No. 171 July 10, 1998

Angry defense workers protest By Mike Eckel More than 1,000 incensed workers from regional defense industries gathered on the city's Central Square July 8, demanding payment of back wages and the government's resignation, and threatening violence should their calls go unheeded. Yanks mark the holidays in Vlad By Mike Eckel It was an invasion. Of sorts. Nearly 1,000 sailors and naval officers from the flagship of the U.S. Seventh Fleet descended on Vladivostok July 2-5 to pay an official goodwill visit to the home port of the Russian Pacific Fleet, and to celebrate Independence day and the city's 138th birthday.

Elections still in question By Janina de Guzman Two weeks ago, City Duma elections scheduled for July 12 seemed a sure thing, while the date for mayoral elections was anyone's guess. In a turn of events, city residents now have a definitive date for mayoral elections, but the City Duma election date is up in the air. Krai Duma passes 1998 budget By Janina de Guzman The Primorsky Krai Duma unanimously passed a 3.9 billion rubles ($630 million) budget for 1998 on June 29. It was the first day of a lively three-day session in which the duma's 39 members debated a number of issues, the most controversial being how to fund municipalities to deal with growing social welfare responsibilities and the legality of simultaneously serving in an executive and legislative position. Australian ambassador in Primorye By Mike Eckel On his third visit to the Russian Far East, Australian ambassador to Russia Geoffrey Bentley complemented local leaders for their "realistic approach to business development and competition" but lamented the fact that not much had changed since visiting in 1995. Primorye, Belarus strengthen ties From The Vladivostok Trading Primorye fish for Belarussian trucks and machinery is the focus of a long-term economic, cultural and informational agreement of cooperation signed in Minsk last month by Primorye Gov. Yevgeny Nazdratenko and Belarus Minister for Foreign Economic Relations Mikhail Marenich. U.S. Consul General bids farewell By Janina de Guzman Defining her term as a time of growth for the U.S. Consulate, a period of political stability for Russia and an era of nascent U.S.-Russia ties in technical and trade spheres, outgoing U.S. Consul General Jane Miller Floyd bid farewell July 1. Female sambo wrestlers do battle By Janina de Guzman The training room is dim and sweaty in the afternoon light. A giant orange mat stretches across the floor, work-out machinery is draped with shorts and T-shirts. Your average Russian martial arts club? Briefs and Crime Watch: Dalnergo power cuts put Primorye in dark…Russia, Japan top brass polish up naval plans…North Koreans nabbed in closed zone…and other news [Back to the top]  [Back to Front page]  [Write to us] © copyright 1998 the Vladivostok News. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed in any form.