Digest from June 5, 1996


                          Table of Contents

WHAT'S NEW . . .

#00-05 June 96  New #4 and #5 issues of Election Coverage from 
		Russian-American Information Center.

#01-05 June 96	Foreign Friend Interpreters

#02-05 June 96  ECOSTAN News

RECENT EMAIL . . .

01-05 June 96  Sender:  guille@solovey.satlink.net
               Subject: Seeking for old relatives

02-05 June 96  Sender:  Kathleen Buchanan (kathleen.buchanan@maill.rowan.k12.nc.us)
               Subject: comment about friends/lang/

03-05 June 96  Sender:  "Hans Shrader" (hshrader@usaid.gov)
               Subject:  

04-05 June 96  Sender:  "Nina H.Vlanin" (froggy@sirius.com)
               Subject: Russian dog lovers?

05-05 June 96  Sender:  sjksce@dante.lbl.gov (Steven Konopacki)
               Subject: Pen Pals

06-05 June 96  Sender:  "Walter W. Perlick" (PERLICKW@sbaserver.sba.csus.edu)
               Subject: Travel to St. Petersburg

07-05 June 96  Sender:  mac@MAINE.maine.edu (Dennis McConnell - Maine Business School)
               Subject: New Information-Exec. Director, Siberian Civics Initiative

08-05 June 96  Sender:  bb95 (Betty_P_BROWN@UMAIL.UMD.EDU)
               Subject: PUBLICATION - Post Soviet Handbook

09-05 June 96  Sender:  "Greg V. Smith" (gvs@sisna.com)
               Subject: Trojan Gold Exhibit in the Pushkin Museum

10-05 June 96  Sender:  mac@MAINE.maine.edu (Dennis McConnell - Maine Business School)
               Subject: Informatics for Children Project - St. Petersburg

11-05 June 96  Sender:  mac@MAINE.maine.edu (Dennis McConnell - Maine Business School)
               Subject: International Business Conference - Togliatti, Russia

12-05 June 96  Sender:  mac@MAINE.maine.edu (Dennis McConnell - Maine Business School)
               Subject: NCSEER 1996 Research Competition


APPENDIX:        LISTSERV address & basic procedures

----------------------------------------------------------------------

WHAT'S NEW . . .


*	New #4 and #5 issues of Election Coverage from 
	Russian - American Information Center.
	
	Newsletter provided by RAPIC and contains reports from regions,
	surveys and ratings. 
	http://solar.rtd.utk.edu/friends/election/rapic1.html
	
*	Foreign Friend Interpreters

	Provides foreign language interpretation over the
	phone at an affordable price. Includes Russian, Arabic, Italian,
	French,German, Spanish, Korean, Chinese, and
	Japanese. 

	Please see the Commercial Services section under Translation 
	Services and/or Communication Services or dirctly at URL:

	http://www.ffinterpreters.com/


*	ECOSTAN News

	In this issue:  June, 1996

	-Zapovedniki in Turkmenistan
	-Geo-Ecological Surveys
	-Tajikistan
	-Turkmenistan
	-Tabiat: Ecological News from Tajikistan
	-Eurasian Desertification Conference
	-Turkish Development Policy
	-Response to Oleg Tsaruk

	Please see the Education/Science page; then select Scientific
	Resources; then choose Environmental Sciences section from the
	Discipline Pages category  or directly at URL:

	http://solar.rtd.utk.edu/friends/edusci/science/ecostan/ecostan4.6.html


----------------------------------------------------------------------
E-MAIL POSTINGS . . .

Please continue to send your e-mail to friends@solar.rtd.utk.edu.

** 01 **********************************************************************

Sender:  guille@solovey.satlink.net
Subject: Seeking for old relatives


Dear subscribers,

My name is Guillermo Solovey I am interested in contacting with 
people who may be "far-away" relatives (Solovey's). My grandfather's 
parents left Russia or Ukraine (it's not known where they exactly 
came from, although it was probably from Odessa) during the First 
World War. They ended up in Argentina, where I live now.

I'll appreciate your comments and of course any contact with a 
"Solovey". Thanks in advance,

Guillermo Solovey

P.S.: I also wanted to say that I am Physics student at the 
University of Buenos Aires (http:\\www.uba.ar) and it would be nice 
to get in touch with another physics student.

