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Metropolitan blesses regional governor in his post

Alexander Tkachev has been regional head for more than 11 years

KRASNODAR, April 25 (Itar-Tass) — A gala ceremony of inauguration of Alexander Tkachev as a regional governor of the Krasnodar region was held in Krasnodar on Wednesday.

The ceremony was held in the biggest theater building in the Krasnodar region during a session of the Legislative Assembly of the Krasnodar region, the press service of the regional governor told Itar-Tass. Around 1, 500 guests were invited to the inauguration ceremony.

Before his inauguration Alexander Tkachev, who is an Orthodox believer, arrived at a cathedral named after Russian Prince Alexander Nevsky to be blessed " to wise governing" of the Krasnodar region. Metropolitan of Yekaterinodar and Kuban Isidor blessed Alexander Tkachev in the governor’s post.

Alexander Tkachev has been regional head for more than 11 years. He was first elected head of the region on December 3, 2000 and was re-elected to this post in March 2004.

In April 2007 the Russian president again nominated Tkachev to the same post which was approved by the Legislative Assembly of the Krasnodar region which vests a regional governor with powers. In April 2007 the Legislative Assembly endorsed Tkachev as the head of the regional administration for a third consecutive term which was to expire in April 2012, but on March 21, 2012 the regional Legislative Assembly endorsed Tkachev in the post of the Krasnodar regional governor for a fourth term.

In his program speech on Wednesday Tkachev declared that last year birth rates were higher than death rates for the first time in many years and that the average life expectancy of the population rose to 73 years. Tkachev promised to pay special attention to the demographic problem in future as well.

The main task now is to solve the housing problem, Tkachev admitted. A system of People's mortgage crediting, which has been in effect since last year, is expected to ensure a breakthrough in this direction, he said. Every week around 200 people join the program, which is a very serious factor, Tkachev said. Around 4,000 families take part in the People's mortgaging program now, with a potential number of participants estimated at around one million, or every fifth local resident who might join, Tkachev said.

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