In addition to his participation in the scientific sessions in Moscow and Obninsk, Oleg Luksha arranged for Mr. Kerr  to meet with RAPIT, an Obninsk-Dutch joint venture dealing with economic development and also with Mayor Shubin and his staff.      Irina Efimkova, Obninsk Vice Mayor for Social Affairs,  hosted Mr. Kerr during his visit and provided a social program for him following the conference.  Mr. Luksha assisted with arrangements for a meeting with representatives from the Kaluga Region, Mayor Shubin and Irina Efimkova to continue discussions about a possible sister state relationship between Tennessee and the Kaluga Region.  The discussions with Mayor Shubin centered on possible areas of expanding the already solid sister city relationship and the implications of a possible sister state relationship with the Kaluga Region.  In addition to his duties with the Center for International Threat Reduction in Oak Ridge, Mr. Kerr also represents Tennessee's 20th congressional district (R-Maryville) in the Tennessee House of Representatives.

The Oak Ridge Sister City Support Organization thanks Oleg and his staff for their invitation and hospitality for Mr. Kerr's participation in this program.  Without Mr. Luksha's invitation, none of this would have been possible.  Mr. Kerr has been a strong supporter of the Obinsk-Oak Ridge sister city partnership.  He reported on his return that "this was the best visit to Russia I have ever had".  We know that the sister state relationship being proposed will strengthen our sister city relationship.  Tennessee considers Oak Ridge a special place in it's economic development plans and we trust the Kaluga Region also realizes the great value that Obninsk provides in economic development for their region.