----------------------------------------------------------
Guillermo Solovey
Buenos Aires - Argentina
e-mail: guille@solovey.satlink.net
----------------------------------------------------------

** 02 **********************************************************************

Sender:  Kathleen Buchanan (kathleen.buchanan@maill.rowan.k12.nc.us)
Subject: comment about friends/lang/

I am a school teacher, and I teach European and Eurasian 
geography to middle school 6th graders. Before I began 
teaching these subjects, I knew very little about Russia. 
Now I am fascinated by any- thing Russian. I would very much 
like to e-mail a teacher in Russia and have our classes 
write to each other. Would such and activity be possible?
       

** 03 **********************************************************************

Sender:  "Hans Shrader" (hshrader@usaid.gov)
Subject: 

I will be working in Moscow until Tues. June 3rd. Erin Kinder 
(703-875-5150) will be backstopping my activities while I am away. If 
necessary, you may reach me in Moscow at internet address: 
hashrader@usaid.gov


** 04 **********************************************************************

Sender:  "Nina H.Vlanin" (froggy@sirius.com)
Subject: Russian dog lovers?


Hi friends!

My name is Nina Vlanin, and I live in San Francisco. I would like to 
hear from dog lovers in Russia (especially Moscow and St. Petersburg) 
to write me about life with their dogs in these difficult times. I am 
especially interested in East European Ovcharki. I can be reached at 
mailto:froggy@sirius.com  I will be glad to hear from you!

** 05 **********************************************************************

Sender:  sjksce@dante.lbl.gov (Steven Konopacki)
Subject: Pen Pals


Hello !

I am looking for Russian/Eastern European Pen Pals to exchange
stories and experiences with, since I have high curiosity about
your cultures.  Am an American male eager to communicate.
Steven, SJKonopacki@lbl.gov


** 06 **********************************************************************

Sender:  "Walter W. Perlick" (PERLICKW@sbaserver.sba.csus.edu)
Subject: Travel to St. Petersburg


I am planning a business trip to the Baltic States in 
Mid-July, and would like to squeeze a few days into a visit 
to St. Petersburg.  Can anyone tell me (a) whether there are 
tour groups or busses or whatever going from Tallinn to St. 
Petersburg on a regular basis, and (b) whether it is 
necessary to get a visa in the States before attempting a 
visit?  Any other info regarding cost of such a trip would be 
appreciated.
Walt Perlick
E-mail:  perlickw@csus.edu

** 07 **********************************************************************

Sender:  mac@MAINE.maine.edu (Dennis McConnell - Maine Business School)
Subject: New Information-Exec. Director, Siberian Civics Initiative


*****************************************************************
This  announcement  provides  additional  information  about  the
Executive Director position posted recently. Additional  informa-
tion  about  the position is now available:  (1)   the  Executive
Director  will  be located in Novosibirsk; and (2)  the  position
will be filled by a Russian citizen who speaks excellent English.
*****************************************************************
                       Executive Director
        Siberian Civics Initiative Support Center Network
*****************************************************************
The Siberian Civics Initiative Support Center Network is  seeking
a Russian citizen who speaks excellent English to serve as Execu-
tive Director in Novosibirsk.

The Executive Director will be responsible for coordination of  a
12-city  network of nonprofit organizations, U.S.  funding  grant
compliance/management (including financial reports), staff super-
vision,  and  interfacing with U.S. partner  organizations.  Can-
didate  must  be  fluent (speaking and writing)  in  Russian  and
English.

The  position requires high-level grant management experience  or
comparable business/educational experience, strong  interpersonal
skills, and computer literacy.

Salary is commensurate with experience. Moving-related costs  and
housing compensation will be provided if relocation is necessary.

Starting date is negotiable.

Interested  individuals  are encouraged to send a letter  of  in-
quiry, outlining their qualifications.

Sarah Lindemann (Novosibirsk, Russia)
Fax:    (7-3832) 46-45-32
E-mail: sarah@echo.nsk.su

Frances Rice (Maine, U.S.)
Fax:    207-846-6551
E-mail: ECHOFLR@aol.com
*****************************************************************

** 08 **********************************************************************

Sender:  bb95 (Betty_P_BROWN@UMAIL.UMD.EDU)
Subject: PUBLICATION - Post Soviet Handbook

Center for Civil Society International, in cooperation with the University
of Washington Press, is pleased to announce the publication of...

