the oil price of 57 dollars per barrel, said the acting Governor. But the current price is two times lower. The authorities are obliged to pay numerous grants, allowances, but by July 1, the regional authorities, recognized Bezdomny, money for these purposes will end.
“In these circumstances we need to find a way out, we actually stand at the edge of a precipice”, explained Bezdomny the reasons why he decided to merge with a neighboring region.
“unfortunately, if we take two of our subject, each of them, in his own being and the Arctic, and promising, however, will always be alone to lose the global “war” or competition for those resources today will be allocated,” – said in turn, Cybulski.
By combining the efforts, according to him, the regions will be able to get new opportunities for development, to attract large investments – both public and private.
To coordinate the preparation of merger will now Commission, co-chairs of which will be Tsibulsky and Bezdomny, told TASS. She will collect public suggestions about the merge, and a final decision will be taken by residents of the two regions in a referendum.
Regional referendums may be held in a Single voting day 13 outputber, did not rule out the Secretary of the CEC, Maya Grishina.
“the Main idea and logic of the Association is to unite neustonology, but quite rich Nenets Autonomous Okrug, far more numerous, but less budget is provided in Arkhangelsk region”, – said the newspaper LOOK President of communication holding “Minchenko consulting” Evgenie Minchenko.
According to him, the Association will remove unnecessary bureaucracy and align budget provision per capita.
“the efforts of rich and poor regions is a more interesting situation for the Federal government,” adds the Director of the Center for regional policy, Institute of applied economic research, Ranepa Vladimir Klimanov.
In his opinion, after the merger we can talk about the emergence of a strong player, a new mega-region with vast Arctic area.
“For the informal status of the capital of the Russian North are fighting multiple cities, including Salekhard and Murmansk. In this regard, the Arkhangelsk can enhance its role as a center for the promotion of Russian interests in the Arctic zone. This can be facilitated, in particular, increase the capacity of the Arkhangelsk sea port as a logistics centre. The formation of a larger management system for the Northern sea route will create an additional impetus to enhance the prestige of Arkhangelsk”, – predicts Klimanov in an interview with the newspaper LOOK.
Director of the Institute of Vnesheconombank Yulia Zvorykina, too, believes that Association of regions will bring the period of implementation of Federal projects in the region – for example, the “Belkomur” (the construction of the railway Arkhangelsk – Syktyvkar – Solikamsk). In addition, the joint efforts of the two regions to develop inland waterway transport on the Northern rivers in the Arctic zone.
the As it enlarges the Russian province
The forthcoming merger of the two regions discussed for a long time. So, in early April, it is definitely its predicted state Duma Deputy from the Arkhangelsk region, Andrey Palkin. He suggested that the Chairman of the joint region will become Cybulski, who in those days had just replaced the post of head of NAO to the position of acting Governor of the Arkhangelsk region.
The need of the many Russian regions for the sake of economic expediency, experts said for a long time. However, prior to the amalgamation until the case reached only in the case of regions, built on the principle of dolls: the County is both an independent subject of the Federation, and part of the neighboring region.
The forthcoming Union will be Russia’s first since 2008. After that, Russia will remain the only two regions that are part of other – Yugra and Yamal in T��MENA region. Representing in the state Duma of Tyumen oblast Deputy Pavel Dorokhin (CPRF) suggested that KHMAO and YANAO will be combined next year into some “Big Tyumen oblast”.
Political analyst Alexei Martynov explains the merger of the Arkhangelsk region and Nenets the need of synergies, pooling resources and capabilities with the goal of “fundamentally multiples to increase the dynamics of socio-economic development of the new region.”
Martynov added that the intrigue remains only the name of the new region. This question also makes sense to make the upcoming referendum. For residents of the participating regions it is important.
“the Union in a big region actively supported small Nations that are heavily represented in the NAO. The Nenets see in this Union for itself, economic empowerment and cultural ties, preserve the traditional way of life”, – the expert said in a conversation with the newspaper LOOK.
In turn, economist Klimanov sure that after the unification of the region in any case will be the focus of attention of the Federal center and major business-structures, “as this promising region of oil and gas.” We are talking about production, not only offshore, but also on the continuation of oil exploration, for example, in the basin of the Mezen river.
The expert believes that the merger will allow not only to rebuild the economy in crisis conditions, but also to access new production areas, including reducing the dependence of the NAO from “oil needle”. In the region in addition to field development can, according to him, is now actively develop lastovica.
“the Arctic area in General and Northern sea route in particular be one of the priorities of the government. Important here is not so much economic and social issues, as geopolitical” – said the expert.
