Vladimir Putin ratified Agreement on delimitation of authority between the federal centre and Tatarstan

“The present Agreement is valid on the territory of Russia as a federal law; it fortifies integrity of Russia on legal basis and proves that Russia continues developing as a multinational federative state on the way of civilized democratic development,” RT President Mintimer Shaimiev declared on July 26 in Kazan Kremlin.

The President made his comments on the federal law “On ratification of the Agreement on delimitation of powers between governmental authorities of the Russian Federation and governmental authorities of the Republic of Tatarstan”. RT President emphasized that the Agreement on delimitation of powers between governmental authorities of Russia and Tatarstan acquired force of a federal law for the first time. According to his words, the Agreement, which was signed in 1994 by RF President and RT President, played an enormous historical role, but didn’t have such status. Mintimer Shaimiev reminded that Tatarstan obtained signing the new Agreement step by step. The Agreement endorsed by Vladimir Putin determines that RF Government and Tatarstan Cabinet of Ministers sign agreements, which envisage joint solving of problems concerning economic, ecologic, cultural and other fields of Tatarstan, and introduce corresponding bills to the State Duma.

“Now problems will be solved on the basis of this Agreement with RF Government by signing corresponding agreements and passing decrees. If decision of RF Government isn’t enough, then we must mutually present a law-enforcement initiative and introduce bills for consideration in order to solve problems within the framework of the federal law,” M.Shaimiev said.

According to the Agreement, Tatarstan governmental authorities receive a right to render state support and assistance to compatriots and give RF citizens passports with a page in Tatar language and the image of state coat of arms of RT.

The Agreement also states that candidates for high position of RT President should speak two state languages – Tatar and Russian. “There are two state languages in Tatarstan and a person who wants to be RT President must know them if he respects the multinational population of the republic,” M.Shaimiev emphasized. “It is not important representative of what nationality the person is; it is important that he/she speaks two languages,” Tatarstan President stated.