By Dave Lucas
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wamc/local-wamc-985817.mp3
Albany, NY – In the days leading up to September 11th, a bi-partisan State Legislature delegation went on a fact-finding trip to Russia. The legislators focused on the development of cooperative ways to fight terrorism and strengthen economic partnerships. Hudson Valley Bureau Chief Dave Lucas reports that the group returned to New York last week.
Officials say that building cultural exchanges between nations is one way of keeping terrorism and events like 9-eleven at bay. The trip to the oil-rich region of Tatarstan was put together by Brooklyn Democratic Assemblyman Alec Brook-Crasny. Among topics that were discussed: parliamentary cooperation, cultural ties, tourism exchanges and sports exchanges (considering International Universidad 2013 held in Kazan as well as 2015 Waters Sports World Championship and 2018 World Soccer Cup events), and the possibilities of American air companies for the international travel to those games.
Tatarstan is a secular Muslim country, one of the few areas of the old Soviet Union untouched by World War Two. Schenectady Republican Senator Hugh Farley and Queens Democratic Senator Toby Ann Stavisky agree the trip was very positive one. Some of the potential economic links explored include: a possible partnership with Auterra, Inc (located in Malta) to develop a job creating joint venture for clean energy catalyst and process technology decontamination and upgrading of crude oil and oil distilleries, partnerships with Pharmaceuticals such as AstraZeneca and Pfizer (located in NY), diversifying Russia's energy policy through partnership with GE Renewables (located in Schenectady), and links to the College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering of University at Albany, SUNY, for training of Russian workforce/academia.
Senator Farley expects additional co-operatives between New York State and Tatarstan involving clean energy initiatives and tourist exchanges. The dozen or so politicians who made the junket to Tatarstan paid for the visit themselves: no government funds were used.