Naryshkin, Bagapsh confirm Russian business' interest to Abkhazia.

SUKHUM, October 17 (Itar-Tass) -- Head of Russia's presidential
administration Sergei Naryshkin met with Abkhazia's President Sergei
Bagapsh on Saturday, where they confirmed the interest of Russia's
business to the republic.
"You presence has given a new impetus to the forum we had," Bagapsh
said. "The forum has proven the interest and willingness of Russia's
businesses and entrepreneurs to come to Abkhazia and to work here."
"It is necessary to solve the issues we have discussed here, and we
shall do so jointly," he added.
Naryshkin said the forum was very useful.
"Cooperation between Abkhazia and Russia's regions" is the main topic
of the event. The interest, Russia's businesses show in Abkhazia, is
"objective and logical."
Russia "realises it is responsible for giving a hand to its good
neighbour over difficult times, on the way of development," Naryshkin
said. "I am absolutely convinced that jointly we shall be able to make it
so that Abkhazia develops and becomes a modern booming country."


.First homeless victims of fires in Moscow Region get new housing.

MOSCOW, October 17 (Itar-Tass) -- First houses, which were built for
those who had lost homes in the forest and peat fires in the Moscow
Region, were given to new owners. Deputy Prime Minister of the Moscow
Region Vladimir Zhidkin handed in keys to new houses in the Kolomna Region.
The houses were built with modern materials. Each house has a well and
gas is supplied for every family.
In the Moscow Region 399 residents suffered in the wildfires, and 385
of them lost their houses. Before the month ends, 172 new houses will be
built in the region. The biggest part, 152 houses, will be built in the
Beloomut settlement. Residents of the Mokhovoye village, which burned down
completely in the wildfires, will move there.


.Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky celebrates 270th birthday.

PETROPAVLOVSK-KAMCHATSKY, October 17 (Itar-Tass) --
Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky celebrates its 270th birthday on Sunday. The
ceremony began with laying wreaths to the monument of Vitus Bering.
Petropavlovsk was founded by Danish navigator Vitus Bering, in the
service of the Russian Navy. Bering reached Avacha Bay on July 10, 1740
and laid the foundation stone for the harbor town, naming the new
settlement "Petropavlovsk" (Peter + Paul) after his two ships, the St.
Peter and the St. Paul, built in Okhotsk for his second expedition. The
town's location on the sheltered Avacha Bay and at the mouth of the Avacha
River saw it develop to become the most important settlement in Kamchatka.
It was granted town status on April 9, 1812.
The city is situated on high hills and surrounded by volcanoes. In
fact, the horizon cannot be seen clearly from any point in town as
volcanoes and mountains are everywhere. The city is located 6766
kilometres from Moscow, about 9 hours by plane.
Presently, the city is the administrative centre of the Kamchatka
Territory. The population is 194,900.

-0-kar