4^th INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC AND PRACTICAL CONFERENCE

PROBLEMS OF IMPROVING BUDGETARY

POLICY OF REGIONS AND MUNICIPALITIES

IN RUSSIA AND NORDIC COUNTRIES

(26-28 May, 2004, Petrozavodsk, Russia)

Dear Colleagues,

The Government of the Republic of Karelia, Legislative Assembly of the Republic of Karelia and Petrozavodsk State University are going to hold the 4th International Scientific and Practical Conference .

The Conference is planned to be held in the city of Petrozavodsk, Republic of Karelia, Russia, on May 26 - 28, 2004. Please find in the attached file the Second Announcement about the Conference.

Issues related to comparative budget analysis for municipalities of sister cities in Russia and Nordic countries are going to be discussed as priority ones at the Conference.

You are kindly invited to participate in the Conference and present a paper.

Deadlines for application to participate in the Conference andя submitting abstracts of the papers - 25 April 2004.

We would greatly appreciate if you would inform interested people aboutя this Conference. For further information, please address the Web-portal http://openbudget.karelia.ru.

Sincerely yours,

Alexander S Kolesov,

Chairman of the Organizing Committee,

Deputy Prime-Minister of the Karelian Government,

Minister of Finance