Iran's tourist operators learn about projects in Russia.

TEHRAN, October 23 (Itar-Tass) -- Russia's Embassy in Tehran organised
on Saturday a presentation of tourist routes. Among the participants there
were over 50 tourist companies from Iran, the Foreign Ministry's officials
and representatives of air companies operating direct flights between Iran
and Russia.
Deputy Head of Russia's Federal agency on tourism Alexander Radkov
highlighted the huge potential of tourist exchange between Russia and Iran.
"During first six months of the current year, over 3,000 tourists from
Iran visited Russia, which is by ten percent more than it was in the
previous year," he said. "The number of Russians who travelled to Iran
grew by 14 percent, though the share of tourists there made only 2,000."
He spoke about most popular kinds of tourism between Russia and Iran -
business tourism, cultural and sightseeing, as well as cruises in the
Caspian Sea.
Radkov invited Iran's tourist experts to take part in a regular
Intourmarket exhibition in March.
"We shall support Iran's presentation at this exhibition," he said
adding that Russia is most interested in the development of tourist
contacts with Iran.
Russia's Ambassador to Iran Alexander Sadovnikov spoke about the
importance to develop tourist exchange programmes between Russian and
Iranian regions, including those between Iran's northern parts and Russia'
s Astrakhan Region and Volga regions.
"Unfortunately, nowadays the number of tourists is not high," he said
adding that a certain lack of information was the main reason for the low
figures.
Over the presentation, the delegation from Russia demonstrated several
tourist routs and highlighted the importance of counteraction between
state and private structures to develop tourism in both countries.
Russia's Intourist Company presented a route Tehran-Moscow-Kazan,
where tourists will have a nil tariff for the Moscow-Kazan part of the
route. The company is convinced the route will be very popular.
The present event was organised by Russia's embassy for the second
time. The first presentation took place in February of the current year.


.United Nations Organisation celebrates 65th anniversary.

MOSCOW, October 24 (Itar-Tass) -- The United Nations Organisation,
celebrating its 65th anniversary on Sunday, has proven its effectiveness
and has made a major contribution to the achievement of peace, security
and well-being in various regions, Russia's Foreign Ministry said.
"On October 24, the United Nations Organisation will mark its 65th
anniversary," the ministry's spokesman Andrei Nesterenko said on Saturday.
"Over these years the organisation has proven its abilities and
effectiveness in solving of a wide range of global issues."
"There is no doubt that the UN enjoys trust from different countries,"
he said. "The organisation has made a major contribution to the
achievement of peace, security and well-being in various regions."
"The results of its complicated activities, based on the polycentric
perception of international relations, have proven the organisation does
not have an alternative and that it has a unique mandate and legitimacy in
the modern world."
"Its high role in the international arena is explained by its
involvement in settlement of the whole range of issues on the
international agenda," Nesterenko said. "The joint efforts of the member
countries work out settlement of the issues connected with the support of
international and regional peace, security, disarmament,
non-proliferation, fighting with terrorism, overcoming financial and
economic crisis and climate change."
"The UN has a unique ability to combine wide political approach and
detailed activities in providing humanitarian aid, support of
international development, post-conflict stabilisation, and the ability to
involve not only own resources, but the resources of its specialised
organisations, international financial organisations of the donor
countries in the interaction with regional and sub-regional structures,"
he said. "It is necessary to build up this potential and to support the
UN."
The UN is working tensely so that people in all parts of the globe
could see the results of its work, the UN Deputy Secretary General Yuri
Fedotov said.
"During the 65 years, the evolution of the organisation has had
different stages," he said. "Presently, the organisation's activities are
directed by its Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's concept - stronger UN will
serve stronger world."
"It is worth mentioning not only the major political declarations and
resolutions, but the detailed policies of the organisation to let everyone
feel the results of the UN's activities in everyday life," he said. "This
work brings concrete feedback."

-0-kar