New Year's congratulation from President of Tatarstan Mintimer Shaimiev

Dear Tatarstaners!

The outgoing year first of all remains in our memory as a year of 1000-anniversary of Kazan city. Our capital has appeared before all the world as ancient and at the same time dynamically developing, modern city. The republic manifested to guests of the anniversary its uniqueness where interests of different peoples and faiths are harmoniously combined. It is our invaluable riches which need to be valued, especially against a background of ethno-confessional conflict from time to time flashing in different parts of the world. Anniversary of Kazan has shown as well historical sources of the Russian Federation, the contribution of many peoples in becoming its statehood.

It was a great honor for us to accept President of the country Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, leaders of CIS countries, heads of RF subjects, foreign delegations who worthily appreciated achievements of the republic and hospitality of its inhabitants. The revived Kremlin, the mosque Kul Sharif and the Annunciation cathedral, the Metro and bridge “Millennium ", opera and ballet theatre, university, palaces of sports, hippodrome and modern trading complexes, multitude of other constructions crown a huge teamwork of federal and republican bodies of the government, hundreds collectives of the republic. These pre-New Year's minutes I would like to thank sincerely once again everyone who had brought in the contribution for preparing our anniversary. We said to ourselves: “we can! " proved to the whole world, that we are capable to solve the challenges. In the future we should not only keep the achieved level, but must raise it on new height.

Marking a holiday, we have not overlooked everyday life, and they are concluded in necessity of improving life standards of our citizens. Social and economic indices of Tatarstan steadily are growing, here again not only growth of oil prices is implied but also general industrial growth, diligence of our citizens and responsibility of executives.

In departing year everywhere municipal elections were held. The authority comes closer to real interests and needs of people. Since this moment institutions of local government take up all completeness of the responsibility for settling arising problems in the territory.

In 2005 we have solemnly noted 60-anniversary of the Victory in Great Patriotic war. Much has been done for perpetuating memory of the perished citizens of the republic, the museum of Great Patriotic war opened at the Kremlin. Obviously, henceforth we should strengthen attention to war and rear veterans. It is our sacred duty.

The country meets a new year in expectation of big changes in social policy. Development and implementation of the major national projects is aimed at harmonizing interests between the state and society. It is a long-term strategy of rising major spheres of society life, first of all, in the field of education, public health services, agriculture and housing construction. Tatarstan deals with these problems not the first year, and our republic has what to propose at all planned directions.

In new, 2006 year, concurrence of Christmas and Kurban bairam, probably, is not casual. Having started the year from these sacred holidays, we henceforth should live in peace.

Dear Tatarstaners ! A New Year's holiday - a family celebration. Therefore I sincerely hope that the outgoing year both in personal and in family aspects would be even more successful and significant for each of you.

With a new year of 2006!