Crack down on crime, Putin tells new Far East envoy

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin sent a new envoy to Russia's easternmost Maritime region on Tuesday, ordering him to crack down on crime in the province he sees as a springboard into Asia.

"You are heading to the one of the most difficult and most important regions for the country," Russian news agencies quoted Putin as telling former Deputy Interior Minister Oleg Safonov during the post-appointment meeting.

"Decriminalizing the region will be one of your priority tasks," he added.

Despite being rich in mineral resources, fish and timber, the Far East remains one of Russia's most depressed regions -- a black spot on the overall picture of economic growth seen during Putin's eight-year presidency.

Putin and his predecessor, Boris Yeltsin, have made several failed attempts to crack down on mafia-type groups which control sea ports, fishing fleets and trade with neighbor China, many of which are enmeshed with regional administrations.

These problems, aggravated by poor transport links with central Russia, thousands of miles and seven time zones away, have led to a stable decline in population, which experts say could leave the area deserted in the next 50 years.

Putin, who wants to establish Russia as a key Asian power, has launched a plan under which tens of billions of dollars will be invested in the Far East and Eastern Siberia in the next decade to kick-start economic growth.

Vladivostok, the capital of the Maritime region, will host the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in 2012, in an event intended to highlight Russia's ambitions.