By Vestnik Kavkaza
Karachaevo-Cherkesskaya Pravda reports that the Minister of Construction, Housing and Utilities of the Russian Federation, Mikhail Men, has listed the republic among the successful regions of Russia in relocation of citizens from unfit housing facilities.
In 2014, 92 thousand people moved from unfit housing to new apartments. It is four times more than in 2013. Thus, the Minister stated that the target goal on displacement of the population from unfit housing was fulfilled by 113 percent. The Minister noted that Karachay-Cherkessia was among the most effective regions of the country, as well as Kamchatka Territory, and the Tambov and Tyumen Regions.
“We have as ambitious a task in 2015 as we had last year. We must resettle more than 177 thousand people from 2.76 million square meters of unfit housing,” the Minister said. According to the data of the Ministry of Construction, 7.5 thousand people have already moved to new apartments since the beginning of 2015.
The newspaper says the dynamic was encouraged by additional financing from the state budget – 34 billion rubles. Therefore, the regions had to invest not 62 percent of the sum into the program, but 47.9 percent.
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A major sporting and educational complex has been begun to be built in the Avan City District of Yerevan, the Armenian newspaper ‘New Time’ reports. “Gazprom is not only one of the leaders of the energy market, but also a socially responsible company. Today, due to the program ‘From Gazprom To Children’, we are beginning to build a multifunctional educational and sporting complex in Yerevan," Alexei Miller, the head of the Board of Gazprom, said at the event. According to him, the complex will be built using modern technologies; a kindergarten, a school with a swimming pool, a multifunctional gym for team sports, the ice rink, and halls for popular sports in Armenia.
“The project is very important. It will be unique for the country, concerning its multifunctional character,” the Director General of Gazprom Armenia, the affiliated company of Russian Gazprom, Vardan Arutyunyan said. Gazprom Armenia will invest $49.5 million in the project. The City Hall of Yerevan plans to build a park near the complex, according to Mayor of Yerevan Taron Margaryan.
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The South Ossetia Gazeta reports on a row in the official structures of the Republic, as the parliament of the country passed a vote of no-confidence against the Foreign Minister of the RSO, David Sanakoyev. The newspaper informs that on April 15th another session of the parliament should have taken place. It was planned to discuss the issue, but the session failed due to the lack of a quorum. MPs from three factions – Nakhys, the Unity of People, and the People’s Party – decided to boycott the session, expressing their protests against the parliament’s decision.
The first time the parliament passed a vote of no-confidence against the Minister was on March 13th. According to MPs, the Minister and the whole Ministry have worked ineffectively and fruitlessly. Moreover, he published one of the variations of the treaty on alliance and integration with Russia without securing the approval of the Political Council under the President. 19 MPs voted for the no-confidence motion and 34 MPs voted against it. All 19 MPs who supported the idea belonged to the United Ossetia Party, which had the majority in the parliament. Three other parties didn’t support such a decision by their colleagues.
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“Azerbaijan is a part of the Muslim world, at the same time it is a secular and multi-religious country.
The preservation of ethnic and cultural variety for centuries is our historic achievement, which determines spiritual and national solidarity and socio-political stability in Azerbaijani society,” Azerbaijani News cites the head of the Directorate of the Muslims of the Caucasus, Sheikh ul-islam Haji Allahshukyur Pashazade at the international conference in Baku ‘Islamic Education and Modern Times.’ He noted that today Azerbaijan is a country which promotes the scientific and educational importance of the Islamic religion.
The spiritual leader has said that in the modern world, where globalization and integration are taking place, there are controversial processes and ethnic, cultural, spiritual and political conflicts.
Pashazade is dissatisfied that such cases as ethnic and political conflicts, terrorism, separatism and religious radicalism, which are a threat to civilization in general, are the bitter truth of our modern times. There is a great need for inter-cultural dialogue and joint work of scientists and religious activists in the current situation.
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Kabardino-Balkarskaya Pravda reports that the seventh International Festival and Extreme Winter Sports Red Fox Elbrus Race-2015 will take place near Mt. Elbrus from April 30th to May 7th. It will be devoted to the 70th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War. The festival is organized by the Red Fox Company, the government of Kabardino-Balkaria, the Federation of Mountain Climbing of Russia and Kabardino-Balkaria, the EMERCOM of Russia, and the administration of the Elbrus Region.
Athletes from Russia, Poland, Germany, Spain, Japan, Mongolia and Belarus will participate in the festival. It is expected that leaders of world skyrunning will come. Large-scale climbing on Elbrus will take place within the framework of the festival. A replica of the Victory Banner and flags of participating countries will be fixed on the highest top of Europe.
Traditionally, Ski-Alpinism competitions will be held at the festival of the Red Fox Elbrus Race-2015. Soldiers of mountain units, instructors in mountain training of the Defense Ministry of Russia, the Center of Special Operations of the FSB of Russia and other structures will participate in it. It will also be the start of the Russian Ski-Alpinism Championship.
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North Ossetia Gazeta reports on two exhibitions by Ossetian artists organized by the Union of Artists of North Ossetia-Alania. The first one is called ‘Ossetian Colors.’ It is taking place in Grozny, in the halls of the Ahmat Kadyrov Memorial Complex. 96 artists, sculptors and designers are participating in the exhibition – both well-known masters and young talents.
More than 200 masterpieces were selected for the exhibition. Its goal is to present the development of art in North Ossetia to neighbors from the Chechen Republic in detail, according to the chairman of the North Ossetian Union of Artists, an Honored Artist of Russia, Taymuraz Margiyev. First of all, it is a project of friendship. According to Margiyev, the exhibition is being held within the framework of a long-term project which is aimed at reviving and improving working ties between unions of artists of the North Caucasus.
Another exhibition is titled ‘A Reflection of Europe. An Exhibition by Ossetian Artists.’ It is organized in the halls of the Union of Artists in Moscow. The newspaper reports that it is the history of unique and original works by outstanding Ossetian masters travelling to ‘pearls’ of the European world. The exhibition is being held till April 22nd on Pokrovskaya Street. Similar exhibitions will take place in Tskhinvali on August 26th and in Vladikavkaz in early December.
