US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and President of the Republic of Tatarstan Mintimer Shaimiev held talks in Kazan Kremlin

October 14, the US Secretary of State, Hillary Rodham Clinton, and the President of the Republic of Tatarstan, Mintimer Shaimiev, held talks at the Kazan Kremlin.

Before the meeting, which was held in the Fireplace Hall of the Presidential Residence, the US Secretary of State made a tour of the Kazan Kremlin including one of the biggest mosques of Europe the Kul Sharif Mosque and the Annunciation Cathedral. First, Mintimer Shaimiev thanked Hillary Clinton on behalf of all people of Tatarstan and on his own behalf for having found time to visit Tatarstan in spite of her hectic schedule. “We see it as a token of respect and appreciate it,” the president said.

The RT President went on to say that during the trip to Russia Hillary Clinton had accomplished a lot. New approaches to cooperation of Russia and the USA were opened. At present, a lot is being done in the framework of the recently created presidential commission opening new opportunities for the dialogue between Russia and the USA.

Mintimer Shaimiev remarked that Tatarstan historically was a sort of a bridge between Islam and Orthodox Christianity, between West and East. Over the last years, the republic established trade relations with European and American countries as well as multi-sided contacts with the Arab world while Russia was also successfully developing relations with the Arab world.

“Tolerance and understanding are characteristic of the Tatarstan society. When they ask me why I say it, I answer that in the first run it is due to our educated people. Kazan has always been an educational centre in Russia,” the RT President declared. According to him, when people are educated it is easier for them to understand others. In today’s world it is unacceptable for neighbouring countries to not have diplomatic relations or to be I the state of war.