KHANTY-MANSIISK, May 30 (RIA Novosti) - Russia's oil-rich region of Yugra (Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Area) in Western Siberia has been chosen as the venue of an international conference organized by the UN, a press spokesman for the area's governor said.

"Director of the United Nations Development Program Christophe Nuttall suggested holding an international conference under the auspices of the UN in Khanty-Mansiisk at a meeting with Yugra's governor, Alexander Filipenko. He suggested discussing the pressing issues of the region's administration, social and economic development, and environmental safety," the source said.

Nuttall believes that Yugra, an area extremely rich in mineral resources and successful in development and extraction, could share its experience in managing resources and preserving the environment with other regions, he said.

Other participants in the meeting included the executive director of the Northern Forum, Priscilla Wall, and the forum's regional coordinator and Russian parliament member Gennady Oleinik.

According to the source, Governor Filipenko appreciated the guests' praise of the regional government's work. "On the other hand, I think many of Russia's regions have experience worth sharing. It would be best to summarize it all," he said.

If the UN makes the decision to hold the conference in Yugra, its regional capital, Khanty-Mansiisk, will be more than willing to host it, Filipenko said.