Mintimer Shaimiev awarded by King Faisal prize

International award of King Faisal was presented to Tatarstan President Mintimer Shaimiev in Al-Riyad. King of Saudi Arabia Abdalla Ibn Abdel-Azis handed the award to Mintimer Shaimiev in presence of Vladimir Putin. Mintimer Shaimiev is going to direct to charity the money component of it – 200 thousand USD.

‘The considerable part of the prize will be directed to support of Russian Islamic University. I also have a wish to make a considerable contribution to construction of Moscow cathedral mosque.’ The head of the republic also reminded that 2007 was declared in Tatarstan the year of charity.

Tatarstan President also confessed, that rewarding of his activity was quite a surprise for him. ‘Obviously the Arabic World keeps up with the events in Russian Federation. Yesterday they noted that Islam is reviving in Tatarstan, but meanwhile Christianity is reviving too and peaceful coexistence between various religions is provided. It makes us glad,’ RT President emphasized.

The session of Rewarding commission of King Faisal Charity Fund took place in the capital of Saudi Arabia Kingdom Ar-Riyad under chairmanship of his highness Prince Sultan Ben Abdel Raiz on January 13. Decision to reward Tatarstan President with a prestigious international prize named after King Faisal for 2007 was declared there. A considerable contribution to strengthening of tolerance ideas, spiritual revival, and reinforcement of Russian statehood was marked this way. Emir Haled-Al Faisal mentioned wise policy of Mintimer Shaimiev, due to which Tatarstan become an example of peaceful public co-existence and a model of tolerance at the international level. This award is a kind of Nobel Prize in the Islamic world and is given to prominent political, scientific, public figures for outstanding achievements for the good of Islamic world and the entire mankind on the whole. Mintimer Shaimiev became the first representative of Russian Federation to be evaluated on such a high level.

Mintimer Shaimiev was in the delegation of Russian Federation headed by Vladimir Putin. The members of the delegation were invited to official dinner party in the King Palace on behalf of King of Saudi Arabia in honor of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

RF minister of foreign affairs Sergey Lavrov, aide to RF President Sergey Prihodko, Russian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Victor Kudriavtsev, RF minister of transport Igor Levitin, chairman of foreign affairs committee of Federation Council Mikhail Margelov, President of Tatarstan Republic Mintimer Shaimiev, head of Federal Agency on culture and cinematography Mikhail Shvydkoy, heads of federal ministries and departments, managers of major Russian companies took part in the dinner party.