SIBERIA BEATS RECORD FOR GERMAN TRIPS








NOVOSIBIRSK, MARCH 10, 2001. /from RIA Novosti's Natalia Reshetnikova/ -- The local German consulate-general issued a record-breaking 54,000 entry visas last year. More than 26,000 accounted for tourists and persons visiting friends and relations. The number of businessmen, students, and trainees and probationers to stay with German-based educational and research centres skyrocketed. 533 visas belonged to Siberian cultural activists.


	The great number of visits to Germany indicated progress of bilateral contacts, say consular PR.


	The Novosibirsk consulate-general caters for 13 constituent entities of the Russian Federation within the Siberian region.