Mintimer Shaimiev made a shot in honour of the 1000-anniversary of Kazan from Peter and Paul’s Fortress

Exactly at midday a solemn volley from 122-millimetric gun from Naryshkin's bastion of Peter and Paul’s Fortress marked transfer of anniversary relay of celebrations from Saint Petersburg celebrating 302-nd birthday, to Kazan. The shot, in honor of the 1000-anniversary from the date of foundation of Tatarsan capital has been made by President of the Republic Mintimer Shaimiev.

In the ceremony took part Governor of Saint Petersburg Valentina Matvienko, Plenipotentiary of President of the Russian Federation in Northwest federal district Ilya Klebanov, Vice-governor of Saint Petersburg Alexander Vakhmistrov, Chairman of Legislative Assembly of Saint Petersburg Vadim Tyulpanov, Director of Department of external communications of RT President Timur Akulov, Mayor of Kazan Kamil Iskhakov and others. And hardly earlier Valentina Matvienko, Mintimer Shaimiev and Ilya Klebanov laid flowers on tomb of Founder of Saint Petersburg, Peter the Great in Petropavlovsk cathedral, having rendered a tribute in memory to the ruler who had decided that the city on the Neva has to be appeared and who embodied this idea during his life.

Congratulating Petersburgers with the holiday, Mintimer Shaimiev noted, that residents of this fine city are worthy the best life because "Leningraders - a special caste, their soul is more thin, their history, traditions, inner world is very special." Symbolical transfer of anniversary relay to Kazan M.Shaimiev named a good message - "Saint Petersburg is well, is celebrating, the same is willing capital of Tatarstan". Spirit of Petersburg present in all actions, in all affairs of the city, President of the republic promised to take away with himself to Tatarstan.

Speaking about cooperation between Petersburg and Tatarstan, about the agreement within the framework of which the mutual actions connected to the 1000-anniversary of city of Kazan and the 300-anniversary of Saint Petersburg are carried out, Mintimer Shaimiev noted, that this work has a special value. Today, when the economy is successfully developing, serious investment processes are under way, all of us began more and more to master cultural wealth. It is necessary to try not to lose "in this good turmoil" that richest spiritual heritage which has been saved up for centuries.

President of Tatarstan noted, that the further cooperation between Saint Petersburg and Tatarstan is rather perspective, as is it based not only on cultural communications but also has a strong trade and economic ground. And as a sign of durability of these relations he invited Valentina Matvienko for celebrating the 1000-anniversary of Kazan, on what he received the consent of Governor of Saint Petersburg.