First session of the State Council of the Russian Federation

The first session of the RF State Council in the history of Russia was held on November 22, in Moscow. The main questions on the agenda were the strategy of the country's development for the near ten years and the state symbols of the Russian Federation. Tatarstan President Mintimer Shaimiev took part in the work of the RF State Counsil.

The same day Mintimer Shaimiev met Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia Aleksy II. They discussed home-coming of the Kazan Icon of Blessed Virgin. This icon is considered to be the sanctity of the whole Orthodox world. Alexy II said that Russian Orthodox Church stands for all the sanctities evacuated abroad during difficult years to be brought back to our land. In connection with this he is ready to come to Kazan to meet the Icon. Vatican has the last word now.