Visit to Caspian Sea

On August 9, President of Tatarstan Mintimer Shaimiev and Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov arrived from Astrakhan to Dagestan. In the city of Kaspiysk they took part in the mourning ceremony in memory of the victims of the terrorist act of May 9. These were the military of the 77-th separate brigade of the Caspian flotilla.

In the evening, President of Tatarstan Mintimer Shaimiev, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov and Chairman of the State Council of the Republic of Dagestan Magomedali Magomedov visited the sentry rocket ship "Tatarstan" moored near Makhachkala. S.Ivanov and M.Shaimiev addressed the 98-persons crew of the ship with a salutory speech. There are also lads from Tatarstan among them. The most distinguished military were handed awards and memorable gifts.

The Defense Minister thanked the President of Tatarstan for his personal control of the construction of the flagship "Tatarstan" and support of the reequipment of the Caspian flotilla. He informed journalists that the Zelenodolsk ship-yard won the tender on construction of the artillery boats for this flotilla. The President of Tatarstan also expressed gratitude to the management of the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation for their trust in the Republic of Tatarstan and assured that all tasks will be executed.