On May 14, Tatarstan State Consellor Mintimer Shaimiev met with Doctor of Economics, Professor of Istanbul University of the Republic of Turkey Nevzat Yalçıntaş.
To the point, a famous public and political figure Nevzat Yalçıntaş arrived in Kazan to participate in the International Symposium “Outstanding enlighteners of the Turkic world: Mehmet Akif Ersoy and Gabdulla Tukai”, which opened today at Kazan (Volga) Federal University within the framework of the Year "Kazan - a cultural capital of the Turkic world in 2014”.
At the beginning of the meeting, Mintimer Shaimiev extended his condolences to the guest over the death of miners in Turkey.
Recollecting his visits to Kazan in 1991 and 2002, Professor Nevzat Yalçıntaş noted that the capital of Tatarstan is changing for the better, becoming more beautiful and cleaner. He reminded Mintimer Shaimiev of the words he said during their meeting at the Kremlin in 2005. “You said that by changing the image of cities you change people and yourself, becoming kinder, more tolerant and friendly. I see that your words came true,” he pointed out.
Nevzat Yalçıntaş shared his impressions of the International Symposium and stressed that it is of great significance that the enlightening activity of two outstanding figures of the Turkic world Mehmet Akif Ersoy and Gabdulla Tukai is being studied by the Turkic scientists together, which contributes to further development of cooperation of Turkic peoples in the field of science and culture.
Mintimer Shaimiev told the guest about the implementation of the project “Cultural heritage of Tatarstan: the ancient town of Bolgar and island town of Sviyazhsk”. Nevzat Yalçıntaş said that he has already heard about the beauty of the White Mosque in Bolgar and is going to visit Bolgar Museum Reserve tomorrow.
On May 14, the Kazan Expo International Exhibition Centre hosted a solemn reception marking the opening of the Year “Kazan – Cultural Capital of the Islamic World” and the holding of the XVII International Economic Forum “Russia-the Islamic World: KazanForum”.
Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Marat Khusnullin, Russian Minister of Culture Olga Lyubimova, Director General of the Islamic World, Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) Salim bin Mohammed AlMalik and other officials were among the honored guests of the evening.
On 26 April, during festive events dedicated to the Native Language Day and the 140th birthday of the great Tatar poet Gabdulla Tukay, the Rais (Head) of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov and the State Counselor of the republic Mintimer Shaimiev laid flowers to the monument of the great Tatar poet.
On 17 March, speaking at a meeting of the State Council of the republic, where its Chairman Farid Mukhametshin declared his early termination of powers, Tatarstan State Counselor Mintimer Shaymiev said: “Mutual respect and deep understanding help to preserve high trust of our people.”
On 13 March the Rais (Head) of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov and the State Counselor of the republic Mintimer Shaimiev accompanied by the regional Mufti Kamil Samigullin took part in the XIV Iftar of the republic organized by the Spiritual Board of Muslims of Tatarstan, the administration of the Ak Bars Arena stadium and the national tourist complex Tugan Avylym (My Native Village) at the Kazan Expo Exhibition Center.