The Post Soviet Handbook:  A Guide to Grassroots Organizations and
    Internet Resources in the Newly Independent States
    (ISBN 0-295-97534-2)

The Post Soviet Handbook documents the enormous variety of grassroots
initiatives which have emerged in the NIS over the past ten years.
Entries range from the Research Center for Human Rights in Moscow to the
Red Crescent Society in Azerbaijian and the Wildlife Foundation in
Khabarovsk.  The Handbook provides extensive contact information for
hundreds of independent associations (including e-mail addresses) and
describes their principal programs and activities.

In addition, a special section introduces the abundance of Internet
resources related to the newly independent states, from electronic mailing
lists to World Wide Web and Gopher sites, as well as utilities for moving
from Latin characters to Cyrillic and vice-versa.

Other sections provide contact information for more than three dozen
clearinghouse organizations and describe more than 150 projects in the NIS
created by U.S.-based entities, ranging from cultural exchanges to
financial sector reforms and housing developments.

The Post-Soviet Handbook is 416 pages in length and sells for $19.95 plus
shipping and handling.

Ordering information:

University of Washington Press
Marketing Department
P. O. Box 50096
Seattle, WA  98145-5096

Tel. 206-543-4050
Fax. 206-543-3932
E-mail: uwpord@u.washington.edu
Toll free ordering in the US: 1-800-441-4115 (8am to 4pm PST)
Toll free fax: 1-800-669-7993

For those wishing to order the Handbook directly through CCSI:

In the U.S., for individual orders, send a check for $23.95 ($19.95
plus $4.00 shipping and handling) made out to "CCSI" to:

Center for Civil Society International
2929 NE Blakeley Street
Seattle WA 98105

For rates for overseas orders, please contact us at ccsi@u.washington.edu

Information about the publication is also available from our homepage
under the "Publications" section:  http://solar.rtd.utk.edu/~ccsi/


** 09 **********************************************************************

Sender:  "Greg V. Smith" (gvs@sisna.com)
Subject: Trojan Gold Exhibit in the Pushkin Museum


Dear Friends and Partners,

I thought this might be of interest to the members of this list. =20

I am taking a tour group over to Russia to see the priceless collection =
of Trojan gold, believed lost after Soviet troops captured Nazi Berlin =
in 1945. The Pushkin Museum is showing 259 precious artifacts unearthed =
by German archaeologist Heinrich Schliemann in 1873 and seized by the =
Soviets at the end of World War Two.

The tour will be escorted by the great great granddaughter and great =
great grandson of Heinrich Schliemann.  Both of these individuals are =
college professors and they will be giving a presentation in Moscow =
about Heinrich Schliemann and their relationship in the genealogy.

In addition to the exhibit at the Pushkin Museum, the tour will be =
focused on Russia's Hidden Treasures and will also include a private =
tour of the Russian Crown Jewels, a showing of the famous Faberge Eggs, =
a private tour of the newly remodeled Gold Room in the Hermitage, and a =
tour of Pushkin / Catherine's Palace.  We will also be visiting many of =
the sights in Moscow and St. Petersburg.

The dates for the trip are Sept 12 through Sept 22 and the total cost =
will be $2149 per person. This includes round trip air from a gateway =
city, all accommodations and ground transportation, and most meals.  =
There are discounts available if you are able to put together a group of =
five or more to go on the tour.  Put together a group 20 and your trip =
is free!

Story-M Travel (Travel Works International in the U.S.) is an excellent =
travel agency that is operated by a Russian-American joint stock company =
and has been operating in the Former Soviet Union since 1991 when =
"Perestrokia" made private business possible.  Their clientele includes =
major international companies such as CNN, Coca-Cola, Reebok, and =
Peugeot, just to name a few.

