RT President M.Shaimiev met with Consul General of the Republic of Turkey in Kazan Mr. Ismail Hakki Musa

Tatarstan President Mintimer Shaimiev received Consul General of the Republic of Turkey Ismail Hakki Musa in the Kazan Kremlin on December 14. The Consul started his work just after Christmas holidays. Before he worked in Brussels as First Secretary, Councilor of the Permanent Representative Office of Turkey to the European Union.

President and Consul marked that there are no problems in interactions of the sides, discussed prospects of development of bilateral relations between Tatarstan and Turkey. Mr. Ismail Hakki Musa is going to visit regions of the consular district – Bashkortostan, Mari El, the Mordovian and Chuvash Republics, and the Samara oblast.

Director of the Department of Foreign Affairs to the RT President Timur Akulov, he took part in the talks, marked in particular that there was a significant reviving of economic relations within the last year. As compared to 2002, commodity turnover between Tatarstan and Turkey increased 4.5 times, and today Tatneft and Tuprash has signed a treaty on increase of volume of oil supplies to Turkey. I am convinced that 2004 will become a turning point in our relations, and by 2005, commodity turnover between Tatarstan and Turkey will rise from the 28th to 2nd place.