Executive Order No. 9-1

(No. 100-91)

[Vermont-Karelia Sister State Relationship

WHEREAS, the State of Vermont (hereinafter "Vermont") has initiated efforts to promote personal ties of friendship and commercial relations between Vermont and the Karelian Autonomous Republic (hereinafter "Karelia"), and

WHEREAS, Vermont recognizes the profound differences in the histories, societies and governments of Vermont and Karelia, and desires to achieve a more peaceful world through greater dialogue and understanding among people of different countries, and

WHEREAS, an Agreement to encourage and develop personal ties and commercial relations between Vermont and Karelia (hereafter "the Vermont-Karelia Agreement," a copy of which is attached hereto), was executed by Madeleine M. Kunin, Governor of Vermont and Kuzma F. Filatov, former President of Karelia, on September 9, 1989,

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Madeleine M. Kunin, Governor of the State of Vermont, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the statutes of this state, do hereby direct that:

1) A "Sister State Relationship" is formally established by Resolution J.R.H. #129 adopted by the General Assembly in 1990 (a copy of which is attached hereto) between the State of Vermont of the United States of America and the Karelian Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics to implement the Vermont-Karelia Agreement.

2) The Sister State Relationship shall exist to encourage and develop official and unofficial exchanges, contacts, and joint projects in the fields of agriculture, child care, culture and performing arts, education, environment, forestry, health care, information and journalism, language, law, legislation, sports, tourism, and other areas.

3) A Sister State Advisory Group shall be established to develop and carry out the exchanges, contacts, and joint projects resulting from them.

4) The Sister State Advisory Group shall be appointed by the Governor, and shall consist of fifteen members including two representatives from the General Assembly, three representatives from State agencies, departments or boards, one member from the Governor's Office, and nine representatives from the private sector. Members shall be chosen on the basis of their interest in and special expertise with respect to the exchanges, contacts, and projects developed to implement the Vermont-Karelia Agreement.

5) The duties of the Sister State Advisory Group shall be:

a) To encourage and promote exchanges, contacts, and joint projects between Vermont and Karelia.

b) To hold regular meetings and to review and collaborate on any exchanges, contacts, and joint projects in which the members are involved or interested.

c) To seek private funding for the Sister State Relationship.

d) To advise and report annually to the Governor and the General Assembly on matters relating to the Sister State.

6) The representatives from State agencies and departments shall provide administrative support and make available the resources of their agencies and departments by providing volunteers and in kind contributions.

7) This order shall take effect immediately.

Dated January 7, 1991.

JOINT STATEMENT OF INTENTIONS

At the invitation of Governor Madeleine M. Kunin, the Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet Kuzma F. Filatov and a delegation from the Karelian Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic of the USSR visited the State of Vermont, of the United States of America, from the 5th to the 9th of September, 1989.

Included in the delegation were the First Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers Lenian P. Kitsa, the Vice Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet Vladislav V. Petukhov, Deputy Education Minister Valentina P. Makara and Vladimir G. Prozorov, chief of the English faculty of the Karelian Pedagogical Institute and interpreter of the delegation.

The delegation's visit was in return for the visit of Governor Kunin and a delegation from the State of Vermont to the Karelian Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic, November 27-December 1, 1988.

Chairman of the Presidium Filatov and the Karelian delegation visited Montpelier September 6, conferred with members of the Legislature, inspected a variety of industries, educational and health establishments and acquainted themselves with daily life in Vermont.

The visit of the Soviet guests reinforced the conviction of both sides that a new constructive dialogue and openness is developing in relations between the United States of America and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics as a result of the decision of President Ronald Reagan and General Secretary Mikhail S. Gorbachev at their 1985 summit meeting to encourage people-to-people exchanges.

Both sides confirmed their desire to encourage friendly ties, develop contacts between counterpart organizations and institutions, and encourage businesslike relations between the Karelian Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic and the State of Vermont on the basis of equality and mutual benefit.

Both sides, recognizing differences in their historic development, express their desire to enter into greater dialogue and mutual understanding in the interest of peace.

Both sides jointly declared that a state of friendship exists, in practice, between the State of Vermont and the Karelian Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic, and that a foundation has been laid for the creation of sister-state relations between the State of Vermont and the Karelian Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic.

Both sides agreed to encourage and develop exchanges, official as well as unofficial, between the Republic and the State. These would involve short-term exchanges of citizens, teachers, students, local and state officials and others.

PLEASE REFER TO THE BOOK FOR SIGNATURES

________________________                   _________________________

Kuzma F. Filatov, Chairman                     Madeleine M. Kunin, Governor

of the Presidium of the                               State of Vermont

Supreme Soviet of the Karelian

Autonomous Soviet Socialist