Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, July 9, 1993 TAG: 9307090248
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
As Russia struggles to develop a democracy, Bowers will carry a symbol of American democratic ideals to Pskov. Sen. Charles Robb, D-Va., gave him a flag that flew over the U.S. Capitol.
"This seems to be an appropriate gift - something that is fitting," Bowers said.
At a news conference Thursday, Bowers said he hopes his trip will stimulate trade and cultural exchanges between the cities. He hopes to learn more about the trade climate in the city of 250,000 during the trip at the end of July.
"This will be an exploratory trip for me. We want to see if we can be of assistance to them as they develop democracy and a capitalistic system," he said.
Bowers also said that city officials hope to persuade the International Sister Cities organization to hold its annual convention in Roanoke after the renovation of Hotel Roanoke is completed.
Bowers will travel to Russia with Natasha Petersen, chairwoman of the Roanoke-Pskov Sister City Committee, and Vicki Helms, a dance teacher who will take a dozen of her students.
The dancers will perform at a festival celebrating the 1,090th anniversary of Pskov's founding.
Bowers will be traveling as an official representative of the city, but he and all others on the trip will pay their own way.
Governmental officials and a group of doctors from Pskov visited Roanoke last year.
"This will be a return visit as we try to broaden our relationship with Pskov," Bowers said. This will be his first trip abroad as mayor.
He will take gifts from five businesses that have donated them to Pskov: Heironimus, Wertz Country Store, Elizabeth Arden, Tultex and H&C Coffee.
The group will bring medical supplies to those who need them in Pskov, Petersen said. The sister cities committee wants to establish a medical exchange program, similar to the business and cultural exchanges, she said.
by CNB