I have setup a web page that contains links to information related to =
the tour.  This page will be continually updated as the date of the tour =
approaches.

http://www.sisna.com/users/gvs/TrojanGold1.html

If you have questions or would like more information, contact Greg at =
gvs@sisna.com=20
Include a USPS mailing address and I'll send you information about the =
tour and the Travel Agency.=20

Thanks,

Greg

** 10 **********************************************************************

Sender:  mac@MAINE.maine.edu (Dennis McConnell - Maine Business School)
Subject: Informatics for Children Project - St. Petersburg


*****************************************************************
Dr.  Anatoli  Filatov of St. Petersburg, Russia has asked  me  to
post the attached announcement. Perhaps some members of the  list
can provide guidance on suggested sources of support.
*****************************************************************
                     APPLICATION FOR FUNDING
               Project on Informatics for Children
                     St. Petersburg, Russia
*****************************************************************
The application is connected with further development of computer
education  for  children of age 5-7. It does  not  require  large
investments  since the computer basis and the experience of  work
are already exist.

Background

Three years ago, in 1993, a computer class has been organized  on
the  basis  of kindergarten N 29, St.  Petersburg,  Russia.  This
kindergarten  works under the guidance of the Department of  Psy-
chology and the Center for Informatics of St.Petersburg Universi-
ty  of Pedagogical Masterstva. The kindergarten is a member of  a
Program  "Informatics for Children of Age 5-7". An experiment  to
teach  children of this age the beginnings of computer  knowledge
together with the development of their thinking capabilities  and
the initial knowledge of math, geometry, etc, has been started in
this  kindergarten.  A computer class (a network of 10  PCs,  at-
tached to the central teacher's computer) has been settled.  This
kindergarten is attended by children of the adjacent area,  desp-
ite  of the social levels of their families. Moreover, this  com-
puter class has become a center for computer education for  about
100  children  of  this district since children  from  two  other
kindergartens also attend it. The computer class is operated by a
high-level teacher experienced also in children's psychology  and
medical  aspects  of  computer use. This  teacher  developed  the
author program for teaching which integrates a package of mental-
developing computer games with other types of activities.

The main aims of this educational program are the following:

1. To provide the initial knowledge how to operate a PC;
2. To  develop  logical thinking, the abilities to  classify  and
   analyse; to form the systemic thinking;
3. With the help of didactical computer games, to teach  orienta-
   tion  in space, the beginnings of geometry and math,  reading,
   grammar and even drawing.

Already existing experience demonstrates the advantages of study-
ing  on  the  computers of children of age 5-7.  When  coming  to
school, children are more prepared for the school program due  to
the  obtained  capabilities to analyse the material,  to  extract
main (essential) blocks, to think logically.

The main goal of the application

Up to now, the education in  computer class was free of  payment.
Teacher's  salary and financing of the technical  maintenance  of
the  computer network were provided by the local  Department  for
Public Education. However, due to the current difficult  economi-
cal  situation, the local government will be not able to  finance
the computer class in the new educational year (starting from the
fall  of 1996). It means that the educational experiment  can  be
stopped,  children will loose the possibility to develop  further
their knowledge and capabilities in this area, and the  pedagogi-
cal experience in this field will be of no use. It is  impossible
now for most of the parents to cover all the expenses from  their
family budgets.

Thus,  the  main aim of this application is the  search  for  the
financial  support  to maintain the functioning of  the  computer
class  for  children of age 5-7 for the next 3  years  until  the
economical  situation  in the country will  permit  stable  local
financing of the project.

The proposed budget:

                                    Per year($)      Total($)
Teachers salary.......................1200            3600
Technical maintenance................. 350            1050

                                       Total:         4650

We  hope that your Fund will support the application and  provide
your  assistance.  We do believe that help in bringing up  a  new
educated  generation is a noble endeavor which  will  undoubtedly
contribute to better understanding between the nations and  inte-
gration of Russia into the world community.

For your decision or additional information please contact to:

             Dr. Anatoli Filatov, Dr. Maria Fedorova
               Technology Development Agency (TDA)
        Research Institute for Agricultural Microbiology
                      Shosse Podbelskogo 3
              189620 St.Petersburg-Pushkin, Russia
                     Fax: (7-812) 470-43-62
                   E-mail: biotec@riam.spb.su
*****************************************************************

** 11 **********************************************************************

Sender:  mac@MAINE.maine.edu (Dennis McConnell - Maine Business School)
Subject: International Business Conference - Togliatti, Russia


*****************************************************************
                          InterVolga'96
                International Business Conference
                        Togliatti, Russia
                      September 15-19, 1996
*****************************************************************
The 1996 InterVolga Conference will be organized by the Togliatti
City  Administration  Foreign and Economic  Relations  Department
with technical and organizational support from the United  States
Peace Corps and the European Community TACIS program.

