St.-Petersburg is dear to peoples of Russia

June 15, Saint Petersburg received visitors from all Russia - heads of subjects of the Russian Federation arrived in city on the Neva for participation in the field meeting of the RF State council on subject "Priorities of development of the Russian culture". The President of Tatarstan Mintimer Shaimiev arrived on June 15 at St. Petersburg as well. At the airport "Pulkovo" he was met by the governor of Saint Petersburg Vladimir Jakovlev, permanent representative of RT in Saint Petersburg and Leningrad region Shamil Akhmetshin and others.

We are proud of the fact that our ancestors had taken the most active part in construction of city, equally with pathfinders, Mintimer Shaimiev noted. Together with Russians, Tatars from Kazan, Nizhni Novgorod, Kasimov, Penza make thousand miles way under the decree of tzar. Since then on the land of Saint Petersburg the Tatar communities were formed, today here lives about 50 thousand Tatars. But the main thing - they not simply live, they actively work, revive language, traditions, and we on the basis of the signed agreement on scientific - technical, trade - economic and cultural cooperation in every possible way support this cooperation.

Merits of Tatarstan and of President of republic in preparation for celebrating 300-years anniversary of northern capital were marked by leadership of Saint Petersburg - June 15, at Mikhailovsky castle - Paul's I residence - Mintimer Shaimiev and a number of leaders of subjects of the Russian Federations which had brought in an invaluable contribution to development of Saint Petersburg, Vladimir Jakovlev handed anniversary medals "In memory of a 300-anniversary of Saint Petersburg".

Congratulating Petersburgers, head of Tatarstan noted, that Saint Petersburg is dear not only for those who live here constantly, it is dear to all peoples of the Russian Federation, including Tatars because our ancestors also have made much in a construction of this city - cultural capital of present Russian Federation. It is symbolical, that Saint Petersburg and Kazan have together begun to prepare for the anniversaries. And if celebrations on the occasion of a 300-anniversary of city on the Neva have already ceased, the capital of Tatarstan only prepares to receive visitors. Having reminded of the visit held recently to Kazan by Director General of UNESCO Koichiro Matsuura and that the Kazan Kremlin is already inscribed on the List of the of World Heritage, Mintimer Shamiev added, that work on inscribing national holiday Sabantui " on the List of non-material World Heritage. Part of the way in this direction already passed ". It will have a huge value for present generation, and for the future.