Attitudes in Borderland. Conference in Nikel

The core of the conference was the results of researches conducted by Finnmark University College in May and September 2009. During these researches, people, living in Nikel and Kirkenes, were interviewed to understand what are their identities, and also what is their attitude towards people of neighbouring country, opening the border and travel preferences.

Some results had been presented by Bjarge Fors. For example studies are saying that 46% of polled Norwegians would visit Pechenga district more frequently after accepting the visum-free zone, whereas 26% were indifferent saying it wouldn't affect their visits frequency if any. In total 224 persones in Kirkenes were polled.

Other speakers were Peter Fischer, Elena Nikiforova, Peter Haugseth, Galina Smirnova and Marit Bjerkeng

People attended the conference were primarily those who took part in the May's interviews, including a group of youngsters that left the conference in the middle. At the end there was about 30 persons in the hall. KGMK workers could not attend the event because of their schedule, said Tatyana Bazanova, who organized the event from Pechenga district municipality side.