Russo-French higher cheesery school to open in Barnaul.

BARNAUL, September 7 (Itar-Tass) - A Russo-French cheesemaking school
is to open in Barnaul, the capital of the Altai Territory (AT). Talks on
the subject are to be held by an official delegation of the French
province of Franche-Comte, who arrive here on Tuesday, an AT
adminsitration official has told Itar-Tass. The official specified that
the sides had already prepared all the necessary documentation and are
prepared to sign and affirm the basic documents.
The French province, situated in the eastern part of France, not far
from the Jura Mountains, is a long-standing partner of the AT in the field
of cheesemaking. French cheesemaking masters are invariable participants
in the traditional Cheese Festivals in Barnaul. The Siberian cheesemaking
research institute of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Agriculture
Academy will be the scientific ground for the prospective school.
Within the scope of the visit, the delegation is to discuss the
construction of a livestock-breeding complex in theTerritory for the
raising of dairy cows of elite Montbeillard breed: the famous cheese
Comte is made in France precisely from the milk of those cows. Negotiators
are also to touch upon matters concerning the opening of a French
restaurant and a baker's shop in Barnaul.
In line with tradition, the French delegation will participate in the
September 10-11 Cheese Festival.
The Altai Territory and Franche-Comte have been maintaining
cooperation since 2007 under an agreement on trade, economic, scientific,
technical and cultural cooperation. The two regions organise advanced
training of foreign specialists at their cheeseries. The planting of the
vine of French varieties of grapes in the foothills of the Altai Mountains
became one of the brightest aspects of this cooperation. In prospect, the
AT plans to develop its own winemaking by using precisely those vines.