France might open consulate in Murmansk
French authorities will in the course of 2008 open several new consulates in Russia. The city of Murmansk might be next in the line, the Murmansk-based news site B-port.com reports.
If opened, a French consulate in Murmansk will most likely help facilitate French oil company Totals engagement in the huge Shtokman project in the Barents Sea. The consulate could also help attract tourists to the region. France today has general consulates in Moscow, Sankt Petersburg and Yekaterinburg. According to B-port.com, the country will in the course of 2008 open additional consulates in Novosibirsk and Rostov-On-Don. Murmansk is a likely next candidate for a consulate, the site reports.
