March 28, 2003 - 19:22 AMT
RUSSIAN KRASNODAR REGION GOVERNOR PRAISED ARMENIANS FOR "SUCCESSFUL INTEGRATION"
There are no nationalist sentiments in Krasnodar region of Russia. As reported by "Nezavisimaya Gazeta" Russian newspaper, region governor Alexander Tkachov said. In his words, "the Kubanians do not care whether one is German or Turkish," if he entered the region territory he should have a registration card. "Profiting by lack of control idlers come to our region and then start demanding accommodation. They do not want and cannot work, so they begin stealing and robbing," - Alexander Tkachov complained. The governor is especially dissatisfied with Turk-Meskhetians and Kurds, who "are totally not of benefit either to the region, or the country." He praised the Armenian and Greek diasporas for "successful integration," the newspaper writes.