Shanghai Cooperation Organization member-states ministers of culture arrive in Kazan
27 April 2009, Monday
Participants of the fourth session of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member-states’ ministers of culture arrived in Kazan on April 26. The first Vice-Premier of Tatarstan Ravil Muratov, Tatarstan Vice-Premier – minister of Culture Zilya Valeyeva and other republican officials welcomed them at the airport.
The distinguished guests include the SCO Secretary General Bolat Nurgaliyev, China’s Minister of Culture Wu Cai, the Kyrgyz Republic Minister of Culture and Information Sultan Rayev, Tajikistan Culture Minister Mirzoshohruh Asrori, the first Deputy Minister for Culture and Sport Affairs of Uzbekistan Bahtiyer Saifullayev, Kazakhstan Deputy Minister of Culture and Information Askar Buribayev. Russian Minister of Culture Alexander Avdeyev had arrived in Kazan a day before.
Representatives of the SCO observer-states are also to participate in the session: Mongolia Vice-Minister of Education, Culture and Science Chonoi Kulanda, India Vice-Minister of Culture Sirkar Javhar, and Iran Minister of Islamic Culture & Guidance Mohammad Hosein Safar-Harandi.
On April 26 Tatarstan celebrates the 123rd anniversary of the great Tatar poet Gabdulla Tukai’s birthday. The distinguished guests are to take part in the meeting devoted to this date. In the evening they are invited to see Rezeda Akhiyarova’s opera “The Poet’s Love”. A meeting of the republic’s creative youth and the SCO member-states’ culture ministers is to be arranged at the guests’ initiative.
The fourth session of the SCO member-states and observer-states’ ministers of culture will be held at Kazan City Hall on April 27. After the session the guests will meet with Tatarstan President Mintimer Shaimiev. Signing a cooperation agreement between the Russian Federation Ministry of Culture and Tatarstan Cabinet of Ministers will be signed.
A meeting of creative intelligentsia representatives and figures of culture will be organized on April 28. It will be dedicated to the memory of writer Chingiz Aitmatov. Russian Writers Union members, academicians are expected to participate in the event.
On 17 March, speaking at a meeting of the State Council of the republic, where its Chairman Farid Mukhametshin declared his early termination of powers, Tatarstan State Counselor Mintimer Shaymiev said: “Mutual respect and deep understanding help to preserve high trust of our people.”
On 13 March the Rais (Head) of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov and the State Counselor of the republic Mintimer Shaimiev accompanied by the regional Mufti Kamil Samigullin took part in the XIV Iftar of the republic organized by the Spiritual Board of Muslims of Tatarstan, the administration of the Ak Bars Arena stadium and the national tourist complex Tugan Avylym (My Native Village) at the Kazan Expo Exhibition Center.
On 20 January in the evening Russian President Vladimir Putin called Tatarstan State Counselor Mintimer Shaimiev and congratulated him with his birthday. During the conversation Vladimir Putin stated that he is happy to hear bright voice of Mintimer (Sharipovich) and wished him good health and all the best.
On 20 January, congratulating Tatarstan State Counselor Mintimer Shaimiev with his birthday, the Chairman of the Russian Government Mikhail Mishustin wrote in his telegramme: “Being a famous and political leader, you have made a substantial contribution into modern development of Tatarstan and have earned the deep respect and gratitude of residents of the republic.