Since  its  interception in 1991, the InterVolga  Conference  has
developed  into  one of the largest and  most  successful  annual
business  meetings  in the Middle Volga Region.   The  InterVolga
Conference  has grown from 70 participants in its inaugural  year
to  up to 200 participants in recent years.  Our  conference  has
welcomed  guests  from  Austria, China,  Great  Britain,  France,
Germany,  Italy, Japan, Kazakstan, Latvia, Mexico,  South  Korea,
the Untied States and Russia.

Conference Theme:

Investment  opportunities in provincial Russia;  recent  develop-
ments and current business environment.

Primary Conference Goals:

* To  bring together an international group of  business  profes-
  sionals in an atmosphere conducive to the exchange of ideas and
  development of new business networks;
* To  familiarize the participants with investment  potential  in
  Togliatti and the Samara Region in order to develop  investment
  policy;
* To  educate  participants  on recent  developments  in  various
  aspects of business activity in Russia and the Volga Region.

Working languages will be Russian and English.

Participation Fee:
* US$ 400 if registration is received by 25 August, 1996
* US$ 450 if registration is received after 25 August, 1996

Travel:

Togliatti is easily accessed by train, plane or boat from Moscow.
Aeroflot offers several flights daily to Kuromoch Airport, Samara
(halfway  between Samara and Togliatti).  Ground  transport  from
the airport or train will be provided by the conference  organiz-
ers.

Togliatti:

Togliatti,  located 1,000 km from Moscow on the Volga  River,  is
one of the largest industrial centers in the Middle Volga Region.
Primarily  known for the Volga Associated Car Works,  or  AvtoVAZ
automobile plant, it is also a major center for other  industries
such  as  chemicals, food,  machine  production,  petrochemicals,
energy  and construction.  Togliatti has one of the  highest  per
capita incomes in Russia and accounts for 2.5% of the Russian GNP
while  comprising  only  0.5% of  its  population  (approximately
780,000).  Unlike  other Russian cities, Togliatti  was  never  a
closed  city, nor was it engaged in defense industry  production.
It  is  therefore not plagued with the instability  and  problems
associated with defense conversion.  Togliatti is  unquestionably
one  of  the most important business centers in the  Volga  River
Region.  Proximity to natural resources, a well developed  indus-
trial base, favorable business climate, progressive, well educat-
ed populace and long term support from local city  administration
place Togliatti at the forefront of business development.

For More Information Please Contact:

Roseann Casey, U.S. Peace Corps
Tel:  (7-8469) 23 51 68
Fax:  (7-8469) 48 03 11
E-mail: root@peace-corp.tlt.ru

or

Foreign Economic Relations Department
Togliatti City Administration
Tel:   (7-8469) 26 92 54 or 26 51 13
Fax:   (7-8469) 48 03 11
E-mail: root@foreign.tlt.ru
*****************************************************************

** 12 **********************************************************************

Sender:  mac@MAINE.maine.edu (Dennis McConnell - Maine Business School)
Subject: NCSEER 1996 Research Competition


*****************************************************************
           Special 1996 National Research Competition
     National Council for Soviet and East European Research
*****************************************************************
The  National Council for Soviet and East European  Research  in-
vites proposals for its 1996 research program, consisting of:

(1) RESEARCH CONTRACTS to institutions for up to $75,000;

    CONTRACTS are limited to large collaborative projects involv-
    ing two or more U.S.-based postdoctoral scholars.

(2) RESEARCH GRANTS directly to individuals for up to $40,000;

    GRANTS  are  awarded for research  by  individual  U.S.-based
    scholars.

The two kinds of awards require different Application Forms,  and
scholars should indicate which they wish to received.

