Mintimer Shaimiev: “We should work in a new way, relying on ourselves first and foremost”
14 September 2014, Sunday
On September 14, Tatarstan State Counsellor Mintimer Shaimiev and his wife Sakina Shakirovna voted at the election of deputies of Tatarstan State Council at the voting station No. 55 at Kazan National Research Technological University.
In his interview Mintimer Shaimiev said: “I have been following the election campaign. I liked pre-election period because all officials, candidates and representatives of different parties have been meeting citizens. I think that face to face conversation about what is happening in the country and abroad, problems faced by population, was meaningful. I have no doubts that elections will be held on friendly terms and people will make their choice.”
Answering the question regarding tasks to be realized by State Council, Mintimer Shaimiev said: “New tasks have been set considering the external economic situation. Tatarstan has got huge industrial, intellectual, scientific and agricultural potential. We should work in a new way, relying on ourselves first and foremost. And we have reasonable grounds to do this. We should continue working through unity and consent, by implementing innovative technologies, and training personnel. Our country is very huge and rich and we should ensure its security.”
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.
On 20 January in the evening Russian President Vladimir Putin called Tatarstan State Counselor Mintimer Shaimiev and congratulated him with his birthday. During the conversation Vladimir Putin stated that he is happy to hear bright voice of Mintimer (Sharipovich) and wished him good health and all the best.
On 20 January, congratulating Tatarstan State Counselor Mintimer Shaimiev with his birthday, the Chairman of the Russian Government Mikhail Mishustin wrote in his telegramme: “Being a famous and political leader, you have made a substantial contribution into modern development of Tatarstan and have earned the deep respect and gratitude of residents of the republic.