195 



3 



The Ministry have also requested my assistance in their consultations with 

 foreign organizations. At times the Minister and his staff are overwhelmed by Foreign 

 delegations. I have been asked to meet with several groups, primarily for information 

 exchange. However, in the case of the World Bank Team the meetings evolved into 

 daily negotiations about the focus, conditions, and procedures for a major loan 

 program. I joined in the formal meetings with the Bank Te^m and assisted the staff in 

 developing responses to the Bank's proposals and negotiating the final details of the 

 loan program design which is underway at the moment. 



I have considered it an essential part of my position to network with other 

 agencies and groups involved in agricultural projects in Russia. I've felt it imperative to 

 maintain an informal liaison with different USDA offices, including the FAS/Moscow, 

 the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), ES, and the farmer-to-farmer programs in 

 Russia. Immediately after my initial orientation I requested that farmer-to-farmer 

 volunteers, especially those under the Volunteers in Cooperative Overseas Assistance 

 (VOCA) and Agricultural Cooperative Development International (ACDI) programs 

 debrief at the Ministry. One meeting of all the private voluntary organizations (PVO) 

 and other Agency for International Development (AID) financed programs was held in 

 February. Since several organizations are just now getting' their offices established 

 and programs underway, more communication will be necessary in the future, 

 especially for those programs without strong resident management. 