Awards are made by the Council's Board of Directors, and applica-
tions must be postmarked no later than midnight, August 9,  1996,
to  be considered. Contingent upon receipt of Title VII funds  by
the Council, applicants will be notified of the outcome of propo-
sal review shortly after September 30, 1996.

The  duration  of Council support can be for any  period  between
October 1, 1996 and July 31, 1997, but the research to be  funded
must  be  completed and all reports to the Council  submitted  by
July  31, 1997. Shorter projects are encouraged.  Short,  topical
papers or other reports of research results will be required  for
possible  distribution  by the Council to  the  U.S.  government,
which  may disseminate them further in electronic form for  offi-
cial  purposes; authors retain commercial copyright. By  the  re-
vised  provisions of Federal funding, studies of the  former  GDR
are no longer eligible.

RESEARCH PROGRAM

The  Council is an incorporated, non-profit academic  body  whose
purpose  is  to encourage and sustain  high-quality  research  on
Eastern Europe, the USSR, and its successor states, in the social
sciences  and humanities (including history, geography,  demogra-
phy, and environmental studies). The program for 1996 focuses  on
research  designed  to  contribute to  understanding  of  current
developments, and analysis of their significance for the  present
and  future.  Studies  of earlier periods  should  address  their
current  relevance. Proposals should concern one or more  of  the
following:

1. The nature, causes and consequences of historical circumstanc-
   es  and  long-terms trends affecting current  developments  in
   those societies and their parts, and forces at work or latent.
2. Description and analysis of current changes and/or elements of
   stability.
3. The perceptions, plans, options, aspirations and prospects  of
   actors and components in those societies.
4. Relationships  among those societies, as well as  with  others
   outside the area.

ELIGIBILITY

Applicants for both Contracts and Grants must be U.S. citizens or
scholars  with  permanent residence status, at  the  postdoctoral
level  for academic participants or with equivalent maturity  and
relevant professional employment for those from other fields.

FUNDING

Scholars  are  encouraged to seek financial  support  from  other
sources as well as from the Council, especially for projects with
large budgets; the Council routinely participates in joint  fund-
ing.

The  Council does not provide funds for classified projects,  nor
does  it  accept or impose stipulations that  would  affect  open
publication  of  project  results.   The  Council  is  an  equal-
opportunity employer and makes its awards on the same basis.

"Revised Application Forms" for the special 1996 national  compe-
tition, and "Guidelines" for their preparation, which need to  be
complied with, should be obtained from:

     The National Council for Soviet and East European Research
             1755 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W., Suite 304
                     Washington, DC 20036-2188
                        Tel: (202) 387-0168
                        Fax: (202) 387-1608

Application  procedures  can be time-consuming, and  the  Council
must  observe the August 9 deadline. Scholars who wish  to  apply
should  obtain  the "Guidelines" at their  earliest  convenience.
Because  of changes from year to year, Guidelines  from  previous
should not be used.
*****************************************************************


*****************************************************************************

----------------------- END FRIENDS June 05, 1996-------------------------

APPENDIX


FRIENDS is a free service started by friends in Russia and the United
States. This Listserv is one element of that service.

To subscribe to FRIENDS (if someone has passed you a copy of this
announcement), just send an email message to:

listproc@solar.rtd.utk.edu

consisting of *one line* of the following format:

SUBSCRIBE FRIENDS firstname lastname

and substitute your first and last names for 'firstname lastname'

To unsubscribe from FRIENDS, send the message UNSUBSCRIBE FRIENDS to:
listproc@solar.rtd.utk.edu

To post a message to FRIENDS, send it to: friends@solar.rtd.utk.edu.

To visit the FRIENDS WWW server, use the following URLs if you have
a World Wide Web browser:  http://solar.rtd.utk.edu/friends/home.html
                           http://alice.ibpm.serpukhov.su/friends/home.html

If you don't have a WWW browser, just telnet to solar.rtd.utk.edu
and enter 'friends' (in lower case and without the quotes) at the
login prompt.

or those who need it, the IP address of our computers are 198.78.202.11
                                                          193.124.128.211

Please address any comments, questions, or suggestions to your
moderators:

  Natasha Bulashova, natasha@alice.ibpm.serpukhov.su
  Greg Cole, gcole@solar.rtd.utk.edu