Mintimer Shaimiev: "Many of the Universiade facilities will later be awarded to students"

Tatarstan President Mintimer Shaimiev summed up the results of his meeting with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev who visited Kazan last Thursday.

The President of Russia was yesterday offered a presentation of the World Summer Universiade to be held in Kazan in 2013. The presentation included sports and infrastructure facilities to be built in Kazan before the Universiade.

“It is important that we get off the mark in passing the most fundamental documents. The FISU president is soon to visit Kazan to sign the main contract on hosting the Universiade. As for the first contract, not the main one, we have fulfilled all the obligations,” noted the Tatar chief executive.

Dmitry Medvedev said yesterday in Kazan that he would in the near future sign a decree on the preparation for and holding of the 27th Universiade in Kazan.

According to the President of Tatarstan, preparatory work that includes development of design and estimate documents for construction and other facilities related to the large-scale event should be commenced.

“Many of the facilities constructed for the Universiade will later be awarded to students,” Mintimer Shaimiev emphasised the public importance of the upcoming World Student Games.

The reconstruction of the Kazan airport should allow increase its capacity 10-fold. The city will see 15 two-level interchanges and 130 kilometres of roads built before the Universiade. The city’s airport and railway station will be connected with a high-speed tram line. Six underground stations are planned to be constructed. A total of 23 billion roubles is required to build 29 sports sites and 11.5 billion to erect a Universiade village.

“We have discussed with the President of Russia issues related to the reform of the education system including establishment of large science and education centres,” stated the Tatarstan’s leader. According to him, another issue discussed was excluding the ethnic component from the high school curriculum. The question is to be discussed in greater detail with the Education Minister of Russia.

“Dmitry Medvedev displayed an interest in the text book on the religious basics developed in Tatarstan; he shares the view that the fundamentals of all the world’s religions should be studied. This is a sensitive issue. The President of Russia is tolerant and thinks big,” said Shaimiev.

Another issue raised at the bilateral meeting was the unsightly look of the Sviyazhsk architectural monument. The Russia’s CEO demanded the issue was looked into. “I suppose we will be moving forwards in this respect. We cannot keep 16th-century monuments in such a lamentable state,” pledged the Tatar president.

The President of Tatarstan said the foundation for an understanding between the Russian and Tatarstan’s authorities was the region’s progress. “We are not ashamed to have the indicators like in Tatarstan and some of the achievements we are proud of. We will continue to move forward, everything depends on us,” concluded the president.