Mintimer Shaimiev: “We can do everything together”

On February 20, Tatarstan President Rustam Minnikhanov, State Counsellor Mintimer Shaimiev, Prime Minister Ildar Khalikov and members of Tatarstan Government took part in the 5th session of Tatarstan State Council and looked around the photo exhibition dedicated to the revival of Bolgar and island town of Sviyazhsk.

Pictures about reconstruction of Bolgar and Sviyazhsk and comments of famous people who visited the places were presented at the exhibition. Among them are Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chairman of the Federation Council Valentina Matvienko, First Deputy Chairman of Russian Government Igor Shuvalov, Minister of Culture Vladimir Medinsky, UNESCO Director General Irina Bokova, ICCROM Director General Stefano De Caro, Director General of the State Hermitage Mikhail Piotrovsky, a famous astrophysicist Rashid Syunyaev, Russian businessmen Alisher Usmanov and Vagit Alekperov. There is also a certificate about inclusion of Bolgar historical and archeological complex in UNESCO World Heritage List.

Presenting the exhibition, Mintimer Shaimiev said: “This demonstrates what we have done for a short period of time. We can do everything together. We have proved it when we started reviving our historical heritage,” he said.

“No similar objects were reconstructed in the country during these years. It is a big project implemented with the support of the Revival Foundation. We gained our experience when we were reconstructing the Kazan Kremlin and preparing for the 1000th anniversary of Kazan,” Shaimiev said.
He thanked deputies and heads of big enterprises for supporting the project of the “Revival” Foundation.

Mintimer Shaimiev also noted that within the framework of the Year of parks and squares in Tatarstan, squares will be created in Bolgar and Sviyazhsk.
Shaimiev handed over 5 volumes of the Book of benefactors to Farid Mukhametshin.