Mintimer Shaimiev met with the Head of the PNA Mahmoud Abbas
On January 28, the President of the Republic of Tatarstan Mintimer Shaimiev met with the Head of the Palestinian National Authority Mahmoud Abbas.
Before the meeting with the head of Tatarstan Mahmoud Abbas learned about the places of interest in Kazan Kremlin, performed his midday prayer in the Kul Sharif mosque and visited the Annunciation Cathedral.
The meeting started in a limited circle in the Chimney hall. Mintimer Shaimiev declared, that he is impressed with the gigantic efforts undertaken by Mahmoud Abbas in the name of his people in the struggle for independent Palestinian state: "Every nation has the right to live in their own state". The RT President wished to the head of PNA success at this difficult path.
Mahmoud Abbas noted it is a great honor for him to visit Kazan. "We will be building bridges of friendship with Tatarstan", - he declared.
The meeting then proceeded in an extended group setting: the negotiations in Kazan Kremlin were also attended by the Palestine Liberation Organization Executive Committee member Mr. Saeb Erikat, the Adviser of the head of the Palestinian National Authority Mr. Azzam Al-Ahmad, minister - the official representative of the head of the Palestinian National Authority Mr. Nabil Abu Rudainah, the advisor of the head of the Palestinian National Authority Mr. Mustafa Abu Al-Rubb, the Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the State of Palestine in the Russian Federation Dr. Faed Mustafa, the Advisers of the Embassy of the State of Palestine in the Russian Federation Mr. Avad Zaul and Hadr Djafar, the head of the Office of the RT President Mr. Yuriy Kamaltynov, the RT first deputy Prime-minister Mr. Boris Pavlov, the RT deputy Prime-minister - the RT minister of culture Mrs. Zilya Valeeva, the Rector of the Kazan State University, the Chairman of the RT University Rectors Board Mr. Miakzium Salakhov, the RT first deputy Minister for trade and industry, the Chairman of the RT Muslim Religious Board, moufti Gousman hazrat Iskhakov.
In the course of the meeting the President of Tatarstan declared that wise and patient dialogue on establishing the independent Palestinian State championed by Mahmoud Abbas gains more and more understanding among the "four" - the UN, the EU, the USA and Russia. Tatarstan will take active part in the agreements that were reached in the course of the meeting between the head of the PNA and the RF President Dmitry Medvedev that took place in Sochi. In the opinion of Mintimer Shaimiev, mutually beneficial cooperation should be extended in both economic and cultural fields.
Mahmoud Abbas noted that under the leadership of the wise President of Tatarstan, the Republic reached great results. Tatarstan is an example of peaceful coexistence of the representative of different faiths. The head of the PNA declared that in the near future the delegation of Palestine will come to Kazan to learn the experience of the republic in different fields.
After the meeting Mintimer Shaimiev declared to the representatives of the Republic, the Russian Federation and foreign mass media that complex process of establishing independent Palestinian state requires joining forces of the developed states, countries of the Arab world and Palestine itself.
The RT President is certain the progress in the matter can only be reached through peaceful negotiations. The head of the Republic wished Mahmoud Abbas patience, self-possession and success on this tough path.
In the words of the head of the PNA, political solution of the Palestinian issue can be reached only through peaceful negotiations, not escalating violence. PACE approved this path.
Mahmoud Abbas stated that Mintimer Shaimiev invited the Palestinian delegation to take part in 2013 Universiade in Kazan. In turn the head of the PNA requested that in the framework of the sporting contacts of two regions, the soccer club "Rubin" would come to Palestine and play with the select team of the country.
Same day evening Mahmoud Abbas flew from Kazan to London.