Rostov Region: experts differ in estimates on NCFD creation

Workers of science in the Rostov Region express varying opinions on the fact of establishment of the North-Caucasian Federal District (NCFD). These are the results of the poll held by the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent among the leading scientists and experts of Rostov-on-Don about the new NCFD approved by the State Duma on January 22.

According to Doctor of Philosophy Igor Dobaev, the regions and the centre of the new district are chosen correctly, and it will boost development of the area of the Caucasian Mineral Waters.

According to the expert, appearance of Alexander Khloponin was quite unexpected (names of Sergey Ivanov and Vladislav Surkov were mentioned), but this appointment was admitted practically by everybody.

Vyacheslav Zakharevich, Rector of the Southern Federal University (SFU), expressed his concern with the novelty. According to his version, many residents of North-Caucasian republics came to study at the SFU (and other higher schools of the region). Now, with creation of the new district, a new federal university can be opened there, and the flow of entrants from there may decrease.

Candidate of political sciences and associate professor Victor Chernous, director of the Centre for Systemic Regional Studies at the SFU and Russian Academy of Sciences, sticks to a different opinion. He marks that rumours about changes in power agencies of Northern Caucasus have been circulating for a long time; however, the haste of launching the new district was inappropriate: "In fact, a new republic is created, which opposes others by its very name." It will heat up the spirits of the Russian population, first of all, in the Stavropol Territory, and result in outflow of people.

The figure of Khloponin causes no objections, but he, according to Mr Chernous, is not familiar with the regions.

The expert asserts that the decision to found a new district was made with no due scientific support, "most likely, lobbied by economists, and, most likely, it's a mistake."