Ecologists of Krasnodar Territory protest against World Bank sponsoring the "Russian World-II" Project

On October 18 in Washington, President of the World Bank Richard Zoellick received a statement of Russian ecological NGOs entitled "Save the natural and cultural-historical heritage of Taman!"

Andrei Rudomakha, Coordinator of the "Ecological Watch of Northern Caucasus", has informed the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent that the document was handed over by Igor Golubenkov, head of the organization "For Salvage of Taman!" during his personal meeting with the President.

Eight all-Russian and regional public organizations had adopted this statement 10 days prior to its delivery to one of the addressees - President of the World Bank. Other addressees of the statement are the United Nations Environmental Programme, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, President and Prime Minister of Russia, Heads of Administrations of the Krasnodar Territory and Temryuk District.

In their appeal to the leadership of the World Bank, the public have expressed their concern about the erection of the oil and gas terminal of the "Tamanneftegaz" Company on the Taman Peninsula, conducted with the financial support of the World Bank ("Russian World-II" Project).

The ecological community of the Krasnodar Territory and the public of the Temryuk District were categorically against the allocation of this credit, as the realization of the Project entails destruction of the natural, cultural-historical and social values of the Taman Peninsula.