Mintimer Shaimiev : Tatarstan - convinced supporter of the Russian federalism

July 25, the President of Tatarstan Mintimer Shaimiev in the Kremlin residence answered the questions of the correspondent of the Japanese newspaper " Hokkaido Simbun " Ishiro Fudzimory who is preparing a big analytical publication concerning a 10-anniversary of the USSR disintegration. The Japanese journalist interested, in attitude of the Tatarstan President to the end of socialism epoch and to socialist ideology in general, his vision of development of mutual relations between Tatarstan and Russia, how Russia will look like in close future.

Mintimer Shaimiev counts, that these two events - the end of socialism epoch and collapse of the Soviet Union, interconnected events, but it is impossible to tell, that they are inseparable. On August 20, the signing of the new Union Treaty should to take place in which Tatarstan applied for a role of the founder of a federative state equally with the union republics. The updated Union might be capable to reconstruct a society without social and economic costs and also to keep unity of peoples and power of the country. It was historical chance which, however, was missed. "The putschists ", trying to preserve the old Union, have disorganized a new, really arising federative state.

Tatarstan is a convinced supporter of the Russian democratic federalism, stressed the RT President. The biggest danger if Russia heads for unitarism then it would not master democratic values. Mintimer Shaimiev is anxious over recent reaction to forming of a vertical of authority, the imperial forces have awakened but their strengthening, he considers, is temporary. Putin does not want the unitary state, is convinced the head of Tatarstan, some time will pass away and the President of Russia will be an active conductor of federalism.